The 108-year old 0-6-0T ‘Vesta' is moving from Penrhyn Castle Museum to the East Lancashire Railway, arriving this week.
Vesta was built in 1916, and spent its working life operating at the Shotton Steelworks in North Wales, which had opened in 1896.
When it retired, the Industrial Locomotive Society took it into preservation, and gifted it to the National Trust. The loco was put on display at Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire before being moved to Penrhyn Castle.
Vesta's new home from Wednesday (24 January) will be the Bury Transport Museum, where it will be displayed alongside 2-6-4 Tilbury Tank Engine No 2500, which arrived just before Christmas, and ‘Wren'.
Vesta and has a distinctive black livery with red lining, with black wheels and red motion parts.
It will stay at the Bury Transport Museum for three years, after which the East Lancashire Railway will take over ownership. The Railway – which runs for twelve-and-a-half miles between Heywood in Greater Manchester and Rawtenstall in Lancashire – will reopen on Saturday 10 February. Visitors can buy a Day Rover ticket, which includes entry to the Bury Transport Museum.
Keith Whitmore, Chairman of Bury Transport Museum and Bahamas Loco Society, said, “We welcome such a notable new exhibit arriving in the museum just a month later than the 2500 Tilbury Tank from the National Railway Museum.
“Our museum collection is becoming a significant national collection of exhibits as well as a display of the history of transport in East Lancashire .”
I was pleasantly surprised to find the display of locomotives at Penrhyn Castle when I visited a few years ago. Sad to say that it seems that they have all gone now. The castle is still well worth a visit although it won’t be nearly so exciting without the locomotives.
What’s becoming of the Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum? I’ve suddenly seen separate articles around the internet detailing Hawarden, Vesta, Beckton Gas Works No1, and Fire Queen moving to new permanent homes – what’s the position with Charles and the ex-PQR rolling stock (and rail), Acorn (the Ruston 20DL), Kettering Furnaces No3, Haydock, and Watkin?
I hope Charles goes to the F&WHR to be reunited with Linda & Blanche although, being static, she might go to the WHHR instead
I think the idea is that Charles and any other exhibits connected with the Penrhyn Quarries will remain where they are.
Excellent news. Well done ELR!