A wet day on the 2'gauge WLLR
Rain, steam and... West Lancs
5 October 2003
After an overnight stay in York, we drove across the Pennines
under a clear blue sky, in bright autumn sunshine. The bank
of cloud to the west, visible as we dropped down towards
Preston, looked rather ominous though. Sure enough, we
arrived at Hesketh Bank, home of the railway, in steady light
rain. It eased a little for a while - the sun peeped through for
a minute or two - but eventually became heavier. The small
exhibits in the workshops became rather popular....
The occasion was "Industrial Day", which promised "all available
engines in steam; demonstration freight trains, hauled by steam
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
and diesel locomotives....." The available steam locos proved to
be 100-year-old "Irish Mail" (HE823 of 1903), 0-4-2ST Kerr Stuart
"Stanhope" (KS2395 of 1917) and "Montalban" (Orenstein and
Koppel 6641 of 1913) - a fine and varied trio. Each took turns
running the passenger service and demonstration freight along
the (short) main line - a pleasantly wooded route beside a
former clay pit. A pair of Rustons worked another short
demonstration freight in the yard - plenty to see and do while
dodging the raindrops. It would have been great to stay a bit
longer - but the rain (and lack of lunch...) got the better of us.
Link:
West Lancs Light Railway
