Preservation
Withdrawn from service by British Railways on 1 February 1966, it was targeted by the A4 Preservation Society, which was soon renamed the A4 Locomotive Society, to rescue the locomotive from the cutter’s torch. This was achieved, and the ‘Streak’ was moved to Crewe for refurbishment. Fellow A4 No 60026 Miles Beevor also subsequently visited the former LMS works after its own withdrawal, and its three pairs of 6 ft 8 in driving wheels were transferred to No 60007 because they were in a far better condition than those on the newly saved engine
For a long period of her preservation, Sir Nigel Gresley was kept at Steamtown Carnforth, at the old locomotive depot. This was a prime location for her mainline operations, being the only mainline A4 after 1973 other than Union of South Africa. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Mallard's record run, on 3 July 1988, the National Railway Museum assembled 3 of the 4 UK-based A4 Pacific locomotives at the museum, the first time this had ever been done in preservation. Early in July 2008, SNG joined her three sisters extant in the UK for a display at the National Railway Museum in York.
By 1994, Sir Nigel Gresley stayed at the Great Central Railway, before spending some time at the East Lancashire Railway. The locomotive is now preserved at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and is in daily operation, following a 10 year overhaul to working order. It is owned by Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Preservation Trust Ltd. and operated by the A4 Locomotive Society Ltd. on behalf of the Trust.
In 2010, Sir Nigel Gresley was under repair at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway after its winter overhaul in 2009/10 revealed that extensive work and repair was needed on the tubing. However, in November 2010, repairs had been completed, and the locomotive is now running in regular service again. The first rail tour after this repair was The Great Britain IV, 16th April 2011.
However, in May 2011, during the routine annual boiler exam, small cracks were detected in the firebox. Initially it was thought that a repair could be performed using copper welding, but further inspection showed a more extensive repair was needed and 60007 was not operational until April 2012.
On 18th June 2012 Sir Nigel Gresley hauled the train carrying the Olympic Torch from Grosmont to Pickering.
Read more about this topic: LNER Class A4 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley
Famous quotes containing the word preservation:
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