Our Great Western Railway 0-6-2T is the wandering ambassador for the Furness Railway Trust. It has always been the intention that the locomotive would travel far and wide, earning its keep and flying the flag for the Trust.
Having
made its first passenger run in 43 years on 1st September 2006 at the Lakeside
and Haverthwaite Railway where it was restored, 5643 was off and away immediately
to the Llangollen
Railway, for a successful initial hire period from September 2006 to the
end of April 2007.
This allowed the locomotive to star in the LR's September gala weekend, but also to undertake running-in under the watchful eye of a team that has considerable expertise in dealing with GWR locomotives. The engine bedded in well - undertaking Santa Special and regular service duties at the LR, and culminating with its appearance at the spectacular Betton Grange Gala in April 2007.
5643 was called up to haul a non-stop special running the entire length of the line, and made up of no less than 8 coaches: quite a challenge for any engine with 3 miles of the strenuous Berwyn Bank at the start of the journey!
5643 then spent just two weeks back at the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway
in May for the Mixed Traffic Gala before heading south again, to visit the
Barry Island Railway. This was a poignant trip: 5643 spent its final months
in British Railways service based in Barry, before moving next door to the
famous Woodham's scrapayard.
It is the first member of this class that was so closely associated with South Wales to return to the area in preservation.
Next top, a short stay at the East Lancashire Railway, for its June 2007 gala event.That included double-heading with the iconic GWR record breaker "City of Truro" (the engine that Furness Railway Number 20 rubbed shoulders with at the National Railway Museum).
The
engine then went back to the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.
Unusually, it faced downhill - running boiler first on trains from Lakeside to Haverthwaite. This opened up new photographic possibilities.
The July Steam Gala event also saw the first time that 5643 appeared in action alongside the FRT flagship engine Furness Railway Number 20, although the pair ran separately, not double-heading together.
The
hectic 2007 schedule continued with Weybourne Shed its next temporary home
on the North Norfolk
Railway. A fairly intensive month-long hire saw the engine in action during
a Steam Gala weekend and on regular service trains. Such was the popularity
of this visit that 5643 returned to East Anglia again 12 months on in August/September
2008.
Back with 2007, after a brief return to Llangollen, the engine paid a short visit to the Great Central Railway for its October gala event. The GCR used a Stanier 8F and Black Five to haul a long rake of its iconic "windcutter" wagons... however many visitors were more impressed by 5643 taking the train away afterwards unaided!
Tot that up and that's seven gala and special event starring appearances in one year - something of a record!
5643 had a fewer dates with the low loader in 2008 - it spent virtually the whole year at Llangollen apart from the month-long foray back to the North Norfolk Railway for another star turn at the Poppy Line's Steam Gala.
Llangollen had another major booking for the locomotive in 2009, although that was completed in time for 5643 to guest at the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway in Yorkshire for the Santa Special Season. The locomotive was steamed 88 times in 2009 - another very busy year!
201o
started with a photocharter at Embsay before moving to the Ribble Steam Railway
at Preston. This line is providing a new workshop base for the FRT and 5643
starred alongside FRT stablemate "Cumbria" for the February gala
- the first time the pair have been in steam together on the same site at
the same time. 5643 stayed on for winter maintenance and to haul Easter services.
The majority of 2010 is due to be spent back at Llangollen for another major booking but the engine will fit in two gala appearances in just two weekends when it visits the Midland Railway - Butterley in Derbyshire in early May. This will see the 56 in action first with the Vintage Train event over the May Day bank holiday weekend, and then starring in the 1960s gala the following weekend.
If you wish to hire this powerful and beautifully turned out locomotive, then please contact us.
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