Ribble Steam Railway

2012 is going to be a busy year for the railway's amateur radio station. Along with our permanent special event callsign GB5RSR (Ribble Steam Railway ) which we run all year round, we will be running a special,special event to promote Preston Guild. This will run from 1st of April until 31st of October 2012. We had to get special permission from Ofcom to obtain the callsign we wanted ( GB615PG ) It is 615 years since the first reliably recorded celebration of the Guild.

We have also been asked to be one of the worked all Britain radio stations taking part in the Olympic torch relay event. This is an event taking place when the Olympic Torch is carried around Britain and we will be on the air when it passes through Preston on Saturday the 23rd of June.

Other events we have planned for this year are as follows........

Heskin Steam Fair ( GB2HSR ) 2/3 June

Canal Festival ( GB5RL ) 26/27 August (Location yet to be decided but somewhere in Preston area )

Hoghton Tower ( GX0FDX ) 24th June. Classic Cars and Motorcycles.

Railways on the Air 29/30th September. Location R.S.R.

That is all we have booked at this time but I feel more will come to light as the year progresses.

Visitors and members are welcome to visit us in the "Shack" located in the museum and learn all about Amateur Radio and, if they wish, to pass a greeting message over the air.

Peter G3UCA.

RSR 2012 Brochure Download

2012-03-04T01:11:54Z

The new 2012 Brochure for the Ribble Steam Railway

is available to view online and download -

BOXNET LINK

***

or download from

GOOGLE DOCUMENTS

MEDIAFIRE

New - Photographic Archive Online

2012-03-02T14:59:44Z

A brand new photographic archive is taking shape online.

You can view over 4,000 images that have been uploaded to several albums so far at http://ribblesteam.imgur.com/

It will build into a lasting record of scenes and events at the Ribble Steam Railway and includes Albums on Galas, Steam Locos, Diesel Shunters and Ribble Rail operations. There are also individual albums on the Museum and Restoration Work in the workshop. An archive of old Steamport Southport material has also been added for viewing. The collection is by no means finalised yet with thousands more images to be added as time permits.

You can add your images to this archive by submitting good quality resolution pictures via ribblesteamrailway@gmail.com

Made In Preston - Exhibition (Updated)

2012-02-18T20:55:25Z

We are sure that by now everyone knows that 2012 is Guild Year in Preston - if not, we will happily relinquish to the Guild the accolade of being Preston's best kept secret! Various Guild events are taking place here and elsewhere in Preston throughout the year. We are planning to mark the Guild with "Made in Preston", which will open at the end of May and run for the rest of the 2012 season.
This is an exhibition celebrating the important contribution made by Dick, Kerr & Co in the development of electric and diesel electric traction on railways. The exhibition will tell how the company developed from supplying horse trams to become one of the major suppliers of trams. This technology was then adapted and developed out of all recognition as the company became one of the major suppliers of electric and diesel electric locomotives and equipment to railways all over the world.

We already have two locomotives built at the Strand Road works - English Electric battery locomotive No. 788 and Netherland Railways diesel electric shunter No 601. The battery locomotive is currently in our workshops being restored to its original livery. We are hoping that these will be joined by the prototype "Deltic" from the National Railway Museum, also built at Strand Road.

To make room ("Deltic" is some 70ft long), a number of our existing exhibits will have to move out. Hopefully, by the time this is needed, it might be possible to move other items onto track in the shell of the new building. There's nothing like being optimistic!

A key element of the exhibition will come from the reminiscences of former workers. There is a wealth of information out there, just waiting to be recorded. We would like to talk to anyone who has memories of working at Strand Road.
Please contact us either through the website or by telephone if you know anyone who could help us. We anticipate that this element of the exhibition will develop during the season as new material becomes available. Where ever possible we will deposit recordings with the North West Sound Archive, so that they are preserved for posterity.

