Search for Sir Vincent Raven relatives for North Eastern Railway celebrations

The North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group (NELPG) 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.

Visitors and passengers can view the Q6, which will be in operation at NYMR’s Behind the Scenes event during the May Bank Holiday (May 4-6).

Living relatives to Sir Vincent Raven are encouraged to get in touch with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR)-based group so that they can celebrate the Q6 63395 locomotive centenary. A train service will take place on May 1, where the locomotive will be hauling dignitaries in its original livery, dating back to 1918.

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.

Contact chris.lawson@nelpg.org.uk detailing your family connection.

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, visit: nymr.co.uk.

Both the NYMR and NELPG are independent charities and don’t receive any core public funding, so rely on membership subscriptions, donations, with volunteers being vital.

Currently, the NYMR invests around £1million each year in care and maintenance. However, much more is needed to ensure the railway can carry on being operational and enjoyed for years to come.

To pledge your support in 2019 visit: nymr.co.uk/YMJ or nelpg.org.uk.

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