The North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group is on the search for Sir Vincent Raven’s relatives!

The North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group (NELPG) based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is searching for relatives of Sir Vincent Raven to join the railway’s celebrations for Q6 63395 locomotive centenary year.

Sir Vincent Raven was an English railway engineer, and was chief mechanical engineer of the North Eastern Railway (NER) from 1910 to 1922. He was known for the development of the T1 engine by designing the superheated outside cylinder class T2 0-8-0s for handling the heavy goods trains of the NER. The T2s, or Q6s as they were later classified by the London and North Eastern Railway and British Railways, were only a very few pre-grouping steam locomotives to survive right up to the end of steam on British railways.

A total of 120 engines were built at the Darlington Works between 1913 and 1918 which proved to be extremely successful, carrying on a fine NER tradition for freight haulage right up until the demise of steam in the North East in 1967.

Living relatives to Sir Vincent Raven are encouraged to get in touch so that they can celebrate the Q6 63395 locomotive centenary. A celebration train service will take place on the 1st May, where the locomotive will be hauling dignitaries in her original livery, dating back to 1918. Contact [email protected] detailing your family connection.

Visitors and passengers can view the Q6, which will be in operation at NYMR’s Behind the Scenes event during the May Bank Holiday (4-6 May 2019). Tickets start from Adults £27, Children £13.50 and Family Tickets (2 Adults & 2 Children) £56 for a Pickering to Grosmont, return ticket. For more information about NYMR, or to book tickets, please visit nymr.co.uk.

Both the NYMR and NELPG are independent charity’s. Both organisations do not receive any core public funding, so relies on membership subscriptions, donations and volunteers are vital. Currently the NYMR invests around £1 million each year in care and maintenance, however much more is needed to ensure that the railway can carry on being operational and enjoyed for years to come. To pledge your support in 2019 please visit nymr.co.uk/YMJ or nelpg.org.uk.

Picture Caption: Sir Vincent Raven and Q6 in BR livery at Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, September 2018. Richard de Sadeleer.

ENDS

For further information please contact Gough Bailey Wright on 01527 579 555

Louise Iles – PR Account Director: [email protected]

Sam Wright – PR Account Manager: [email protected]

Notes for editors

NELPG was formed in 1966 and with its primary objective to have as many of its locomotives in steam as possible. In fact, all six locomotives have been returned to steam at one time or another with 62005 and 60532 seeing numerous trips on the main line. 65894, 63395 and 69023 have seen service on other preserved railways as well as on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

In practice NELPG has charge of a sizeable part of the North East's Railway Heritage, owning four locomotives in association with the North East of England. Locomotives include the K1 62005, Q6 63395, J27 65894 and J72 69023. Associated locomotives include the 60532 Blue Peter for 25 years from 1986 until 2011 and the NRM Q7 class locomotive 63460, although this locomotive has recently returned to the national collection and is housed at Darlington Railway Museum.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is an award-winning charitable trust that carries 350,000 passengers every year. It is Britain’s most popular heritage railway and is one of the best visitor attractions in the North East. Passengers can experience 24 miles of amazing scenery between Pickering & Grosmont.

• The NYMR cares for operating and developing the railway it owns from Pickering to Grosmont. • The heritage railway operates over Network Rail from Grosmont to Whitby. • The charity provides a high quality, safe and authentic evocation of the steam age for the public. • The NYMR is an Educational Charitable Trust. Providing education for all ages. • The railway is a fully accredited museum.