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Ribble Steam Railway

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Coordinates: 53°45′32″N 2°45′22″W / 53.7588°N 2.7561°W / 53.7588; -2.7561
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53°45′32″N 2°45′22″W / 53.7588°N 2.7561°W / 53.7588; -2.7561

Ribble Steam Railway
LocalePreston, Lancashire, England
TerminusRiversway
Commercial operations
NameRibble Branch Line
Built byNorth Union Railway
Original gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Preserved operations
Operated byRibble Steam Railway
Stations1
Length1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km)
Preserved gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Commercial history
Opened1882
Closed1990s
Preservation history
Opened2005

The Ribble Steam Railway is a standard gauge preserved railway in Lancashire, in the United Kingdom. It was opened to the public on 17 September 2005, running along Preston Docks,. The railway began by housing much of the collection from the previously-closed Southport Railway Museum (Steamport), which was based in the old Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway engine shed at Southport (BR shed code 27C).

History

The project was first started in 1973, a presevation centre opened in Southport, on the Derby Road, in a refurbished Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway steam shed. However, the shed was becoming a costly burden to handle for the museum, so a relocation scheme was started. Preston Docks was chosen as the new location for the museum. Preston Docks has a large railway network, that used to serve the vast docks and quays. But when the docks closed, the railway was not used. The project finally closed the Southport Railway Museum in 1999.

The project's new site now could be re-developed with new large workshops, platforms and a museum. The first building to open was the Workshop, in 2001.[1] Locomotives could now go into the building, and more space could now be utilised. Next to the workshop, is the machine shop, built in 1978. At the other end of the workshop is the visitor centre, which contains the museum, cafe, shop and railway platform. The museum was finally completed in 2004. The collection of locomotives (44), is one of the largest collection of locomotives in the United Kingdom.[2]

Operations

The museum also operates passenger services to Strand Road Crossing and back, from its own station – Preston Riverside. The frequency of its trains are every hour, and are usually made up of two or more Mark 1 coaches and a small steam engine or diesel engine.[3] This service is only operational in the summer months.

A separate company, Ribble Rail, handles the freight traffic that uses the dock lines. Ribble Rail takes over from the DB Schenker locomotive, and carries the load – Bitumen – down to the Total plant near the Preston Riverside station.

A DB Schenker-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 Ribble Rail shunts these wagons to the siding serving the nearby Total bitumen plant. After unloading, Ribble Rail returns the wagons to the riverside sidings for pick-up.

Future

The museum is currently located in an industrial estate, and is not well publicised. There are currently plans to build a station at the Strand Road Crossing, so that the railway can utilise the more popular end of the docks. Then, instead of just a 'ride' on the train, you can use it as a 'service'. A L&YR signal box has recently been bought for the railway. It will be restored to its original condition, and put near the Preston Riverside station. There are also plans to extend the railway to the recently built Millennium Canal. The route would offer 1.5 miles extra to the line, although plans for this have not been finalised. [4]

Locomotives

Steam locomotives

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

Operational steam locomotives

  • Hunslet 0-6-0ST "Walkden" built in 1944. Entered full service in the 2008 Santa Special Season. Official Naming ceremony still to be scheduled.

Steam 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.
  • 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 next to be done. The restoration is currently stalled, and no date has been fixed for completion.
  • Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No 2261 built in 1949. Overhaul with this is making good progress. The chassis of the locomotive is largely complete, and boiler work is well advanced - it is hoped the loco will return to steam in time for the 2010 September steam gala, if not before.
  • Hunslet 0-6-0ST No 3855 "Glasshoughton" Built in 1954. Boiler away at the Foxfield Light Railway for the replacement of the inner firebox. Chassis is on display in the workshop until the return of the boiler.
  • 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. Work is progressing well on this locomotive, and it is hoped it will return to service in late 2010.
  • Grant, Ritchie and Company 0-4-0ST No 272 built in 1894. Currently in the workshop receiving much attention. The chassis is almost complete, and remedial boiler work is now underway. The loco may see service again in late 2010 or early 2011.
  • Sentinel 4 wheeled No 9373 "ST Monans" built in 1947. Undergoing overhaul & awaiting boiler repairs. currently on hold whilst 272 & 2261 are completed.
  • Bagnall 0-6-0ST No 2680 built in 1942. The majority of this loco is now on site, and will be temporarily re-wheeled in early 2010 to enable building works to continue. Re-assembly is hoped to be fast, with potential re-entry into service in late 2010 or early 2011.

Steam 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".
  • Hunslet 0-6-0ST No 1954 "Kinsley" built in 1939. Work began on her restoration before the move to Preston, but efforts have been focussed on other locomotives since.

Steam 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.
  • RSH 0-4-0ST Agecroft No 2 built in 1947. Boiler ticket expired in late 2008, and the loco will be on display in the museum until workshop space is available.
  • Sentinel 4 wheeled No 8024 "Gasbag" built in 1929. Boiler ticket expired in 2008, and will be stored for the time being whilst "St Monans" is restored.

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.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ribble Steam Railway.

References

  1. ^ RSR history page
  2. ^ The Railway Magazine issue 1294, February 2009
  3. ^ Visit Lancashire information on the train services
  4. ^ The Railway Magazine issue 1294, February 2009
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