A LOCOMOTIVE once saved from the scrapheap and restored has arrived and is ready to launch the North Yorkshire Moors Railway's 2019 season.

The 34092 City of Wells, a Bulleid Light Pacific, on loan from East Lancashire Railway, will pull services on the 18-mile stretch between Grosmont and Pickering.

The sight of 34092 in steam, passing through the Moors has already turned heads this weekend.

The 60009 Union of South Africa, an iconic A4 Pacific designed by Nigel Gresley, had been due to open the season this weekend, but was forced to cancel due to piston trouble.

Chris Price, NYMR general manager, said: “Working within the heritage preservation world, situations such as this bring home how fragile these historic locomotives are and the challenges associated with maintaining old equipment.

"Of course we are disappointed by this but we are also confident that having 34092 City of Wells travelling across the moors will be a fantastic sight to see."

34092 City of Wells will depart from Grosmont Station on April 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7.

"I would like to thank the East Lancashire Railway for their cooperation and support during this time. Their support has been invaluable and as a gesture of goodwill we have agreed to a visit of 926 Repton to their Autumn Gala which takes place 18 -20 October 2019."

34092 was constructed at Brighton Works in 1949 and later that year it was named Wells which was changed to City of Wells in 1950. It was initially allocated to Stewarts Lane where it worked out of Victoria to the Kent coast. In November 1964, it was withdrawn from service and sent to Woodham Brothers at Barry for scrap where it arrived in March 1965. It remained there until October 1971 when a group from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway bought it. In 2017 agreement was reached between the owners and the East Lancashire Railway for the railway to buy the locomotive.

Any passengers booked on 60009 Union of South Africa services should arrive for their scheduled journey as planned. Replacement locomotive 34092 City of Wells will depart from Grosmont Station on April 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, 2019.