As usual, in the weeks before Christmas this year, York saw more than its fair share of charter trains bringing visitors to the ever popular St. Nicholas Fayre which I sure is excellent if that's your thing but when I visited on 17th December 2011, Christmas shopping wasn't on the agenda.
On that date there were two charters visiting the city, both steam hauled. The first of these was from London Kings Cross and while it had been hauled to York by 70013, the return was to have the ex LNER A4 Pacific 60019 'Bittern' as motive power; 'Bittern' was, at the time, running carrying the number and name of classmate 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand'.
As we have done in previous years we went to a spot near the site of Dringhouses Yard, just at the south end of Holgate Sidings where the stock for both charters was stabled. To reach the station, trains are drawn out of the siding onto the main line and as this recording begins that is exactly what the A4 is doing then, once the 11 coach train is clear of the sidings and after a southbound service train has passed, 60019 reverses its train towards the station.

The A4's train was first away and as this recording begins we hear a warning chime whistle from the direction of the station. However, although a steam loco's exhaust soon becomes audible it doesn't sound much like an A4! This is the loco for the other charter train, GWR Castle 4-6-0 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' which would be taking the second train back to Tyseley and is heard arriving at the sidings.
As the Castle passes another chime whistle from the station indicates that the A4 is really ready to depart this time. Although a little later than advertised we can hear 60019 making fairly easy work of accelerating its 11 coach train south before 5043 sets back into the sidings and onto its stock.

Our final recording for the evening (and for 2011) was of 5043 departing with 9 coaches behind the tender. Sound was carrying well so we were able to hear the loco right from the start and, after passing, all the way to the site of Challoners Whin Jc.
Not a bad recording to round off the year.