Scotsman returns for engine shed’s new beginning
Famous visitor takes pride of place as Britain’s last operational roundhouse engine shed opens its doors
IT WAS a day that marked a new era for a rare example of 19th century railway architecture and a reminder of Britain’s golden age of steam travel.
So it was only right that two of the world’s most famous steam locomotives were in view at the start of a weekend of celebrations for Derbyshire’s Barrow Hill Roundhouse, the last surviving operational roundhouse engine shed in Great Britain.
Following its £1.2m Heritage Lottery Fundsupported refurbishment, the new entrance building at the Midland Railway roundhouse was officially re-opened yesterday.
A grand re-opening gala is being held over the next three days, starring two of the best known steam locomotives, the National Railway Museum’s A3 60103 Flying Scotsman and A1 60163 Tornado.
Officials say it will be the first visit to the Roundhouse by the Flying Scotsman since a British Railways Open Day in 1974, over 40 years ago.
It will also be the first opportunity for many to get up close to the locomotive alongside her sister East Coast racehorse, the 100mph Tornado, which was recently the subject of a BBC4 documentary.
And in a last-minute addition, the steam locomotive line-up will be completed with the arrival of LMS Jinty Fowler 3F No. 47406, last seen at the Roundhouse’s LMS Gala ‘Barrow Hill 1965’ in September 2015.
Throughout the gala both Flying Scotsman and Tornado will haul passenger trains from the platform at Barrow Hill Halt up the Springwell branch line, supported by the Jinty. There will be brake van rides in the yard and a play written specially for the weekend.
Mervyn Allcock, the general manager of Barrow Hill Roundhouse, said: “Everyone here at the Roundhouse has been working very hard over the past few months to make this a weekend to remember not just for Barrow Hill but for Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire.
“We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Gala and the play and we hope everyone will have a fantastic time.”
Barrow Hill Roundhouse, which already attracts 23,000 visitors a year, is the last surviving railway roundhouse in the United Kingdom with an operational turntable.
Built in 1870, it was threatened with demolition in 1991 when the site was closed by British Rail. It was saved by a group of dedicated volunteers who have transformed it into a leading railway venue.
In March 2016 the Roundhouse was awarded £1.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for its ‘Moving Forward’ Project. The aim of the scheme is to broaden the Roundhouse audience to include families, learners, the local community and corporate use.
The HLF says this has been done through essential conservation repairs, a sympathetic extension that will create a new visible and accessible entrance and upgrading facilities.
Flying Scotsman was originally built in Doncaster for the London and North Eastern Railway, emerging from the works on February 24, 1923, and initially carrying the number 1472.
It was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley as part of the A1 class – the most powerful locomotives used by the railway on long -distance routes.
Tornado, its co-star over the weekend, was built in 2008 and became the first steam locomotive to officially reach 100mph in over 50 years on British tracks earlier this year.