Locomotive a rail bonus for museum
THE East Lancashire Railway has proudly welcomed a historical steam train to the Bury Transport Museum.
The illustrious 89-yearold 2500 Tilbury Tank once represented the ‘zenith of steam power’ and has arrived on loan from the National Railway Museum.
Built in 1934, the locomotive was the first of 37 in the class that were designed for the London Tilbury and Southend line of the London Midland and Scottish Railway.
These locomotives boasted three cylinders to boost acceleration and help negotiate the string of stops along the busy route.
They differentiated from other classes of 2-6-4 tank engines because the outside cylinders are noticeably smaller with a shorter smokebox and domeless boilers.
It is now the last remaining locomotive of this class.
The 2500 Tilbury Tank is now on display at the Bury Transport Museum, with keen fans able to enjoy viewing it.
Keith Whitmore, East Lancashire Railway Director and Museum Chairman, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be strengthening our working partnership with the National Railway Museum.
“The 2500 is an LMS Large Tank locomotive built in 1934 that now looks very much at home in our museum, representing the zenith of steam power on the London Midland and Scottish Railway before post war British Railways came into being.
“We are working closely with the Science Museum Group to ensure that our Museum is a must see visitor attraction in the North West and are looking forward to further announcements shortly on a further refresh of our displays.”
Paddy Mcnulty, from the National Railway Museum, said: “We are proud to be working with ELR and the Bury Transport Museum to enable LMS locomotive no. 2500 to go on display. This will give the public additional opportunities to see this important part of the National Collection for themselves.”