Great Northern Railway 0-6-2T No. 69523 (1744)
Sheringham, Norfolk, UK 		Location: North Norfolk Railway
Status: Overhaul
Posted: Sep 22, 2025 @ 12:09:30 by Russell Newman
The overhaul on ex Great Northern Railway (LNER) N2 0-6-2T No. 1744, is now nearing completion as the locomotive has passed its steam test in August. With a few more jobs to complete another steam test will be carried out on No. 1744 before it can enter service at the North Norfolk Railway from Spring 2026.
Posted: Dec 14, 2024 @ 11:12:00 by Russell Newman
The ex Great Northern Railway (LNER) N2 0-6-2T No. 1744, has now left Northern Steam Engineering Limited, and has relocated back home to the North Norfolk Railway at Sheringham in Norfolk, East Anglia, for its final stages and completion of its overhaul in readiness for its return to traffic in the spring of 2025.
Posted: Sep 20, 2024 @ 10:09:19 by Russell Newman
The future of ex Great Northern Railway (LNER) N2 0-6-2T No. 1744, has been secured following an agreement between the North Norfolk Railway and its owners the Gresley Society that secures the long term future of the oldest operational Gresley built steam locomotive. The agreement should see the locomotive running again in 2025 following its overhaul. No. 1744 last ran in 2018 when it was withdrawn for a heavy overhaul, which was expected to take no more than 3 years. However, the overhaul was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and increased costs, so although hoped to be completed in 2024, the cost was too great. Under the agreement, Northern Steam Engineering will complete the work on the boiler, before the locomotive moves to the North Norfolk Railway’s Weybourne Workshop for the rest of the work to be completed. The railway has agreed to cover the cost of the work, with the amount being repaid through the operation of the locomotive. It is expected that No. 1744 should return to service on the North Norfolk Railway during the Spring of 2025.
Posted: Apr 6, 2024 @ 10:04:17 by Russell Newman
The Great Northern Railway (LNER) N2 0-6-2T No. 1744, is in the final stages of its overhaul at Northern Steam Engineering Limited at Stockton on Tees, which has been the most extensive and costly it has undergone in preservation. It is hoped No. 1744 will be ready by July 2024 for testing, after which the locomotive will return home to is current base at the North Norfolk Railway, hauling trains there and going out on the heritage railway circuit around the UK again.
Posted: Sep 18, 2021 @ 14:09:24 by Russell Newman
The overhaul on former Great Northern Railway N2 0-6-2T No. 1744 has slowed as its owners the Gresley Society is urgently seeking to raise £100,000 to complete the locomotive’s overhaul. Which this set back means No. 1744 will sadly not steam this year for its 100th birthday as it needs heavy work on its outter firebox rapper. It is hoped the locomotive will be completed next year and return to the North Norfolk Railway where not only will it now run there and on other preserved railways but No. 1744 will also be able to run on the mainline as it has been overhauled to mainline standards.
Posted: Dec 3, 2020 @ 14:12:58 by Russell Newman
The former Great Northern Railway N2 0-6-2T No. 1744 has been re-wheeled at the workshops of Northern Steam Engineering Limited at Stockton on Tees where the locomotive is currently being overhauled at. It is hoped that the overhaul on the N2 will be completed in early 2021. After this No. 1744 will be moved to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for testing and running in before returning home to its base at the North Norfolk Railway.
Posted: Aug 24, 2019 @ 09:08:56 by Russell Newman
The ex GNR N2 0-6-2T No. 1744 has been moved to Northern Steam Engineering Limited at Stockton on Tees for its overhaul to mainline standards to be carried out there. The hope is to have the locomotive back in steam again for its centenary in 2020.
Posted: Dec 9, 2018 @ 06:12:45 by Russell Newman
The N2 0-6-2T No. 1744 has now been withdrawn from service for its 10 year overhaul. Having last run for a photo charter on the 21st of November 2018. No. 1744 is being stripped down at the Weybourne Workshops and it is hoped that the locomotive will return to traffic in spring 2020.
Posted: Dec 1, 2017 @ 10:12:20 by Russell Newman
The Great Northern Railway N2 Tank No. 1744 is now based at the North Norfolk Railway as its owners the Gresley Society have signed a deal for 1744 to be based at the railway from 2018. Which this ends its four-decade association with the GCR tho it will return for visits only to them.
Posted: Oct 25, 2017 @ 12:10:54 by Russell Newman
Gresley N2 Tank No. 1744 has arrived at the Epping Ongar Railway for the winter season there till early 2018.
Posted: Jun 22, 2017 @ 13:06:59 by Russell Newman
Following completion of its repairs at Tyseley 1744 has moved to the North Norfolk Railway for its 3 year stay there.
Posted: Apr 25, 2017 @ 13:04:05 by Russell Newman
N2 Tank No. 1744 is still at Tyesley Locomotive Works still under repairs and being set up for mainline running still but will soon move to the North Norfolk Railway where it will be staying on a three year period there.
Posted: Jan 3, 2017 @ 13:01:44 by Russell Newman
1744 is currently up at Tyseley where in some very surprising news from Steam Railway Magazine its being done up to mainline standards. 1744 will be visiting the North Norfolk Railway from Easter for there 2017 season and will also be doing some mainline runs on Network Rail to Cromer and far afield this year.
Posted: Sep 25, 2009 @ 16:09:09 by Steve Frost
The primary photo shows the engine as restored to its Great Northern Railway livery hauling the restored suburban 'quad art' set on the North Norfolk Railway in 2009 - but it is a glimpse of 1920s north London suburban workings. The teak bodied coaches are a permanently coupled set with five bogies for the four coaches - the intermediate bogies supporting the ends of the two adjoining carriages. Quite a magnificent sight.

The loco is a Gresley design for the Great Northern and features condensing apparatus for working in tunnels in London. The large diameter pipes leading from the smokebox to the side tanks led exhaust steam into the tanks to be condensed. Not sophisticated like the South African Railways Class 25, but enough for the job. The album photo shows the loco in its British Railways black livery and the pipes can be easily seen there, too.

Posted: Jan 11, 2004 @ 06:01:08 by Graham Oliver
This locomotive is currently being overhauled at the Great Central Railway, Loughborough, Leicestershire (UK) See www.gcrailway.co.uk for further info and downloadable pics.