THE ‘Santa Special’ season may be the traditional end-of-year curtain call for the Ribble Steam Railway, but there will be no rest for the line’s workshop team during the January-February closure as further restorations and overhauls continue.
Two of the railway’s resident Pecketts have been the subject of a considerable amount of work, particularly on the restoration of ‘R4’ 0-4-0ST North Western Gas Board (1999/1941).
The cab and tanks have now been trial-fitted to ensure alignment, and the loco is back on its wheels following the completion of the axleboxes. The piston rods have been ground pending re-fitting, and over the winter the loco’s lubrication system will be upgraded.
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Nearby, former Black Park Colliery 0-4-0ST Hornet (1935/1937) has had all its boiler tubes removed head of its boiler lift, which will take place as soon as workshop space becomes available. The ‘W6 Special’ will be re-wheeled at the same time, with the tyres already turned and axleboxes re-metalled in house.
Read more in the December issue of The RM
