Ribble Steam Railway

The Ribble Steam Railway, located on Preston Docks, is a recently formed project, which opened to the public in September 2005. The railway houses most of the collection from the now-closed Southport Railway Museum (Steamport), which was based in the old L&Y engine shed at Southport, known by its BR shed code 27C.

Operations

The project runs summer weekend services from its single station - Preston Riverside - to Strand Road Crossing and back again. It is also responsible for shunting tank wagons along the line.

An EWS-operated train arrives at the riverside sidings near Strand Road Crossing with loaded oil tanks. The locomotive uncouples, runs round and takes the empty wagons. This process occurs very early in the morning on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

From here the RSR shunts these wagons to the siding serving the nearby Total bitumen plant. After unloading, the RSR returns the wagons to the riverside sidings for pick-up.

Locomotives

team locomotives

The railway has a large collection of industrial steam engines and one main line locomotive.

Operational steam locomotives

*Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No 1147 "John Howe" built in 1908.

*RSH 0-4-0ST Agecroft No 2 built in 1947. Boiler ticket expires in late 2008.

*Sentinel 4 wheeled No 8024 "Gasbag" built in 1929.

team locomotives undergoing overhaul or restoration

The Ribble Steam Railway's workshops house locomotives undergoing overhaul or restoration.

*Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0ST No 3931 "Linda" built in 1938. The frames are re-wheeled and work is currently focussed on motion assembly, planned to be done in 2009.

*Hunslet 0-6-0ST No 1954 "Kinsley" built in 1939. Work is currently focussed on the chassis, wheels and running gear, expected to run again in 2009.

*Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No 1999 "North Western Gas Board" built in 1941. Replacement of the rotten platework is almost done and boiler work is ongoing. The completion is expected to be in 2010.

*Hunslet 0-6-0ST No 3155 "Walkden" Built in 1944. In final stages of reassembly with the cab fittings fitted but repairs needed to a cracked firebox, painting due to commence soon and is expected to be completed in Easter 2008.

*Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No 2261 built in 1949. Overhaul with this is making good progress with the frames now complete and the front section of the boiler barrel being replaced. It should be finished in mid-2008.

*Hunslet 0-6-0ST No 3855 "Glasshoughton" Built in 1954. Boiler away at the Foxfield Light Railway for the replacement of the inner firebox. Work on the chassis is currently underway at the Ribble Steam Railway, completion is expected in 2008.

*Hunslet 0-6-0ST No 3793 "Shropshire" built in 1953. Undergoing overhaul with fellow Hunslet engine Respite lending it its boiler and is expected to be returned to traffic speedily. Expected to be finished in 2008.

*Grant Ritche 0-4-0ST No 272 built in 1894. Currently outside but the frames have been re-wheeled, already some other parts are away for restoration. The locomotive is in the process of being rebuilt.

*Sentinel 4 wheeled No 9373 "ST Monans" built in 1947. Undergoing overhaul, planned to be done in 2008.

team locomotives stored out-of-use

There are a number of locomotives stored in the yard or museum.
*Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No 1598 "Efficient", built in 1918. Awaiting overhaul which will start once a few other engines have been finished.

*Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No 737 "Daphne" built in 1899. Stored in the yard awaiting a cosmetic 'brush-up' for display in the museum. Not expected to be restored due to the damage on its boiler.

*Avonside 0-6-0ST No 26 built in 1918. Stored in the museum but will undergo restoration in a few years.

*Avonside 0-6-0ST No 1883 built in 1922. Awaiting restoration.

*Hunslet 0-6-0ST No 3696 "Respite" built in 1950. Stored awaiting major restoration. The boiler will shortly be installed into fellow Hunslet engine "Shropshire".

team Locomotives on display in the Museum

The following steam locomotives are on display in the museum.

*Borrows 0-4-0WT No 48 "The King" built in 1906.

*Avonside 0-6-0ST No 1568 "Lucy" built in 1909.

*L&Y 0-4-0ST No 19 "Pug" built in 1910.

*Andrew Barclay 0-4-S1 No 1969 "JN Derbyshire" built in 1929. Arrived at the railway in 2005.

*Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No 1865 "Alexander" built in 1926. Requires boiler repairs.

*Andrew Barclay 0-4-0F No 2 "Heysham" built in 1928. Recently had a cosmetic overhaul.

*Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No 1935 "Hornet" built in 1937. Currently in the museum building but there are plans to restore it to working order in the future.

*British Railways (Crewe) 2-6-0 No 46441 built in 1950. Arrived from the East Lancs Railway.

Diesel locomotives

The railway has a large collection of diesel locomotives either for shunting or use on passenger trains.

Operational diesel locomotives

*North British 0-4-0 No 27653 "BICC" built in 1957. Recently returned to service and operated on freight trains on the 2006 diesel gala. It is used sometimes for shunting.

*Hunslet 0-6-0 No D2595 built in 1959. Probably the most regular diesel locomotive on passenger trains. One of the most powerful locomotives on the line.

*British Railways 0-6-0 No D2148 built in 1960. Recently had a repair job and operates on diesel passenger services regularly.

*Thomas Hill 0-4-0 No 4 "Stanlow" built in 1966. Recently had a repaint into green and is occasionally seen on passenger trains.

External links

* [http://www.ribblesteam.org.uk/ The Railway website]