A 108-year-old steam locomotive is moving to East Lancashire Railway.
The 0-6-0T ‘Vesta’ will arrive from Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum this week.
Built in 1916, the locomotive was operational at the Shotton Steelworks in North Wales for its working life before being preserved by the Industrial Locomotive Society. It was then gifted to the National Trust, and after being displayed at Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire was displayed at Penrhyn Castle.
The ‘Vesta’ will join the 2-6-4 Tilbury Tank Engine No 2500 and ‘Wren’ the narrow gauge locomotive at the Bury Transport Museum on Wednesday (Jan 24).
It has a distinctive black lined red, with black wheels and red motion parts and is being rehomed to another museum to share their story.
After being displayed in Bury Transport Museum for three years, ownership of the steam locomotive will be handed over to the East Lancashire Railway.
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 .”
The East Lancashire Railway is set to reopen on February 10th, and with the purchase of a Day Rover ticket, granting access to the Bury Transport Museum.
With thanks to the National Trust for the use of their photograph.
