Ribble Steam Railway

The Ribble Steam Railway is a standard gauge preserved railway in Lancashire, in the United Kingdom. It was opened to the public on 17 September 2005, running along Preston Docks. The railway began by housing much of the collection from the previously closed Southport Railway Museum (Steamport), which was based in the old Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway engine shed at Southport (BR shed code 27C). The railway lines around Preston Dock largely fell into disuse after the closure of the docks. A preservation group that was operating in Southport relocated to Preston in 1999 and started operations as the Ribble Steam Railway in 2005. Its operations base is at Preston Riverside but they run trains as far as Strand Road although there is no facility for locomotives to run round their train here. The Riverside station is quite a way from Preston city centre, but proposals have been made for a platform to be constructed at Strand Road. This would be close to the Portway terminus of the Preston park and ride service, Guild Wheel walking trail and the River Ribble.

1. History

The project was first started in 1973, a preservation centre opened in Southport, on the former Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway steam shed at Derby Road. However, the shed was becoming a costly burden to handle for the museum, so a relocation scheme was started. Preston Docks was chosen as the new location for the museum. Preston Docks has a large railway network, that used to serve the vast docks and quays. But when the docks closed, the railway was not used. The project finally closed the Southport Railway Museum in 1999. The project's new site now could be re-developed with new large workshops, platforms and a museum. The first building to open was the workshop, in 2001. Locomotives could now go into the building, and more space could now be utilised. Next to the workshop, is the machine shop, built in 1978. At the other end of the workshop is the visitor centre, which contains the museum, cafe, shop and railway platform. The museum was finally completed in 2004. The collection of locomotives (61, one on loan from the National Railway Museum, one from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Trust. 55 are currently on site.), is one of the largest collection of locomotives in the United Kingdom.

1. Operations

The museum also operates passenger services to Strand Road Crossing and back, from its own station – Preston Riverside. The frequency of its trains is hourly, and are usually made up of two or more Mark 1 coaches and a small steam engine or diesel engine.

1. Future

There have also been plans to extend the railway to the Ribble Link canal. The route would offer 1.5 miles extra to the line, although plans for this have not been finalised as major funding streams need to be found, in order to raise the huge amount of funds required for such a significant project.

1. Strand Road Crossing

Strand Road Crossing (53°45′21″N 2°43′3″W) is a level crossing in Preston, Lancashire. It is situated on a freight-only branch line from Preston railway station which is used by trains serving Preston Docks. The Ribble Steam Railway terminates adjacent to the level crossing and it is proposed that a station should be built on the site.

1. = Freight traffic =

The only regular freight traffic on the line was to deliver bitumen, transported using a consist of 15 tank wagons from Lindsey Oil Refinery, Lincolnshire to Total's Preston facility, three times weekly. After crossing the road it was taken a short distance to a group of three railway tracks. The main line locomotive switches to a train of empty wagons while a small diesel locomotive takes the full train on to the Lanfina Siding which is adjacent to Lockside Road near Preston Riverside station. The Lanfina sidings are located across the road (Chain Caul Way) from Total's Bitumen works at Lanfina house, where product was pumped from the tankers to the facility via an overhead gantry. This practice came to an end in January 2025, when deliveries switched to road transport.

1. See also

Riversway Riversway railway station Strand Road Crossing Preston List of transport museums

1. References


1. External links

Official website Information on the railway, Preston Docks Pictures of the railway videos of the Ribble Steam Railway, YouTube Strand Road Crossing - YouTube clips of train crossing

