The West Lancashire Light Railway (WLLR) Summer Gala will take place on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 August from 11:30 until 17:00.
WLLR is a short-line (400-metre) narrow gauge railway which boasts a large number of industrial locomotives. It is located on Thornton Drive, off Station Road, Hesketh Bank, about ten miles south of Preston.
This year's special guest is S9 Hudswell Clarke 1238 ‘Ashanti' visting from the Apedale Valley Light Railway. Hudswell Clarke built Ashanti at its Foundry works in Leeds in 1916, then exported the Ghana, where it fell into a river in 1952, killing its driver. Recovered in 1995, it was kept on display in Ghana until it returned to Britain in 2008. Ashanti was fully restored in 2008.
WLLR's resident 0-4-0 saddle tank ‘Irish Mail‘ will also be operating. This steam locomotive was built by the Hunslet Engine Company in 1903. It has been with the West Lancashire Railway since 1972, and operational since 1980.
The Gala continues WLLR's 2023 season, and includes:
- frequent passenger and freight trains
- the opportunity to drive a diesel
- narrow gauge engines on display
- live steam model railway
- tearoom
- ‘Fireman's Shovel' railway wagon for hot food
- the Pianola Man playing old-time tunes
- a licensed Real Ale bar with draught beers from the local Southport Brewery.
Gala visitors can pay on the day or can buy discounted tickets on the the WLLR website.
