Just down the road from the Ribble Steam railway is the short 2 foot gauge railway called the West Lancashire light railway. Originated by workers in the local brickworks who rescued a variety of stock and track it is a line I've been meaning to get too for ages. Situated in Hesketh bank to the South of Preston it only has half a mile of track but a vast collection of locos. Main motive power on the day was Hunslet built 0-4-0ST Irish Mail works number 823 of 1903 Just out of ticker and withdrawn a few weks ago for overhaul was Joffre, A genuine first world war trench loco. This Kerr Stuart 0-6-0T was built in 1915 and was rumoured to have been involved in the Battle of the Somme We had an escorted tour of the workshops were Montalban, An Orenstein & Koppel 0-4-0WT of 1913 vintageis being re-assembled Behind it was Sybil, with its characteristic round firebox. This is a completely new firebox and involves some serious rivetting The most basic loco you can get. A petrol powered Lister
More substantial is one of the many Motor rail examples. These things are really basic but easy to keep going An immaculate Huswell Clark 'Fire proofed' loco Another Motor rail and a Ruston Hornsby A rudimentary side tipper typical of thousands buil for the 2 foot gauge over the years video at Kev
Anf my favourite? John Fowler 15591 of 1923 'Cheetal' an Ex Karachi Port trust locomotive repatriated back to the U.K Needa lot of work!
Normally, the bigger the locomotive, the better I like it (I witnessed Big Boy 4014 up close in 2019) but that video is fascinating! Doug
As a fan of small operations, such as Maine 2 footers, I love seeing the small critters like these examples.
We made a, long overdue, return visit yesterday We knew Sybil ( Bagnall 1760 of 1906) was complete and running as we had ridden behind her at the Summer Steam gala at Threlkeld Quarry trundling through the fallen leaves at Delph And scuttling through the complex of sheds at Hesketh bank They have made a really nice job of the restoration Hidden in the trees and overdue for resoration is Planet 4wDM no 39 (FH 3916 of 1959) A lovely little Lister 4wPM (L 29890 of 1946) Basic to say the least A Ruston Hornsby 4wDM (RH 264251 of 1951) has rather more substantial bodywork Just behind it is Joffre which is now undergoing a boiler rebuild. They found all sort of things wrong with it from its last overhaul Kev
