The loco was purchased directly from BR by the group on 1^st December 1967. There then followed restoration to full working order, initially at Tyne Dock where the loco was stored after withdrawal, then professionally at the then still functioning National Coal Board workshops at Philadelphia County Durham, and then at Thornaby Depot. Final restoration including the fitting of a vacuum brake and steam heating apparatus for working passenger trains was fitting by the group’s volunteers at ICI Billingham.

While the engine is useful on the N.Y.M.R. it is only capable of hauling 6 coaches up the steep 1 in 49 gradients. So during the peak summer season when the NYMR regularly runs with 8 coach trains the engine is hired out to less demanding railways, the engine has seen use on the K and W.V.R., Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway and the Llangollen Railway.

The engine was withdrawn again in 1992 for a general overhaul which included retyreing of the engine and tender as well as several improvements such as fitting of a hopper ashpan and rocking grate. Repainted in B.R. livery as 65894, the loco returned to the N.Y.M.R. during the summer of 1996 hauling its first train after overhaul on the 6^th June 1996.

Since returning to traffic in 1996 the engine has been a regular performer on the NYMR during the early and late season, during the peak summer season the engine has been hired out to less demanding railways. The engine has worked on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway, the North Norfolk Railway, the Nene Valley Railway, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (for 3 summer seasons), The East Lancashire Railway and most recently the Weardale Railway. The loco also had the honour of hauling the official re-open trains on both the NYMR back in 1973 and the Weardale Railway in 2004. The highlight of the last 10 years for the J27 was in 1998 when the engine was certificated to run on the mainline, at the time it was the only engine available to the NYMR that had the a current mainline boiler ticket. The P3 ran 2 return trips between Grosmont and Whitby this proved to be the start of what is now almost a regular service of steam specials run on the Esk Valley line by the NYMR. In June 2003 the locomotive was repainted back into its NER livery as P3 No.2392.

As well as the usual running repairs the engine has also had more than its far share of other problems as well, in 2000 it became necessary to lift the engine from its wheels to undertake axlebox repairs. In 2001 during a routine examination a small leak was spotted in a boiler tube, following further investigation this then led to full boiler re-tube. Then in 2003 the RH centre driving wheel axlebox ran hot, the engine then had the centre wheelset removed for repairs to the axlebox. But by far the most serious problem we have had to deal with is the fracture in the cylinder casting. This problem can be traced back to the last overhaul, during which a crack in the cylinder bore was metal stitched and then a cylinder liner fitted. This solved the problem for several years until, in 2001, the crack suddenly spread. This again was metal stitched and again gave no more problems until late November 2004 when part of the stitching started to leak steam. A repair was again made which held for only a few months before again starting to leak. The engine was withdrawn from heavy traffic and spent the final year of its boiler ticket at the National Railway Museum outpost museum “Locomotion” at Shildon; the final few days in steam were on the demonstration track at Darlington Railway Museum. The J27 was then withdrawn from service and went on display in Darlington Railway Museum.

In May 2006 the P3 moved again this time to Darlington to star in the Darlington North Road 40^th Anniversary Celebrations held over the spring bank holiday weekend, at the Darlington North Road Railway museum. The celebrations where held to mark the 40^th Anniversary since the closure of the towns North Road Locomotive works where the P3 had been built back in 1923. Other locomotives on display included a Standard Class 2 no’ 78019 and class 20 diesel both of which where also built in Darlington.

The anniversary weekend was the last time the P3 steamed as on June 12^th the boiler ticket expired. The P3 was then moved into the North Road museum where it spent time on static display.

The locomotive weighs over 86 tons when in working order and is over 51 feet in length. The wheel arrangement is 0-6-0 and the 4′ 7¼” driving wheels are driven by two cylinders (18½” dia. by 26″ stroke) controlled by Stephenson link valve gear. The working boiler pressure is 180 psi. the locomotive produces a tractive effort of 24,642lb and is classified as a 4.

Time doesn’t stand still, and NELPG have needed to made several modifications to the locomotive to cope with its new role of hauling passenger trains, and to cope with modern operations. When making these changes NELPG has tried to minimise the impact on the appearance of the locomotive. These changes include:

1. The fitting of a vacuum ejector, with graduable steam brake valve and steam heating apparatus to enable the locomotive to haul vacuum braked coaches.
2. The piston valves were modified from one broad to 4 narrow rings to improve efficiency.
3. Axleboxes are now fed by mechanical lubricator.
4. A rocking grate and hopper ash pan were fitted to ease the life of the fireman.

The P3 remained on display in the museum until the 2007/8 refurbishment work when the locomotive was moved across to Hopetown Carrage Works for initial dismantling and investigation work prior to overhaul.