The North Norfolk Railway and the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society has announced a partnership that will help see two apprentices help restore Y14 No. 564.

The M&GNJR Society is covering all employment and training costs of one of the apprentices, who will start work at Weybourne‘s Engineering Works later in October.

The apprenticeship lasts for three years and will see the pair work alongside experienced workers at Weybourne, and among the projects set to be completed will be helping to overhaul Y14 No. 564, which is owned by the M&GNJR Society.

The locomotive was withdrawn earlier this year for a statutory boiler overhaul and had become a firm favourite at the popular 5.5-mile long line.

To speed up the overhaul, the boiler work will be carried out off-site whilst work takes place on the frames and motion at Weybourne.

“We are delighted to be able to expand our apprenticeship and trainee programme with the addition of two Engineering Apprentices and I should like to thank the M&GNJR Society for their generous help in making this possible. Next year marks our 50thAnniversary and we are taking a long-term view to the challenges faced by heritage railways – with many industries no longer requiring traditional skills, training is key.”

North Norfolk Railway General Manager, Graham Hukins