Month: October 2025

Furness Railway locomotive No. 20 arrived back at Preston last Tuesday morning after its appearances at the East Lancashire Railway’s ‘Rail 200’ and Autumn Steam Galas. As ever, it was well supported by the FRT’s working members who made sure that the loco’s paint and brasswork were polished. The photo below showing work in hand prior to it’s operation at the Autumn Steam Gala.

The loco is seen here at Summerseat with a train for Ramsbottom. The FRT’s Great Eastern Railway royal saloon No. 5 can be seen at the rear of the train.

The sales team also made sure that visitors had the opportunity to take away some souvenirs: Anne and Phil Burton are pictured with the sales stand on Friday, 17th October.

FR 20’s tender has now been filled with water in readiness to enable a high pressure boiler washout to be conducted using the FRT’s Coventry Climax fire pump once the spark arrestor and plugs have been removed.

Meanwhile work continues at Preston on the overhaul of Great Western Railway 0-6-2T No. 5643 where there has been a certain amount of satisfaction in seeing some components being returned to the frames. Both injectors have been re-fitted, the right-hand side being seen here:

Some of the lubrication pipework is also now back in place.

Finally, we have left the big news of the week until last. The FRT’s Christmas Dinner is to take place at 7pm on Friday, 5th December at the Pig & Whistle which is situated on a main bus route on Blackpool Road, Lea, Preston. The festive menu offers two courses for £15.99 and three courses for £19.49.
Please let Alison know if you wish to attend.

There has been more work this week at Preston on Great Western Railway 0-6-2T No 5643 as the ten-year overhaul continues. Ed is seen here entering the water space at the bottom of the bunker.

The outside of the bunker has now been painted in undercoat green.

Meanwhile folk group Live Steam played for Barrow Model Railway Club members and exhibitors at the annual exhibition on Saturday. The observant of you will notice that the venue was a brewery!

Sam and John Dixon made the trip to Bury on Saturday to clean and polish Furness Railway No. 20 which is scheduled to be in service at the East Lancashire Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala along with Great Eastern Railway royal saloon No. 5 this next Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Finally, FR 20 and GER 5 are due to arrive back at Preston on Wednesday, 22^nd October. 

Sam has been incarcerated inside Great Western Railway 0-6-2T No. 5643’s boiler again in order to dismantle some of the internal pipework. He is seen here applying heat to one of the pipe clamps that was proving to be extremely stubborn. However, the task has been made a little bit easier as the boiler has been turned onto its side in recent weeks.

Work has continued on 5643’s bunker since it was re-fitted onto the frames. The inside of the bunker has had a coat of black paint applied now that refurbishment of the metalwork has been completed.

The outside of the bunker has been sanded down and remedial work undertaken.

Ron Crowe is seen here beneath the bunker during the process of re-fitting the right-hand water valve.

The other main news is that the Trust’s Austerity 0-6-0ST Cumbria is expected back at Preston shortly so that its ten-year overhaul can be progressed.

Don’t forget that the Furness Model Railway Club’s 62nd annual exhibition is due to take place this next weekend, 11th and 12th October, at a new venue, Chetwynde School in Rating Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, 10.00 to 17.00. Folk group Live Steam are due to entertain the exhibition staff on Saturday evening at the Ulverston Brewery premises.