Furness Railway No. 20 returns to action
Britain’s oldest working standard gauge steam loco back in traffic.
THE oldest steamable standard gauge steam locomotive in the British Isles has returned to service, following the completion of its overhaul by owners, the Furness Railway Trust (FRT).
Furness Railway No. 20 was built by Sharp, Stewart in 1863 as an 0-4-0 tender loco, before being sold to the Barrow Haematite Steel Co and subsequently converted to an 0-4-0ST.
Acquired by the FRT in 1990, the loco became the group’s flagship and was restored to original condition. It was formally relaunched into service on April 20, 1999.
Having operated regularly at Locomotion Shildon for much of its last decade in traffic, it was withdrawn for overhaul at the Ribble Steam Railway (RSR) in July 2018, where the FRT is based.
Overhaul
Largely undertaken by FRT volunteers, the work has been described as a more intense heavy general-type overhaul. It has included the manufacture of new springs to replace those from the loco’s spell in industry, which it is hoped will lead to a smoother ride on the footplate. No. 20 has also benefited from a full repaint into 1860s Furness Railway livery.
After successfully being assessed by the boiler inspector on October 7, the loco now has a new 10-year ticket.
Asked about the next steps, FRT secretary Neil Smith told the RM: “Trustees are currently considering plans for next year. Hire arrangements remain to be confirmed, although there has been some interest.
“We have however, planned for No. 20 to stretch its legs at the RSR before the end of the year.”
The FRT now has three operational steam locos.
Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria (3794/1953) is in traffic at the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, while GWR 0-62T No. 5643 continues in service at the East Lancashire Railway (ELR). The ‘56XX’ has received attention to its valves at ELR over the summer and is now performing well, hauling 11/12 coach trains with ease.
Meanwhile, the restoration of GWR 4-6-0 ‘Hall’ No. 4979 Wootton Hall from Barry scrapyard condition is progressing steadily.
To date, the focus has been on the tender, which is now a rolling chassis. While some work remains to be completed on the tender chassis, the next step is to fit the tender tank top. The original tank and coal space was badly wasted so a new
GWR 4000 gallon Collett type was acquired. It requires some repairs but is otherwise sound – parts are being fabricated for it. Once the tender is complete, efforts will be refocused on the mechanical side of the loco, followed by the boiler.
Future
A longer term project is the return to steam of the group’s other Furness Railway loco – No. 25, acquired from Bert Hitchen.
“We will continue with Bert’s plan to return it to steelworks condition as an 0-4-0ST so that we can tell the story,” explained Mr Smith.
“Currently a kit of parts, it needs a new boiler. For the last three years, efforts have been focused on sister loco No. 20.”
Earlier in the year, a 100-year lease was signed with Preston City Council, RSR’s landlord, securing FRT’s future on the site.