Standard 4 No.75029 ‘The Green Knight’ is the subject of a fundraising appeal launched by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Having been out of service since 2015 following the discovery of a major crack in the firebox, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway has decided that as part of Railway 200, they are calling on supporters of the railway, fans of the loco, and the general public to try and raise £200,000 towards the locomotive’s overhaul by the end of the year.

The projected overall cost of getting 75029 back into service is £400,000, though the £200,000 target will need to be met as a guarantee so it can be spent on a brand new copper firebox, which should have the same life span as the original, which has lasted 60 years.

Work on overhauling ‘The Green Knight’ has already begun with the last update on the loco being issued in 2021.

As part of the appeal, the NYMR have launched The Round Table Club, which is open to all who have donated.

There are three options to choose from, with all the money going into the pot reserved for the overhaul of 75029.

Every member will also receive quarterly updates throughout the year, which will cover the progress of overhauling this historic loco, while members will receive first priority regarding any future events featuring The Green Knight.

Supporters can donate and join the club via the following options: 

• £30, enables membership to Round Table Club
• £100, Knight Repair, donators can contribute to one of the 1,600 stays needed to complete the firebox restoration
• £2000, Name on a Knight, you could become one of ten people who will be able to paint their own name on the loco under the running plates on the engine, which will serve as a permanent reminder of your contribution to the loco’s overhaul. 

Several members of staff, volunteers and new apprentices will assist in the overhaul and work on the loco once it’s back in traffic.

To kick off the fundraising appeal, the NYMR is asking people to share their memories of the locomotive, either from steam days or in preservation.

Originally brought straight from British Railways by renowned railway artist the late David Shepherd, 75029’s active years in preservation have far surpassed its short working career on the national rail network in the late 1950s and 1960s.

In preservation, The Green Knight has been to many heritage railways across the country and will be known to a lot of people and staff on other heritage railways.

Its most recent highlight was carrying the Olympic torch as part of the nationwide procession in the build-up to the London 2012 Olympics.

Those who wish to share their memories, photos, videos, etc., can email them to [email protected] or share them on social media channels using #RestoreTheGreenKnight.

“The Green Knight is an essential locomotive for us. It’s a true workhorse, capable of a wide range of haulage tasks, including running on the mainline to Whitby. With some of our other locomotives set for full overhauls in the coming years, getting No. 75029 back in steam is more crucial than ever. We need the support of our community to make this happen.” 

Paul ‘Piglet’ Middleton, Director of Mechanical Engineering at NYMR