We now have in stock the Bachmann model of SIR NIGEL GRESLEY. Click here for details.

In 1937 the 100th Gresley Pacific was built by the London and North Eastern Railway, and the railway honoured her designer by giving the locomotive his name. Sir Nigel Gresley, now bearing the British Railways number 60007, was saved from scrapping in 1966 by a small group of determined men, who set up the A4 Preservation Society. This became The A4 Locomotive Society Ltd, and has recently undergone a further evolution into The Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Preservation Trust Ltd. (The name of the A4 Locomotive Society Ltd lives on as the subsidiary company which operates the locomotive for the Trust.)

Sir Nigel Gresley at Naburn with the Flying Scotsman photo © The Gresley Society Collection.

The Trust ~ now a registered charity, registered no.1079591 ~ is dedicated to keeping the locomotive running, both on heritage railways and, as much as we can, on her natural environment the main line. She is a part of the nation's history; she is also very beautiful. You can learn from books and film, enjoy the handsomely turned out locomotives gleaming quietly in museums, but it is only when a locomotive is in steam and in action and alive that you experience her in all her glory, feel all the magic. Nothing can match the spectacle, the magnificence, of a great steam engine running at speed. This is what the Trust aims to keep alive.

Sir Nigel Gresley at the Doncaster Railfest, 6th June 1998 ~ photo by Hamish McNaughton.

Sir Nigel Gresley celebrated its 70th Birthday during 2007. As well as the recent major overhaul and re-entry into traffic on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on 5th August 2006 (supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant) we have now completed of the overhaul to main line standards, which involve dthe fitting of Air-Braking, On Train Monitoring and Recording equipment and Train Protection Warning System.
In addition there will always be the routine servicing and adjustments to carry out, often in a hot and dirty environment and involving working with large and heavy components or empting the char from the smoke box or ash from the ash pan, the volunteers who carry out these jobs are real heroes! Now the Locomotive has returned to service the "backroom team" are turning their thoughts to raising the finance to fund the next overhaul due in approximately eight years time! One way or another the work never ceases.

Hard work and costly she may be, but when you see her at the head of her train, hear the cry of her chime whistle, then it all seems worthwhile.  Whether operating on heritage railways or in full cry on the main line, she brings delight to many thousands.

Sir Nigel Gresley on the North Yorks Moors Railway ~ photo by Trevor Hammond.

If you would like to be associated more closely with the locomotive, now bearing the British Railways number 60007 and resplendent in BR blue livery, the Trust always welcomes new members. We publish a magazine for members four times a year, with news of the loco and plenty of photographs; articles, too, about the loco's past, and other matters of railway interest. We are able to provide model railway equipment at very special prices and additionally we have a number of promotional goods the sale of which all contributes towards the maintenance of the locomotive. In addition to our AGM there are social events from time to time, which are advertised in our magazine Chime. Whether you wish to get involved a lot or a little, your support will be very welcome. Click here for details.

And if you would like to help the loco by sending a donation, our Treasurer would be delighted to hear from you! (Details below) We are now a registered charity, so U.K. income tax payers can increase the value of their gift by making a Gift Aid declaration.

Sir Nigel Gresley is at present based on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Supplying Plans
From time to time the Education Officer and the Webmaster receive requests, asking if the Trust can supply engineering drawings of the A4 Locomotive.
The Trust is NOT able to supply copies of any ex-L.N.E.R. or B.R. drawings, because we do not own the copyright. The copyright holder is the National Railway Museum, and it alone can distribute copies.
If you wish to obtain drawings from the NRM, you are invited first to write to the Education Officer (Mel Haigh, 77 Parkland Drive, Leeds LS6 4PP) stating exactly what information you need, and he will try to give you details of the relevant drawing numbers to quote when you write to the NRM.

WARNING The NRM has a limited budget, and many demands on its funds. Keeping and conserving an archive of drawings is expensive. Making copies of drawings involves further expense. The NRM needs to cover its costs - copies of drawings have to be paid for. Some of the larger drawings are quite expensive.
The Trust IS able to supply a General Arrangement Drawing produced by Mel Haigh - follow this link for details. This is the ONLY plan or drawing which the Trust can supply.

Page updated on 29th September 2007
Copyright © The Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Preservation Trust Ltd