Fantastic Fives | 5428 & 44806 slog and stomp over the North Yorkshire Moors Railway 17/08/2024

Having bought an annual pass for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway last year, I was keen to use it again before it expired. On my last 3 visits to the NYMR, I always managed to go on a day when LMS 5MT 5428 Eric Treacy was in the shed. Determined to break the curse, I kept an eye on the loco roster for a few weeks and made plans. My patience paid off and I visited on a day when not only was 5428 out, but 44806, another loco I had never ridden behind, was also running.
I started the day at Pickering and we see BR Standard 9F 92134 leaving with the 10:55 service to Grosmont.
I then enjoyed a noisy run to Grosmont behind 5428. Dragging brakes brought us to a stand just outside Pickering but we were soon underway again, the crew obviously wanting to make up time. A similarly swift departure from Levisham followed.
Arriving at Grosmont, I went round to platform 3 where 44806 was waiting with the 13:30 to Pickering. The 'Five' digging into the 1in49 gradient to Goathland was probably the highlight of the day.
I then went back as far as Levisham, again with 44806, before changing onto 'Eric' to get back to Pickering.
To end a brilliant day, we see 5428 making a cautious departure from Pickering with the 16:15 to Grosmont.