West Lancashire Light Railway
No. 21. Stanhope.
|
|
| Locale | England |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 1967–present |
| Track gauge | 2 ft (610 mm) |
| Length | 430 yards (393 m) |
| Headquarters | Hesketh Bank |
Coordinates: 53°42′01″N 2°50′19″W / 53.7003°N 2.8387°W
The West Lancashire Light Railway operates at Hesketh Bank, situated between Preston and Southport in North West England. The Railway is 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge and has a running length of 430 yards (393 m). The full line is longer than this however it follows a ledge above the old clay pit which is narrow enough to prohibit the building of a run round loop. An extension is planned. The line now boasts eight steam locomotives, four of which are in operating condition, one is currently being restored and another is on static display. There are also two electric locomotives and many IC locomotives. See Locomotives section for details.
The line was first envisaged by six like-minded school boys who wanted to save the light railway equipment which was disappearing from local industries. The first problem was finding a suitable site, this was solved when a strip of land above the clay pits at Alty's Brickworks. In 1967 the group of six started laying track using rails from the former clay tramways and rough timbers as sleepers.
Two locos were soon acquired both of Ruston and Hornsby design, one a 13 hp diesel, the other a 20 hp diesel. Respectively named Clwyd and Tawd, these two locos were soon joined by more industrial diesels and the first home-built items of rolling stock.
In 1980 the railway saw the WLLRs first steam locomotive, Irish Mail, in steam. This was a significant achievement for the line as the loco, bought at an auction at Dinorwic slate quarry in Wales, had not had a boiler when acquired by the railway. This fact meant that a new one had to be sourced and brought to the railway. This necessity eventually led the members of the West Lancs to retrieve the remnants of Alice, a loco of the same design as Irish Mail, from the top of Dinorwic slate quarry, a location which had previously foiled attempts from other interested railway preservationists. Irish Mail was completely rebuilt on site using the original boiler from Alice.
...
Wikipedia