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Furness Railway Trust

The Furness Railway Trust is a heritage railway preservation organisation many of whose properties were originally owned by the Furness Railway. It is now based at the Ribble Steam Railway at Preston, Lancashire, England following its relocation from the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. New accommodation which is shared with the Ribble Steam Railway has been built and is used to house, restore and maintain the Trust's locomotives and other vehicles. The Trust often hires its locomotives and stock to other privately owned railways in the UK where they can be seen at work and on display. The Trust owns two Sharp, Stewart and Company locomotives: Furness Railway Nº20, Britain's oldest working standard gauge steam locomotive, is now operational following the completion of its second 10-year overhaul and rebuild to its original form. Furness Railway Nº25, ownership passed to FRT in 2015 after the death of Bert Hitchen, it is to be restored to operating order as an 0-4-0ST, the form in which it was rebuilt for the Barrow Hematite Steel Company when sold by Furness Railway. The locomotive is now at the Trust's base at the Ribble Steam Railway following its transfer from 'Steamtown' - (formerly Carnforth MPD). Additionally, the Trust also owns: Peckett and Sons 'OY' Class 0-4-0ST 'No.1'. Completed by the Peckett Works in February 1937 for Courtaulds Red Scar Works Preston. In May 1973 and named 'Caliban', it hauled the first trains on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. Currently undergoing overhaul at Preston, contracts have been let for the manufacture and refurbishment of many new parts. GWR 5600 Class 0-6-2T No. 5643, acquired by the Lakeside Railway Society and restored to working order at Haverthwaite. It is currently undergoing an overhaul at Preston. It is hoped that the overhaul will be completed in 2025 - its centenary year. GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 No. 4979 Wootton Hall was purchased by the Trust in 1994 from the Fleetwood Locomotive Centre. It was moved to and stored at the Lytham Motive Power Centre and later to Appleby. In 2014 the loco and tender were moved to the Trust's workshop at Preston where much progress has been made and many parts have been trial fitted to the locomotive. An original Collett 3400-gallon tender tank was located, purchased, restored and has been fitted to the tender frames using as many of the reusable parts as possible from the original tank. War Department No. WD 194 Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST now named Cumbria (currently at the Embsay Steam Railway) John Fowler & Co. 0-4-0DM, 'No.2' Fluff, Being rebuilt at Preston, a replacement engine has now been obtained. The Trust also owns several other passenger and goods vehicles, including: A North London Railway 2nd Class carriage (currently on hire to the Beamish Open Air Museum) Great Eastern Railway No.5 Princess Alexandra's Royal Saloon. Following an extended period of hire at the Beamish Open Air Museum the coach returned to Preston for refurbishment. It is now in use at the Ribble Steam Railway and is available for hire. A set of vintage carriages which when restored will be formed into a vintage passenger train. The only surviving Furness Railway goods wagon - bogie bolster No. 5999 LMS goods brake van no. M731874 (currently at the Rutland Railway Museum in the East Midlands)

Landmark Museum

Preston Riverside railway station

Preston Riverside railway station is the only station on the heritage Ribble Steam Railway, in Riversway, Preston, Lancashire, England. It was built and opened in 2005, adjacent to the museum and workshops, while providing a heritage service to Strand Road Crossing. The basic station is one platform, which can accommodate 5 coaches, built onto the side of the museum of the railway. Opposite the station, there is a single siding for storage of bitumen tanks, and one run-round loop. There is very little on the actual station, however there are a couple of plant pots, benches and information displays. Services from the station are hourly, and they go to the Strand Road Crossing. These services are only available during the railway operating season and on special events.

Landmark Museum

Riversway

Riversway was an electoral ward in Preston, Lancashire, England. The ward was named for its location close to the River Ribble, and the historical links to the former Port of Preston. The ward comprised three distinct areas; the former Docklands, now a shopping area and residential community, with new build apartments and housing overlooking the dock; Broadgate, the residential area built during the Industrial Revolution; and Christ Church, a community of traditional terraced housing. The ward contained the administrative headquarters of Lancashire County Council. Riversway returned three members to Preston City Council, elected 'in thirds' in first past the post elections each year. The ward formed part of the Lancashire County Council electoral division of Preston City. The ward was abolished for the 2019 Preston City Council election. The Docklands area was transferred to Ashton ward; areas east of the A582 Strand Road/Guild Way became part of the new City Centre ward.

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Larches, Preston

Larches is one of the districts of Preston, Lancashire, England. The area, north-west of Preston city centre, is a mix of social and private housing, although both components of the ward – Larches, and Savick – are largely post-war council estates. Ashton Park is in the middle of the current ward, which borders Riversway and the civil parish of Lea. The area of Larches is part of Ashton-on-Ribble, which was part of the former hundred of Amounderness. With small businesses and shops in the area, the population are largely commute-to-work families and retirees. The citywide Preston Bus service runs through both sides of the Larches ward, and routes operated by Stagecoach between Preston and Blackpool also serve the area. Three members of Preston City Council, elected 'in thirds' in first past the post elections each year, are returned from the ward. The ward and neighbouring Ashton forms part of the Lancashire County Council electoral division of Preston North West.

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