As Coronavirus restrictions begin to be slowly eased, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway has today taken a step towards reopening the line.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is just one of the railways around the UK that need to test its steam locomotives before they can haul passengers once again.

Recently, the Great Central Railway has been running in BR Standard 2 78018, including a day running with their resident Class 37 loco, in which the public was invited to come along and see the trains running.

Following in the GCRs footsteps, SR Schools No. 926 ‘Repton’ has been running in around Grosmont MPD and between Grosmont MPD and Darnholme on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The locomotive couldn’t go any further than Darnholme due to an engineering possession at Goathland regarding the bridge renewal project.

This was only a light engine test run, but steam has returned to the North Yorkshire Moors National Park and is one step in the journey towards recovery and eventual return to passenger service at the NYMR.

Repton had a tribute to Stuart Dennis on the firebox. Stuart was a volunteer at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, who sadly passed away recently.

Adrian Dennis, Stuart Dennis’ son, told RailAdvent: “I worked with him at the MPD, we have been involved at the railway since 1991, 29 years ago, he then became a member of paid staff at the MPD 6 years ago and did a lot of work on 926 during the overhaul and also helped with maintenance of the locomotive. It was his favourite loco.”

Chris Price, General Manager of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, told RailAdvent: “Normality returned on a small scale at the NYMR when Repton underwent some testing runs up and down Grosmont back. It lifts your spirits to see a railway being a railway even if it is for a moment. It makes all the video meetings and emails while sitting at your kitchen table, worthwhile. If the opportunity to run opens up, we will be ready.”

To support the North Yorkshire Moors Railway through the Coronavirus, please visit their website here.

Want to help the NYMR through the Coronavirus? RailAdvent is donating £5 per NYMR Gala DVD/Blu-ray to their Crisis Appeal. Click here for more information.

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