With its £1m overhaul complete, LNER A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley returned to the mainline on the 21st May 2022.
Back in 1967, the locomotive hauled a number of railtours, including two trips from Crewe to Carlisle – the last of which marked the start of a ban on privately owned steam locomotives on British Rail.
Thankfully, with the ban long gone, on the 21st May 2022, 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley hauled a special railtour for members of the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust over the same route as the ones ran 55 years ago to mark the completion of the overhaul.
The tour was made possible thanks to an agreement between Locomotive Services Group, Saphos Trains and the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust.
Included in the guest list was Ben Godfrey, grandson of Sir Nigel Gresley, who designed the LNER pacifics, including Mallard, Flying Scotsman and Sir Nigel Gresley.
Nigel Wilson, Chairman of The Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust, said, ”The trip was a very special day for all our members but was only possible thanks to the tremendous efforts of our essentially volunteer engineering team. This overhaul is probably the most thorough the locomotive has ever had so my thanks to all involved. The recreation of the 1967 tours was made possible by our co-operation with Locomotive Services Ltd and Saphos Trains so we really appreciate the work they have put in to make the trip happen.”
60007 is to join the LSL pool of locomotives at Crewe, and is set to visit the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for their Autumn Steam Gala.
I wish to board on this train. I would like to board from London. To anywhere location.
The Danger sticker is a bit overkill from the H&S mob.
30/5 22 Do Sir Nigel’s siblings carry the same motifs too ? Copped all 34 A4s during my boyhood – don’t remember seeing these on anything motive. Don’t think they were around then. Red ‘zoro’ plates were prominent on Diesels & rolling stock. Big danger after noticing excess Danger Warnings is you might thereafter assume all possible hazards are identified & lowering your guard, switch off your Common Sense button. Expect to see warning signage at Booking Offices – ” Danger! lt may rain today. Your journey expectations may fall short. We apologise for any inconvenience.”