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, which was based in the old Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway engine shed at Southport.
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 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.
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, is one of the largest collection of locomotives in the United Kingdom.
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. This service is only operational in the summer months.A separate company, Ribble Rail, handles the freight traffic that uses the dock lines. Ribble Rail takes over from the Colas Rail locomotive, and carries the load – Bitumen – down to the Total plant near the Preston Riverside station.
A Colas Rail-operated train arrives at the riverside sidings near Strand Road Crossing with loaded oil tanks. The locomotive uncouples, runs round and takes the empty wagons. This process occurs very early in the morning on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
From here Ribble Rail shunts these wagons to the siding serving the nearby Total bitumen plant. After unloading, Ribble Rail returns the wagons to the riverside sidings for pick-up.
Future
The museum is currently located in an industrial estate, and is not well publicised. There were plans to build a station at the Strand Road Crossing, so that the railway could serve the busier side of the docks, in order that the line might be marketed as a passenger service in addition to pleasure rides.One of the more recent projects that is now planned to be underway in 2017 is the installation of a turntable at Riverside station, this will allow the operational running fleet to be turned in a bid to even out flangewear, it will also be ideal for when visiting locomotives visit the line.
A L&YR signal box was bought for the railway. It will be restored to its original condition, and put near the Preston Riverside station. Main foundation works are now complete, now awaiting a block construction wall to sit the box on to.
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.
Strand Road Crossing
Strand Road Crossing 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.Freight traffic
The only regular freight traffic in 2015 is bitumen which is brought in 15 tank wagons from Lindsey Oil Refinery for Total three times each week. After crossing the road it is taken a short distance further 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 station.Steam locomotives
The railway has a large collection of industrial steam engines and one main line locomotive.- FW = Facing Riverside
- FE = Facing Strand Road
Operational steam locomotives
Steam locomotives undergoing overhaul or restoration
| Number & Name | Type | Photograph | Livery | Notes |
| No. 20 | Furness Railway | FR Red | Built in 1863. FE. Owned by the Furness Railway Trust. Boiler ticket expired in 2018. Overhaul planned to commence in 2019. Boiler was lifted from frames on 27 October 2018. | |
| No. 53 "Windle" | Borrows | N/A | Built in 1909. Undergoing restoration, boiler removed for overhaul and unusable parts removed for eventual disposal. Loco currently sat inside the workshop. FW | |
| No 1833 "Niddrie" | Andrew Barclay | Light Green | Built in 1924. FE | |
| No. 1925 "Caliban" | Peckett and Sons | N/A | Built in 1937. Arrived on 14 July 2015 in pieces from Carnforth MPD. FE | |
| No. 1935 "Hornet" | Peckett and Sons | Light Green | Built in 1937. | |
| No 1999 "North Western Gas Board" | Peckett and Sons | N/A | Built in 1941. | |
| No. 2343 "British Gypsum no 4" | Andrew Barclay | British Gypsum Ocre | Built in 1953. Undergoing long term restoration by present owner. Formerly stored in the sidings at Carnforth MPD requiring major TLC, following purchase by present owner the engine moved to Preston and is now in the process of being restored. | |
| No. 3155 "Walkden" | Hunslet | WD Green | Built in 1944. Boiler ticket expired in 2017 and is undergoing overhaul following a couple of years on display in the museum. FW | |
| No 3793 "Shropshire" | Hunslet | Dark Blue | Built in 1953. | |
| No. 30072 | SR USA Class | KWVR Brown | Built in 1943. Formerly based at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway until 2015 when purchased by present owner and moved to Preston. Planned to return to the K&WVR on loan following completion of its overhaul. |
Locomotives in storage
| Number & Name | Type | Photograph | Livery | Notes |
| No. 25 | Furness Railway | N/A | Built in 1865. Owned by the Furness Railway Trust. Parts have already arrived as of October 2018 but the whole locomotive is yet to come. Awaiting restoration to steam. Previously at Steamtown Carnforth. Frames arrived at Ribble Steam Railway in November 2018 but restoration will not start until No. 20's overhaul has been completed. | |
| No. 26 | Avonside | N/A | Built in 1918. Stored in a non-public access shed. | |
| No. 48 "The King" | Borrows | Dark Green | Built in 1906. Recently been moved into the shed for stripping down for future restoration. FW | |
| No. 737 "Daphne" | Peckett and Sons | Maroon | Built in 1899. Presently stored at the far end of the RSR in a siding out of public view. | |
