Month: April 2026

The boiler of the Trust’s ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria was eventually despatched to the workshops of the Mid Hants Railway on Thursday, 2nd April where it will be overhauled, including replacement of the crown and sling stays. It is due back at Preston in the autumn. It headed south with a new smokebox for Bulleid ‘West Country’ Pacific Wadebridge which had been collected from Riley & Son at Bury.

With the boiler away, it has been time to concentrate on cleaning and repairing of some of Cumbria’s other components. Ed is seen attending to some of the pipework.

John Dixon has continued his work on repairing the ashpan, including giving it a coat of protective paint.

Meanwhile, Sim is seen using a belt sander to clean up the running boards. These now look much better, having received a coat of primer. The chassis is due to depart from Preston for repair this Wednesday.

Work has been progressing at Riley & Son at Bury on the repairs to the boiler of Great Western Railway 0-6-2T locomotive No. 5643 where some cracks were found in the flange of one of the internal boiler pipes.
The cracks have been ground out and welded up as can be seen below.

Finally, Furness Railway locomotive No. 20 left Preston yesterday to take part in the Mid Hants Railway’s Spring Steam Gala this next Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tim and Ben will set off tomorrow in order to prepare the loco and Phil and Anne will be following them down on Thursday to staff the sales stand at Ropley. The good news is that the weather forecast is fairing up.

Time for another catch up with work on Furness Railway Trust projects.
The decision has been taken by the Trustees to offer the work to overhaul its ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria’s boiler to the Mid-Hants Railway. All being well, the boiler should depart Preston tomorrow, Wednesday 1st April. In readiness for this, the boiler has received a coat of protective paint.

It is expected that Cumbria’s chassis will also depart shortly for repairs by a contractor. In anticipation of this, the eccentrics have been re-fitted after cleaning and examination. Ed is seen here in the frames during re-assembly.

Further repair work to the ashpan will be needed as can be seen from this photo:

Meanwhile, John Dixon has fabricated a new door for Cumbria’s ashpan.

Work is proceeding on the repairs required to complete the overhaul of Great Western Railway 0-6-2T No. 5643’s boiler at the premises of Riley & Son at Bury. The return of the piston heads and rings has heralded the start of the re-assembly of the chassis.

Sam is seen here cleaning the face of one of the cylinder covers.

Meanwhile Tim as completed the lining out of the right-hand side of 5643’s bunker.

Last Saturday saw Furness Railway locomotive No. 20 take part in the Ribble Steam Railway’s Spring Steam Gala. This attracted an unusually high number of visitors and the loco is seen here topping and tailing with ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Walkden hauling the Ribble Steam Railway’s ‘Queen Mary’ brake van which was offering rides to visitors.

Later in the gala, FR 20 passes the chassis and tank of former Furness Railway No.25.

Thanks go to Anne and Phil who staffed the Trust’s sales stand. Visitors were also given the opportunity to visit the FRT shed where a second-hand book stall raised some welcome funds for the Trust.