NRM’S ‘LANKY’ DUO FOR DISPLAY AT HORWICH WORKS?
Erecting shop bites the dust, but 2-4-2T and Wren could return to site.
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 2-4-2T No. 1008 could return to Horwich Works, along with narrow gauge shunter Wren.
Although the erecting shop of the L&Y works is being demolished to make way for a new road, Bolton Council and Bolton Museum Services have approached the National Railway Museum for the loan of both engines, to be displayed as part of a proposed ‘heritage core’ on the site.
Talks are still in the early stages, the initial approach having taken place in the autumn, and details such as the length of the possible loan are still to be confirmed.
The plan would be dependent upon covered accommodation being provided, but one possibility (subject to planning application) is that the engines could be displayed in the former joiner’s and pattern-maker’s shop, or the adjacent millwright’s shop, both of which are to be retained.
NRM PR and press manager Simon Baylis said: “It’s very early days with this one, so there’s not much to say at the moment. We can confirm that the National Railway Museum has been involved in informal discussions with Bolton Council concerning the potential loan of collection items for display at the former Horwich Works site. However, these discussions are at a very early stage and we have not received a firm proposal.”
Councillor David Greenhalgh, leader of Bolton Council, said: “We are rightly proud of the area’s rich heritage, and we want the development to reflect this.
“As well as the engines, we are looking at other ideas for the ‘heritage core’, working with our friends at Horwich and Blackrod town councils and in the community to ensure there are permanent reminders of the site’s proud history.”
The Aspinall Class ‘5’ 2-4-2T was the first locomotive constructed at the works, in February 1889, and was restored there for the National Collection following its withdrawal from BR service in 1954. Beyer Peacock-built 0-4-0STT Wren is the last survivor of eight engines that ran on the works’ internal 18-inch gauge railway system.
Both are on display in the NRM at York, and Wren is not thought to have steamed in preservation, although the 2-4-2T is reputed to have made a test run to Chorley and back following its restoration at Horwich (see pages 54-55).
Constructed in 1887 to replace the LYR’s original workshops at Newton Heath and Bury, Horwich Works was fully operational
by 1892. It built its last steam locomotive, BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-0
No. 76099, in November 1957, while ‘8F’ No. 48756 was the last to be overhauled there, in May 1964. BR Engineering Ltd closed the works in 1983, since when the buildings have seen various industrial uses.
As reported in SR497, the erecting shop stands in the way of a new road between Horwich town centre and the M61, which could not be realigned without disturbing dumps of asbestos from locomotives overhauled at the site.
The road is part of the
£262 million Rivington Chase development in which 1,700 new homes will be constructed on the site – but developer Bluemantle, the council and Horwich Heritage organised a final tour of the erecting shop on January 4.
Demolition had already commenced, with part of the roof removed, but as much material as possible – including bricks and steelwork – will be retained, with the possibility that some could be used as part of the ‘heritage core’.
Other parts of the works that survive are the former stores building – which will be left standing, although its possible future use is unknown – and the main office building, now known as Rivington House and occupied by loan broker Fluent Money Ltd. This firm also plans to pay tribute to the site’s history, with railway-themed displays and names such as ‘The Engine Shed’ and ‘The Forge’ for its communal and meeting rooms.