Britain’s Oldest Working Locomotive and After Dark Running for Poppy Line Steam Gala

 

The North Norfolk Railway is set to welcome Furness Railway No 20 for the line’s Steam Gala on 24 and 25 October. The 1863-veteran, Britain’s oldest working locomotive will be paired with the Poppy Line’s train of unique Victorian era carriages built between 1884 and 1899. No 20 is one of three centenarians set to feature in an eight-locomotive line up for the Gala with ex GWR 42XX No 4277 dating from 1920 and recently-overhauled year-old GNR N2 No 1744 which was built a year later also due to appear.

 

No 20 is a remarkable survivor having spent just seven years working on the Furness Railway for which she was built before the small 0-4-0 tender engine was displaced by larger locomotives. She was sold to the Barrow Haematite Steel Co. and worked at their Barrow steelworks until 1960s. After almost a quarter-of-a-century standing in the grounds of a special school, No 20 was purchased for preservation, and eventually acquired by the Furness Railway Trust and restored thank to a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant. The engine is now sports the distinctive Indian Red livery of the Furness Railway and this will be her first appearance at the Poppy Line.

 

The Gala will provide an opportunity for passengers to travel aboard 5 different rakes of carriages: the Victorian train, the unique teak Quad-Arts, 1950s BR Suburban set and two BR Mark 1 sets one of which will include a dining cars offering Brunch on Board (advance booking essential) while the second will feature Gresley Buffet Car E9128E dating from 1937 whose bar will be serving real ale.

 

With British Summer Time ending on 24 October, the Saturday timetable has been extended into the early evening to give visitors the chance to travel by steam after dark. Fish & Chips (advance booking essential) and real ale are available on selected departures.

 

General Manager, Graham Hukins said “We are looking forward to putting on an excellent show at the gala. Furness No 20 hauling our Victorian carriages will be a highlight for many. Each of the five coaches is unique and to have a whole train dating from the 19th Century is very unusual indeed. The Victorian train will also be one of those that makes an after-dark run, the first time the train has run after dark on public services.

 

“With seven steam engines each day, demonstration goods trains, real ale and shed tours it promises to be a packed weekend and we should particularly like to thank the Furness Railway Trust and Ribble Steam Railway for allowing No 20 to appear” he added.

 

The final locomotive roster on each day will include seven from the eight expected to be available with the planned spare engine likely to change between Saturday and Sunday so all eight are involved during the weekend.  In addition to No 20, 4277 and 1744 the line’s smallest working engine “Wissington”, Hunslets “Newstead” and No 22, WD 90775 and BR Standard 4MT 80080 are all slated to appear.

 

Following the Gala, No.20, “Wissington” and the Victorian Train are scheduled to run as part of the line’s October half-term services from 26 October until 1 November, alongside a series of “Enchanted Experiences” for younger visitors. More details for the Gala can be found via https://nnrailway.co.uk/opening-dates/.