| No. 880 "Glenfield no 1" | Andrew Barclay | Light Green & black | Built in 1902. Arrived on 21 October from the Chasewater Railway after purchase by private owner for future restoration to running order. FW | |
| No. 1883 | Avonside | N/A | Built in 1922. Awaiting Restoration. | |
| No. 1954 "Kinsley" | Hunslet | ? | Built in 1939. Work began on her restoration before the move to Preston, but efforts have been focused on other locomotives since. | |
| No. 3855 "Glasshoughton" | Hunslet | N/A | Built in 1954. Boiler off site awaiting attention for the replacement of the inner firebox. Chassis is in a non-public access building. FE | |
| No. 3696 "Respite" | Hunslet | N/A | Built in 1950. Stored awaiting major restoration. | |
| No. 4979 "Wootton Hall" | GWR 4900 Class | N/A | Built at Swindon Works in Feb 1930. Moved from Appleby heritage centre to Preston in October 2015. Restoration of the tender is underway with the hope of commencing restoring the loco in the foreseeable future which is estimated to cost over £300,000. FE |
Diesel locomotives
The railway has a large collection of diesel locomotives either for shunting or use on passenger trains.Operational diesel locomotives
| Number & Name | Type | Photograph | Livery | Notes |
| No. 4 "Stanlow" | Thomas Hill | Green | Built in 1966. | |
| No. NS663 | NS Class 600 | NS Green | Built in 1956. Arrived at the railway in 2012 for varied use on bitumen trains and occasional passenger use. | |
| No. D2148 | British Rail Class 03 | BR Green | Built in 1960. Recently returned to service following a power unit swap. | |
| No. D2595 | British Rail Class 05 | BR Blue | Built in 1959. Probably the most regular diesel locomotive on passenger trains. One of the most powerful locomotives on the line. | |
| No. D9539 | British Rail Class 14 | BR Green | Built in 1960. | |
| No. 10165 "Energy" | Sentinel | Ribble Rail Blue | Built in 1965. Sees occasional use on bitumen trains | |
| No. 10283 "Progress" | Sentinel | Ribble Rail Blue | Built in 1968. Sees regular use on bitumen trains | |
| No. E79960 | Waggon und Maschinenbau railbus | BR Green | Built in 1958. On loan from the North Norfolk Railway |
Diesel locomotives under restoration / repair
| Number & Name | Type | Photograph | Livery | Notes |
| No. 2677 "D2870" | Yorkshire | BR Green | Built in 1960. Currently awaiting completion of replacement clutch mechanism. | |
| No. 03189 | British Rail Class 03 | N/A | Built in 1960. Currently undergoing a major overhaul. | |
| No. 27653 "BICC" | North British | Red | Built in 1957. | |
| No. 965 "Hotto" | Howard | Green | Built in 1930. | |
| No. 10282 "Enterprise" | Sentinel | Ribble Rail Blue | Built in 1968. Under repair |
Diesel locomotives stored awaiting repair
| Number & Name | Type | Photograph | Livery | Notes |
| No. D629 "Sparky" | Hudswell Clarke | Green | Built in 1944. Currently awaiting restoration. | |
| No. D1031 "Margaret" | Hudswell Clarke | N/A | Built in 1956. Currently awaiting restoration. | |
| No. 21999 "Fluff" | Fowler | Yellow | Built in 1937. Owned by the Furness Railway Trust. | |
| No. 2000 "Greenbat" | Greenwood & Batley | Green | Built in 1945. |
Locos on display in the museum
Locomotives that are not currently planned to be overhauled or if there is not a space available in the workshop are displayed inside the museum until they're called into the workshop.Steam locomotives
| Number & Name | Type | Photograph | Livery | Notes |
| No. 2 "Heysham" | Andrew Barclay | Blue | Built in 1928. Recently had a cosmetic overhaul. FW | |
| No. 2 "Agecroft" | RSH | Green | Built in 1947. Boiler ticket expired in late 2008, and the loco will be on display in the museum until workshop space is available. FW | |
| No. 19 "Pug" | L&YR Class 21 | Black | Built in 1910. FE | |
| No. 1147 "John Howe" | Andrew Barclay | Green and Black | Built in 1908. Boiler certificate expired in May 2015 and on display in the museum. FE | |
| No. 1439 | LNWR | Lined green | Built in 1862. FE | |
| No. 1598 "Efficient" | Andrew Barclay | Lined green | Built in 1918. FW | |
| No. 1568 "Lucy" | Avonside | Green | Built in 1909. FW | |
| No. 1636 Fonmon | Peckett and Sons | Lined Green | Built in 1924. Last worked in 2009 at the Spa Valley Railway. Arrived in 2016 and will eventually be returned to working order. | |
| No. 1865 "Alexander" | Andrew Barclay | Green | Built in 1926. Requires boiler repairs. FW | |
| No. 1969 "JN Derbyshire" | Andrew Barclay | Lined black | Built in 1929. Arrived at the railway in 2005. FW | |
| No. 2003 | Peckett and Sons | Blue | Built in 1941. On loan from the Middleton Railway. FW | |
| No. 8024 "Gasbag" | Sentinel | Blue | Built in 1929. Boiler ticket expired in 2008. FE | |
| No. 9373 "St Monans" | Sentinel | N/A | Built in 1947. FW |
Diesel and electric locomotives
| Number & Name | Type | Photograph | Livery | Notes |
| No. D628 "Mighty Atom" | Hudswell Clarke | Green | Built in 1943. | |
| No. 788 | English Electric | English Electric Green | Built in 1930. | |
| No. 4160001 | Fowler | Blue | built 1952. |