UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY - QUARRY LOCO WEEKEND

QUARRY ENGINES WEEKEND
SUN/MON AUGUST 29th/30th 2010
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY, TO SEE THE Ex PENRHYN PAIR ‘STANHOPE’ AND ‘EDWARD SHOLTO’, BACK TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1961. TOGETHER WITH RESIDENT Ex DINORWIC LOCO ‘IRISH MAIL’.
August Bank Holiday weekend, August 30th-31st. A unique, not-to-be-repeated opportunity has given us the opportunity to operate three very special steam locomotives together, each one of which once hauled slates out of the slate quarries of North Wales.

After a hard life in the slate quarries, each of these locomotives has been rescued and lovingly restored - each has its own story to tell. The locomotives are:

Stanhope - This loco worked in the Penrhyn quarries. It later suffered the dreadful fate of being dismantled and its parts were dispersed, but they were reassmebled thanks to remarkable detective work and massive determination. Stanhope has been on the West Lancs Light Railway for 10 years but this will be its last appearance at Hesketh Bank before it is moved to the newly-completed Apedale Light Railway in Staffordshire.

Edward Sholto - This loco also worked in the Penrhyn quarry and has been carefully and patiently restored, a long process which has only recently been completed. We are fortunate to be receiving a brief visit from Edward Sholto so soon after completion of its restoration.

Irish Mail - our 'flagship' loco, Irish Mail worked high up in the Dinorwic quarries, where it was eventually abandoned. Members of the West Lancs Light Railway bought it, and restored it to working order. It was the first steam locomotive to operate on our railway.

WEST LANCASHIRE LIGHT RAILWAY, STATION ROAD, HESKETH BANK, PR4 6SP
For Details of how to find us see our website www.westlancs.org

 

Wow! This sounds like a great weekend. I missed seeing Edward Sholto at the great quarry gathering at Hollycombe (which is very near to me) this Spring due to a very nasty but mercifully brief illness. Even though you're 300 miles away, I'll try to get a couple of days compassionate leave!

 

Called into here today for an hour or so as I live locally, well worth the visit. Shame it wasn't advertised on the railways website, I'm sure that would have brought a few more people in? Still, it's a nice little set up, and I'd recommend it if you're in the area!

A few pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theviewfromthenorth/sets/72157624834781690/