RAILWAY preservationists are searching for relatives of a legendary railway engineer in order to celebrate the centenary of his key inventions.

The North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group (NELPG), which is based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), is searching for relatives of Sir Vincent Raven.

Sir Vincent was an English railway engineer and was chief mechanical engineer of the North Eastern Railway from 1910 to 1922.

He was known for the development of the “T1” engine, and designed the superheated outside cylinder class T2 0-8-0s for handling heavy goods trains.

The T2s - or Q6s as they were later classified by the London and North Eastern Railway and British Railways - were only a very few pre-grouping steam locomotives to survive right up to the end of steam on British railways.

A total of 120 engines were built at the Darlington Works between 1913 and 1918 which proved to be extremely successful, carrying on a fine tradition for freight haulage right up until the demise of steam in the North East in 1967.

Living relatives to Sir Vincent are encouraged to get in touch so that they can celebrate the Q6 63395 locomotive centenary. A celebration train service will take place on the May 1, where the locomotive will be hauling dignitaries in her original livery, dating back to 1918.

Email chris.lawson@nelpg.org.uk detailing your family connection.

Visitors can view the Q6 at NYMR’s Behind the Scenes event during the May Bank Holiday (May 4-6).

To book tickets, visit nymr.co.uk