Historic steam engine returns to service at North Norfolk Railway
Great North Railway Class N2 1744 resumes operations after extensive overhaul
A vintage steam engine designed by Sir Nigel Gresley is set to return to service at the North Norfolk Railway following a significant overhaul that cost almost £800,000.
The 105-year-old Great North Railway Class N2 1744 will be welcomed back into service with a rededication ceremony at Sheringham Station today (17th July) , where it will haul special passenger trains for members of the Gresley Society and other supporters.
On 18th and 19th July, this historic engine will head the lineup at the railway's Golden Years event, celebrating the 1960s to 1980s.
The event will feature the locomotive alongside Quad-Art carriages, which were typical during its original service.
North Norfolk Railway General Manager, Graham Hukins, said:
“We are delighted the Gresley Society, owners of the N2, have entrusted her to us to look after for the next 25 years and that our team has played a key role in returning 1744 to traffic."
“To be able to host Gresley’s oldest steam locomotive alongside the Quad-Art carriages is a truly special moment in railway preservation,
and we are thoroughly looking forward to all the celebrations planned."
The overhaul was originally expected to take three years, but unforeseen circumstances like the Covid-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and a greater-than-expected list of necessary repairs extended the timeline and increased the costs.
After extensive mechanical and boiler work, 1744 was successfully steamed on 12th May 2026, marking a pivotal moment before its return.