The Wensleydale Railway have this morning confirmed that steam locomotive No.35018 British India Line will be visiting the line to take part in the 1940s Weekend trains.

As some will be aware, we covered an article last week covering the news that West Coast Railways would be sending a locomotive to help out on train services due to the railway not having a steam locomotive available to haul trains.

At the time of writing that article, which is available to read here, the Wensleydale Railway didn’t have any confirmation of which locomotive would be spending the weekend at ‘the dale’, however, they have now got confirmation of 35018 to arrive off the mainline.

35018 British India Line is expected to arrive off the mainline on the 20th July 2018 and will operate train services on the 21st and 22nd July.

Exact timings are yet to be announced, but when these are made public, we will produce an article with all the information you need. This visiting locomotive is certainly a big opportunity for the Wensleydale Railway!

The Leyburn 1940s Weekend will see the railway operate their Evacuee Train, tickets for which are still available, on Saturday morning and a Blitz Bar which will see fantastic Gins and Rums available. More information on this is available here.

A brief history of 35018 British India Line

35018 was built as 21C18 at Eastleigh Works in 1945. It was the first MN class of locomotive to be rebuilt and was withdrawn from service in 1964 having done around 956,000 miles in service. 35018 spent most of its working life under BR (where it was renumbered from 21C18 following nationalisation) at Nine Elms.

After being withdrawn from service, 35018 was sent to Woodham Bros scrapyard in Barry until the end of 1979 when it was purchased by Richard Heather and John Bunch. 35018 arrived at the Mid Hants Railway in 1980 with the 6,000 gallon tender from 35035 Brocklebank Line.

A restoration soon started at the Mid Hants Railway, but the locomotive left for the Isle of Portland in 2003. However, in 2011, 35018 moved to West Coast Railways in Carnforth with the aim of returning to steam on the mainline. 2018 saw 35018 return to steam on the mainline and for the 2018 season, it has been the main locomotive for the Scarborough Spa Express trains from York – Scarborough and return.

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