First main line outing of 51218

Here's the first time that preserved 51218 went out onto the main line of the Worth Valley Railway. It was on 31st July 1965 and followed the arrival by rail of the 3 Metropolitan carriages now owned by the Vintage Carriages Trust, a Midland Clerestory third and an L&Y Brake Third carriage which had been used as a mobile mess room around Manchester. The L&Y carriage is now preserved as 1474 but in July 1965 the vacuum brakes were faulty so it had been detached at Oxenhope and the others taken back to Haworth by Gresley Society N2 4744 (ex 69523). 51218 was Oxenhope-bound to rescue 1474 to return in to Haworth. More photos of 51218 and 1474 can be found on lyrtrust.org.uk, the website of the Charity which owns them.