Horwich Locomotive Works and its 18" gauge railway

[rogerfarnworth]

For a number of years in the 1920s and possibly also the 1930s my grandfather worked as a blacksmith in Horwich Loco Works. The works have always, as a result, had a specific interest for me. It has been somewhat saddening over the years to see their gradual deterioration and eventual closure.

 

In November 2019 I finished reading Issue No. 27 of the Railway Archive Journal published by Black Dwarf Lightmoor Press of Lydney, Gloucestershire.

 

I enjoyed reading Jeff Wells article in the journal about the Manchester Exhibition of 1887. [1] The article highlights a number of railway exhibits on display at the exhibition. Among these exhibits was 'Dot' a Beyer Peacock 1ft 6 inch gauge 0-4-0T engine. 'According to the official catalogue, Dot was 'specifically built for working on tramways in yards and workshops, and also adopted for tail-rope shunting of ordinary wagons'. After the exhibition, Dot found work at the L&YR's Horwich Works, joining two other Beyer, Peacock 18 in engines, Wren and Robin, which had arrived in April 1887. Such engines were considered necessary to convey materials around the seven miles of internal works' railway.'

 

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/11/30/horwich-loco-works-18-gauge-railway-part-1

 

Horwich Locomotive Works "was the last major British railway works to be established on a green field site.  There were traditionally very strong links between the Lancashire & Yorkshire and London & North Western railways, and John Ramsbottom, late of the LNWR was in 1883 appointed consultant to the LYR regarding the planning of Horwich Works.  He advocated an 18in gauge internal transport system similar to that he had earlier installed at Crewe. Originally extending to 7½ miles, this enjoyed a longer life as the last surviving locomotive built for it, 'Wren', was not retired until 1962. The system was used for moving components around the works."

[96701]

Wren is in the National collection. Here it is in the original entrance to the Railway Museum sometime in the late seventies. 

 

 

Edited February 5, 2020 by 96701
Mis-trype.

[Leander]

And here's its replacement:

My photo of ZM32 at the Steeple Grange Light Railway, Wirksworth in 2007.  

[Fat Controller]

Narrow-gauge lines like this were not confined to railway works. In 1974, I spent the summer holidays working at British Steel's Landore foundry. In the Engineer's Stores and former Pattern Shop, there were still narrow-gauge rails embedded in the concrete floor. I couldn't ascertain when they had last been used.

[montyburns56]

Ruston & Hornsby Class 'LAT' 20hp 4-wheel diesel-mechanical ZM32 1963