Steam engine named after train buff bishop gets a special blessing

A steam engine named in honour of train buff and Bishop of Wakefield Eric Treacy has been blessed by the current holder of that role, the Rt Revd Tony Robinson.

Filmed for Channel 5 TV's documentary series "The Yorkshire Steam Railway - All Aboard", the episode with Bishop Tony will be screened tonight at 8pm.

"Being a successor to Eric Treacy, who really was Mr Railway, it was a great pleasure to bless this refurbished engine on a special day at Pickering and meet all the staff and volunteers who keep our heritage railway going," Bishop Tony said.

Eric Treacy was made Bishop of Wakefield in 1968 and held the post until he retired from full-time ministry in 1976.

On 13 May 1978, Treacy died from a heart attack on Appleby Station on the Settle to Carlisle railway, waiting for a railtour hauled byBR 92220 Evening Star.

A slate plaque is displayed on the main station building to his memory.

He published several books on railways and the Treacy Collection of 12,000 photographs forms part of the National Railway Museum's archive of over 1.4 million images.