SteamingNorth.com ... (Click on a picture to open that album and then on a picture to enlarge it...........Pictures copyright of Author

Personal blog of Steam Galas & Mainline Steam running from around the North of England. Pictures copyright of Author!!

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LNER A3 4-6-2- pacific - 60103 "Flying Scotsman" 25 views60103 "Flying Scotsman" in the down loop line backing onto the support coach.

LNER A3 4-6-2- pacific - 60103 "Flying Scotsman" 25 views60103 "Flying Scotsman" now moved around the station into the up loop to take on water

LMS Stanier Jubilee - 45690 "Leander" SR Battle of Britain class 34067 "Tangmere"25 views29/01/2022 - LMS Stanier Jubilee - 45690 "Leander" pilots SR Pacific Battle of Britain class - 34067 "Tangmere" approaching Ais Gill Summit on the "Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express" from Carlisle as far as Preston heading for London Euston.

English Electric EE788/193025 viewsThis 70hp battery electric locomotive is the only one left from hundreds of this type that were built. It worked at the Stafford works of English Electric, after being built by the company at the Dick Kerr works on Strand Road in Preston.

This particular loco had the distinction of being hauled up the LMS mainline every five years to its birthplace for overhaul. It spent its entire working life in Stafford, despite the name changes taken on by the business during its evolution.

It was rescued from the scrapman and purchased from GEC Turbine Generators in Feb 1986 and moved to the Foxfield Light Railway. Restoration of the internal fittings commenced whilst on site there. It was later purchased by RSR in 1996 and work has been completed on the external restoration of the loco for display in the museum.

Andrew Barclay 1969/1929 ‘JN Derbyshire’25 views
‘JN Derbyshire’ was built at the Caledonia works of Andrew Barclay & Sons in Kilmarnock. It is a Barclay saddle tank with 12″ cylinders. The loco was purchased by the Carlisle Plaster & Cement Company (now British Gypsum) and worked at their Cocklakes Works, near Cumwhinton.

The loco was purchased upon retirement, along with a number of sister locos, and was taken to Steamtown, Carnforth for preservation. The loco was named “Jane Derbyshire” for some time whilst at Steamtown – but the original title has now been restored.

The loco arrived at Preston on Sunday 17th July 2005, and due to the fantastic external condition of the loco, is displayed in the museum building. There are no immediate plans to return the loco to steam.

Fowler 4160001/1952 ‘Persil’25 viewsThis small diesel mechanical shunting locomotive was built by John Fowler of Leeds in 1952. Works No. 4160001, she was the prototype of her class and is powered by a McLaren diesel engine with mechanical transmission to four outside coupled wheels.

“Persil” worked at the soap works of Joseph Crosfield & Sons at Warrington until 1971, when they presented it to Steamport. It was the first exhibit for the Southport museum, and was delivered onto track adjacent to the museum premises on 12th January 1972, before the opening of the museum.

After seeing some work in those early days, Persil fell out of use and was replaced by locomotives which were easier to manage & maintain. Various long term problems, including the condition of the locomotives tyres have restricted any attempts to bring Persil back into use. The Fowler was brought to Preston, and arrived on 20th February 1999. The locomotive has undergone a refresh of it’s paintwork, being restored into its original blue livery and displayed within the museum as a good example of an early diesel shunter design.

Sentinel 9373/1947 ‘St Monans’25 viewsSt Monans is a 100hp geared four wheel steam locomotive with a vertical boiler and cylinders which was built in 1947 by the Shrewsbury firm of Sentinels Ltd.
It was delivered new to the Hawton Plaster works of what later became British Gypsum Ltd, Newark. Taking it’s name from Andrew Barclay 279 of 1885, it worked here until being displaced by a diesel in 1971.

It was initially sold to a member of the GCR at Loughborough where restoration work was commenced. It was then re-sold and arrived at Southport in October 1979, where work was completed. Another regular performer at Southport, the loco eventually left traffic after the superheater failed in the early 1990s, and hasn’t steamed since. The engine was mov

Hudswell Clarke D628/1943 ‘Mighty Atom’25 viewsMighty Atom was built by Hudswell Clarke of Leeds (Works Number D628) in 1943. The locomotive is diesel-mechanical but retains some steam outline feature such as the funnel.

Delivered to Springfields Works munitions factory outside Preston during World War 2 (10 December 1943) the locomotive was built with all electric circuits in conduit and the engine exhaust passed through a water trap to prevent sparks which could have caused an explosion. D628 worked at what became a nuclear fuel factory until the early 1990s when it and sister locomotive D629 (of 1945) became redundant.

Saved from the scrap man’s torch by a group of then BNFL employees and restored the locomotive was named Mighty Atom on the 50th anniversary of its arrival at Springfields (10 December 1993). It was moved to Steamport, Southport in July 1995 as all rails at the BNFL factory were being lifted and saw brief use at its new home. The mechanical gearbox was too delicate for regular use and she was taken out of service.
Mighty Atom has been recently repainted and prepared as a museum exhibit.

SR Pacific - 4 6 2 - Western County Class -34092 "City of Wells"25 views02/01/2023 - SR Pacific - 4 6 2 - Western County Class -34092 "City of Wells" setting off at Heywood for the 12,25 to Rawtenstall.

SR Pacific - 4 6 2 - Western County Class -34092 "City of Wells"25 views02/01/2023 - SR Pacific - 4 6 2 - Western County Class -34092 "City of Wells" arriving at Ramsbottom on the 12.25 to Rawtenstall from Heywood - note the head board code has changed.

SR Battle of Britain Class - 34067 "Tangmere"25 views16/08/2023 - 34067 Tangmere takes on water at Hellifield on a loaded test run (now 5M51) around the circuit back to Carnforth.

SR Battle of Britain Class - 34067 "Tangmere"25 views16/08/2023 - 34067 "Tangmere" starts the climb up Whalley Banks towards Blackburn on 5m51 loaded test run back to Carhforth at Billington foot crossing,