RAVENGLASS KATIE TO GO ON TOUR OF REMINISCENCE
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway 0-4-0T Katie will return to the Fairbourne Railway for the first time in almost a century, as part of a tour recalling its travels after originally departing the ‘Ratty’ 100 years ago.
Built in 1896 by Sir Arthur Heywood, Katie arrived at the ‘Ratty’ in 1916, but was sold in 1919 – initially to Llewelyn’s Miniature Railway in Stockport, then again in 1921 to the Fairbourne Railway, where it was dismantled in 1924. Katie’s first working trip away from Ravenglass will take it to Beamish’s ‘Great North Steam Fair’ on April 11-14, in company with the RER’s River Irt – which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. Both engines share the same parentage: River Irt was also originally built by Heywood, as an 0-8-0T called Muriel, in 1894.
The pair will take part in the RER’s ‘Big Birthday Gala’ on May 4-6, which will celebrate River Irt’s milestone, as well as the 90th anniversaries of Krauss 4-6-2 ‘Whillan Beck’ and 0-4-4DM ‘Perkins’ respectively.
Katie will then travel solo to the Fairbourne Railway for the first time since 1924, for the line’s Bank Holiday Gala on May 25-27.
Ravenglass Railway Museum’s Projects & Activities manager, David Rounce, says: “Katie’s return to Fairbourne allows us to recreate a sight not seen for 95 years, and they’ve promised not to take the engine apart this time!”
It will also run at the Kirklees Light Railway’s gala on September 14/15.
Plans for Katie to go on a ‘farewell tour’ were first mooted in summer 2018 (SR483), although nothing had been confirmed at the time.