It will be man versus machine at the Yorkshire Wolds Railway next Sunday when renowned British strongman Stuart Lambert attempts a feat of strength by pulling a locomotive and wagons.

At 12.45 next Sunday, 19th July, Stuart will attempt his heaviest and most ambitious challenge to date, when he attempts to pull a locomotive and wagons at the Yorkshire Wolds Railway at Fimber in East Yorkshire. Stuart will attempt to haul the diesel-hydraulic 0-4-0 locomotive Sir Tatton Sykes and freight wagons, and their combined weight is expected to shatter his personal previous best.

Known for his staggering feats of strength, Stuart has spent months training specifically to overcome the frictional resistance of steel-on-steel between the locomotive and track. Whilst an immense initial burst of explosive energy is needed to get the train moving, the wagons coupled to the locomotive will add a great deal of mechanical difficulty in maintaining momentum.

Stuart commented that he has pulled trucks and other machinery before, but it is entirely different pulling a locomotive and two wagons. The sheer inertia to overcome is immense, and this is undeniably the heaviest challenge of his career.

The following weekend, Saturday, 25th, and Sunday, 26th July, members of the Lincolnshire Independent Model Engineers (LIME) will be visiting the Yorkshire Wolds Railway with a variety of miniature traction engines, a miniature railway, and a street organ.

In May 2025, the railway celebrated the 10th anniversary of its opening

“We are absolutely thrilled to host Stuart for this incredible demonstration of strength. Our locomotives and wagons are built to be moved by powerful diesel engines, so seeing a single individual attempt to pull them by hand is going to be unforgettable. It’s a fantastic way to welcome visitors to the railway for a truly unique day out. Similarly, for the LIME visit, we are really grateful that their members have chosen the YWR as its base for this exciting weekend and being open on the Saturday as well as the Sunday will give people the opportunity to visit that normally they are not given. The miniatures on display are a real testament to their builders, and we know that the public will really enjoy being given the opportunity to see them up close.”

Yorkshire Wolds Railway spokesperson