AN EDEN railway restoration project is gathering steam after being given an authentic water tower and crane.

Stainmore Railway Company (SRC), which aims to create a North Eastern Railway (NER) centre of excellence at Kirkby Stephen East station, took delivery of the water tank and fittings from Wharram Station on the closed Malton to Driffield line.

The tank joins the NER water crane that arrived at Kirkby Stephen East in October from the North Norfolk Railway.

SRC director Mike Thompson said: “We are extremely grateful to Lord Middleton and the Birdsall Estate for their superb generosity.

"The donation of the tank will allow us to provide a much needed water supply to our expanding loco operations.”

The refurbished water tank and fittings will sit on a newly-built brick structure that will exactly replicate the Wharram tower from where it came.