The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway are preparing to welcome back steam locomotive ‘Katie’, a 122-year-old steam locomotive, after an extensive restoration programme.

From Sunday 6th May 2018, the RESR will be celebrating the return of Katie, with the steam locomotive making a regular appearance around Ravenglass and recreate scenes last seen 100 years ago.

The restoration programme has been completed by Station Road Steam, in Lincolnshire. The restoration has been funded by the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society Trust.

The locomotive returned to Cumbria for the reopening of the new HLF-funded Ravenglass Railway Museum in June 2017.

A brief history of Katie

Steam locomotive ‘Katie’ is a 0-4-0 locomotive built by engineer Sir Arthur Heywood for use on the Duke of Westminster’s private railway at his Eaton Hall estate in Cheshire. It worked hard hauling passengers, including the royal family and local schoolchildren, around the estate, but was also seen working hard hauling coal and other materials around the Eaton Hall estate.

In 1916, the locomotive was sold to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. Badly worn and only a small boiler meant it struggled to produce enough steam to make the journey up the line – passengers playing cards and picking flowers whilst Katie came to a halt for a ‘blow up’.

In 1919, Katie was moved again, this time, it moved to the Llewellyn Miniature Railway in Southport, before being moved in 1923 to the Fairbourne Railway in Wales – here, the locomotive was eventually dismantled, remains of which were given to the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Tywyn. Finally, Katie returned to Ravenglass in 1982 where restoration was begun by the Ravenglass Railway Museum Heritage Group.

What did the officials say?

David Rounce, Manager at the Ravenglass Railway Museum, says:

“We are proud and excited to be welcoming Katie back into steam and look forward to the 6 May when she will be available for all to enjoy and appreciate once more. It has been an extensive restoration programme that has been generously funded by the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society Trust and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to all who have been involved.”

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