Monday, 17th February 2025

Alison went to the Runshaw College Volunteering Fair on Thursday along with colleagues from the Ribble Steam Railway in order to advertise volunteering opportunities at Preston. Alison is seen here alongside the brand new upstand that has been acquired to publicise the work of the Trust. There is, incidentally, also a good photo of Alison in the latest edition of Heritage Railway magazine in an article that features both the Ribble Steam Railway and the Furness Railway Trust.

Alison at Runshaw College with the FRT's new publicity upstand


Chris Rycroft started the work of caulking up the newly fitted stays on Great Western Railway 0-6-2T No. 5643’s firebox on Friday.

Ed and Ron spent Saturday together in 5643’s firebox reaming out more stay holes.

Ed and Ron in 5643’s firebox

Work towards fitting the new cylinder liners on 5643 is expected to start tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.


Andy Booth finished tapping out the fusible plugs on Furness Railway No. 20’s firebox on Saturday with some assistance from Sam. This was not an easy job with the brick arch still in situ, but two sets of hands did the trick. Alan has been making shims to reduce the unwanted movement around No. 20’s left hand little end.

Alan making shims for FR 20's motion

Monday 9th December 2024


Work at Preston has again focussed on Great Western Railway 0-6-2T No. 5643. Ed and Ron have been drilling out some more stays.

Meanwhile, Sim, John Dixon and Keith have refitted the main brake shaft
prior to the vacuum cylinder being fitted. Needless to say, if there are two
trunnions to be fitted, the first attempt will see the trunnions the wrong way
round, but all is sorted now!

John Dixon has been tidying up the paintwork on the frames, attending to
those odd areas that seem to have been missed.

The lockers that are located in the cab have been refurbished and are now
gleaming. No dirty rags allowed in here!