Furness Railway No. 20

[JamesT]

The oldest working steam locomotive in the UK had been visiting Didcot and I went over there on Sunday. This is from the first B/W roll (there are more for later if they are any good including some in colour).

[Ryewolf]

Great to see these really old engines still running and in steam when so many were cut up for scrap.

[JamesT]

On 02/05/2023 at 23:47, Ryewolf said:

Great to see these really old engines still running and in steam when so many were cut up for scrap.

It's an interesting story. The Furness railway bought several of these 0-4-0 tender engines in the 1860's, but within 10 years they were obsolete, and so were sold to some of the local iron works as factory engines where they were converted to saddle tanks and worked for the better part of 100 years. The Furness Railway trust has two, this one and a slightly newer one that they are restoring to the saddle tank form. They're based in Preston at the Ribblesdale railway, but No. 20 spends most of the time touring.

Edited May 4, 2023 by JamesT

[Andyandhazel]

I can't help but think what that must have been like to work the footplate in the winter with no real weather protection  apart from the front shield.

Good pictures though.

[JamesT]

@AndyandhazelThere is also a back plate on the tender so I guess they could have stretched a tarp between them.