Autumn Steam Gala

Come and join us for the final event of our main operating season, our Autumn Steam Gala.

For this event, it is planned to run five steam locomotives on each day

RSR regulars, Furness Number 20, Bagnall No.2680 “Courageous” and Grant Ritchie No.272 will be in action, but will be joined by :

• Borrows No.48 “The King”.  The locomotive last carried passengers in the 1990s, and after a couple of moves, spent many years on display in our museum building.  However, the locomotive has undertaken a full overhaul, and is now back on site ready for service. There are only 3 remaining examples of the locomotives of Edward Borrows company in St Helens, so a chance to ride behind one of them is rare indeed!
• Barclay 1969 “JN Derbyshire”.  Last steaming again in the 1990s at Steamtown in Carnforth, “JN” was another long term museum resident at Preston from opening in 2005 – however the locomotive underwent a restoration starting in 2023, and we are delighted to welcome the 12″ Barclay back into the operational fleet for this event

Regular performer “Courageous” is the youngest locomotive on the roster, being built in 1942, making her 82 years young – but that’s only half the age of Furness Railway No.20, at 161 years, Grant Ritchie 272 130 years old, with “The King” now being 118 years old, and the most recent addition “JN Derbyshire” now 95 years old – meaning the locomotive roster has a combined age of 586!

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All times are expected departures from Preston Riverside Station

09:45 – Demonstration Goods (no public access to the train, but photography opportunities) – “The King” & “JN Derbyshire”

10:45 – Passenger Service (For an additional supplement Coffee & Cake are available on this Train book here ) – “The King” & “JN Derbyshire” & FR20

11:30 – Passenger Service – “The King” & “JN Derbyshire” & 272

12:15 – Passenger Service (For an additional supplement a Ploughman’s lunch is available on this Train book here ) – 272 & FR20

13:00 – Passenger Service – “Courageous” & FR20

13:45 – Passenger Service – 272 & “Courageous” / “The King” & “JN Derbyshire”

14:30 – Passenger Service (For an additional supplement a Cream Tea is available on this Train book here ) – “Courageous” & FR20

15:20 – Passenger Service – 272 & “The King” & “JN Derbyshire”

16:05 – Passenger Service – 272 & “Courageous”

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All Standard tickets permit access to all scheduled passenger trains throughout the day – Although there are no seat reservations available, so we suggest you board early to avoid disappointment.

Tickets also give access to our interactive museum, and workshop tours led by one of our volunteer workforce will be available at various times throughout the day.

Ticket prices are below, but as usual, you can book in advance if you choose, but you’re also able to pay on arrival.

Do remember, all rostered locomotives are subject to availability and operating circumstances