Ribble plans post-Covid-19 September steam gala

THE Ribble Steam Railway’s (RSR) is pushing ahead with plans for an Autumn Steam

Gala later in the year despite the current coronavirus lockdown.

This positive news comes after the RSR’s March 28-29 Spring Steam Gala and the visit by ex-Kiveton Park Colliery Hudswell, Clarke 0-4-0ST Waleswood (750/1906) from the Chasewater Railway was scuppered because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The September 26-27 event will feature up to four locomotives in action, including Preston Docks lookalike Bagnall 0-6-0ST Courageous (2680/1942), ex-British Steel Corporation

Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0ST Linda (3931/1938), and former Kinglassie Colliery Grant, Ritchie 0-4-0ST No. 21 (272/1894).

Timetable

The gala timetable will see the locos working individually, double-headed, or top-andtailed on passenger services between Preston Riverside and Strand Road. An early morning goods train is also expected to run each day, featuring at least two of the RSR’s restored five-plank wagons.

The railway hopes to have a rake of six available eventually, including four ex-GWR five-plank wagons, a Midland three-plank wagon and an original Preston City Council (PCC) wagon.

All six will carry PCC livery on one side, while the other will be painted to represent typical private-owner wagons found in the Dock area.

At the time of writing the

RSR was unable to say what the fourth loco might be, largely owing to the on-going uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 and when the railway might be able to reopen.

One possibility is a gala debut by Peckett ‘W6 Special’ 0-4-0ST Hornet (1935/1937), the restoration of which is nearing completion in the RSR’s Preston workshop.

The former Black Park Colliery loco’s rebuilt boiler underwent an initial hydraulic test shortly before the railway closed in March, and a question mark remains over whether the rebuild can be completed in time for the September event.

Boiler leaks

“As anticipated, there were a few leaks from the boiler, although ironically none from the recently repaired areas,” said RSR chairman Dave Watkins.

“Then came the lockdown and all play has obviously stopped, so we cannot predict whether Hornet will be ready for September.”