RESTORED GRANT RITCHIE REACHES ENGLAND FOR RIBBLE BOW

The debut of the only working locomotive built by the small Scottish firm of Grant Ritchie was the major draw at the Ribble Steam Railway’s gala weekend on September 10/11. The former Fife Coal Company No. 21 has been the subject of an extensive and lengthy restoration from scrapyard condition, after spending decades in the well known Muirs yard in Fife. Working its first ever passenger trains, the 1894-built 0-4-0ST performed a variety of duties along with three other homebased locomotives. Owner Dave Watkins told Steam Railway that a little work was required on the Grant Ritchie following its gala appearance: “It was to be expected when you consider it had not hauled a train of any sort in over 50 years.” The work was completed in time for it to handle scheduled passenger trains the following Saturday. The steam line-up at the event was completed by Bagnall 0-6-0ST W/No. 2680, in its identity as Preston Corporation ‘Courageous’, and former Corby Steelworks Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0ST ‘Linda’ (W/No. 3931 of 1938). Services included the Furness Railway Trust’s North London Railway vintage carriage alongside the standard rake of Mk 1s. In the impressive and well equipped workshops at the Preston line, considerable progress is being made on Peckett 0-4-0ST North Western Gas Board. The copper inner firebox of the 1941-built locomotive W/No. 1999 has been removed to allow a replacement section of plate to be welded in. Work on-site is also taking place on Borrows 0-4-0WT Windle, Barclay 0-6-0ST Niddrie, ‘cut down’ Peckett 0-4-0ST Hornet and ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST conversion ‘Douglas’. Meanwhile the boiler and new firebox of Hunslet 0-6-0ST Glasshoughton No. 4 is currently at the Llangollen Railway.