THE FURNESS RAILWAY TRUST

Furness Railway Number 20

The flagship of the FRT fleet, FR20 is the oldest working steam locomotive in the country! Originally built for the FR in 1863, the engine then saw lengthy service at the Barrow steelworks before being saved for first static and then living preservation!

FR 20 is at the Ribble Steam Railway at Preston where it will be steaming until the expiry of its current 10 year boiler "ticket" on 8th July 2018, following which its second heavy general overhaul in preservation will begin.  

Barrow Haematite Steelworks Company Number 17 (former FR25)

Thanks to a generous donation, 1865-built Furness Railway Number 25, and later BHSCo Number 17, has joined our collection. This means with FR20 and Fluff, we now own all the surviving Barrow steelworks locomotives.

Subject to a full survey, it is our hope to continue the work of the late Bert Hitchen, the previous owner, and restore the loco in its steelworks guise as BHSCo 17. 

Austerity 0-6-0ST Cumbria

Our first steam locomotive, Cumbria served with the War Department before being bought in 1973. It passed the 100,000 mile mark on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway and is now hired out to heritage railways.

It is currently on hire alongside the FRT's 5643 at the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway in the Yorkshire Dales. 

GWR 0-6-2T 5643

The Trust's roving ambassador is again at the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway for 2018 but this year is joined by FRT stablemate Cumbria.

See where it is and its future programme, read its history, find out how the restoration progressed, discover how you can still help, and look back at the successful boiler tube appeal.

GWR 4-6-0 4979 Wootton Hall

Our "big" engine is inside the FRT's workshop at the Ribble Steam Railway in Preston.

Work is getting underway on its major overhaul from Barry condition. The plan is to overhaul the tender, which requires a brand new tank and coal space, before tackling the locomotive, though small jobs will be undertaken on the locomotive when time and resources permit.

Fluff

Our very first engine, this diminutive internal combustion locomotive was bought from the Barrow Steelworks where it worked alongside FR20 and BHSCo17. It's now undergone cosmetic restoration and work is beginning to see if it can be restored to working order.

Fluff spent three years on display at Vintage Vehicles, Shildon, but has now been moved to the Trust's home base at the Ribble Steam Railway, Preston and is currently stored inside our shed, out of the rain for the first time in many years!