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Full steam ahead
From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, first published Friday 16th Jul 2004.
IT was full steam ahead when more than 500 rail enthusiasts rolled up to the Ribble Steam Railway Museum, Preston, at the weekend.
Renovated tracks by the museum, in Chain Caul Road, Ashton, provided a viewing area, and visitors even got a chance to go in the workshop where engines are restored to their former glory.
A big crowd puller was the 38-ton Agecroft No. 2 engine, one of four built by Robert Stephens and Hawthorne in 1948, and in service until the 1960s.
It was re-built in Preston 15 years ago, but in its day it operated between Manchester and Bolton. It was about a quarter of the size of the Flying Scotsman.
On Sunday, South Ribble Preservation Trust ran a free heritage bus link between Riversway and Leyland vehicles, gathering at Leyland Trucks factory, Farington, and the British Commercial Vehicle Museum, King Street, Leyland.
Tony Kuivala, curator at the museum, said: "It went very well but people seemed more interested in viewing the workshop, where we build the steam locomotives, than the museum."
He said the buses were well received and added: "Hopefully the museum will be open to the public on a more regular basis this time next year and both the museum and workshop open fully for visitors in two or three years' time."
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