Operating Dates 2012

2012-01-05T23:58:46Z

CLICK TO OPEN LARGER

JUN 2/3/4 TEDDY BEARS KIDS PARTY

(JUN 5 QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE - CLOSED)

JUN 6 - HALF TERM

JUN 9/10 HANDS ON GANG - KIDS FOR A QUID WEEKEND

JUN 16 Weekend Steam Trains

JUN 17 - CLASSIC CARS

JUN 23/24 Weekend Steam Trains

JUN 30 Weekend Steam Trains

JULY 1 Weekend Steam Trains
JULY 7/8 Weekend Steam Trains
JULY 14/15 FRIENDLY ENGINES
JULY 21/22 FRIENDLY ENGINES / RIVERSWAY FESTIVAL
JULY 28/29 Weekend Steam Trains

AUG WED 1
AUG 4/5 PRESTON DOCK EVENT (TBC)
AUG WED 8
AUG 11/12 Weekend Steam Trains
AUG WED 15
AUG 18/19 Weekend Steam Trains
AUG WED 22
AUG 25/26/27 FRIENDLY ENGINES GALA PARTY
AUG WED 29

SEPT 1/2 Weekend Steam Trains

SEPT 5 Half Term Guild Steam
SEPT 8/9 Weekend Steam Trains
SEPT 15/16 STEAM GALA
SEPT 22/23 Weekend Steam Trains
SEPT 29/30 Weekend Steam Trains

OCT 6/7 DIESELS WEEKEND
OCT 27/28 HALLOWEEN
OCT WED 31 SPOOKY TRAINS

NOV - CLOSED

DEC 1/2 8/9 15/16 22/23 SANTA SPECIALS

This list is subject to minor changes during 2012 Preston Guild year but should act as a guide only to our operating days.

Always check the website before travelling to visit us.

Membership - Join Us Now!

2011-09-19T21:12:43Z

Lots and lots of volunteers required this year in every department.

From taking Admissions, staffing the shop, helping in our cafe, guiding visitors around the museum and workshop, keeping the platform clean and the bins empty, cleaning through the carriages after each train journey, meeting visitors and answering questions about our exhibits, keeping control of the children’s activity areas with tidy patrols and topping up drawing paper, keeping a check on the cleanliness of our toilets and supplies, cleaning exhibits, answering the phone,

oh - and driving an engine..........!!!

DOWNLOAD YOUR APPLICATION FORM HERE

To subscribe as a member send your cheque payable to Ribble Steam Railway. to :

RSR Membership Secretary

32 Barn Meadow

Clayton Brook

Preston

PR5 8DU

DOWNLOAD YOUR APPLICATION FORM HERE

Santa Specials - December 2012

2011-09-04T16:30:35Z

The Ribble Steam Railway on Preston's Docklands are once again running the highly successful SANTA STEAM SPECIALS in December.
Booking your place on the train is essential as the more popular dates are nearest to Christmas.
Running on eight seperate days, Saturdays 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd / Sundays 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd of December.
One of the best features of the Santa Specials is after you have taken your booked seat on the train, Santa comes to visit you with individual presents suited to each age group. There are refreshments for both the kids and adults included in the price.
The return Steam Train ride takes approximately 40 minutes. The carriages are steam heated if the weather requires it!
Once again, Preston Tourist Information Centre will be handling all bookings which will open in November.

Railways On The Air - September 2012

2011-07-02T11:43:42Z

SPECIAL EVENT - "RAILWAYS ON THE AIR"

Saturday & Sunday 29th & 30th September 2012

GB5RSR based at the Ribble Steam Railway on Preston Dockland will be taking part in the 'National Railways on the Air Weekend' that will take place over the weekend of Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th September)
This date celebrates the anniversary of the first steam powered passenger railway, which took place on 27th September 1825.
The amateur radio station will be contacting as many preserved railways as possible over the weekend as part of the event to promote awareness of the railway and celebrate the anniversary of the first steam powered passenger railway.
There is a certificate to be won for contacting the most stations within the weekend and GB5RSR will once again be attempting to win the annual challenge.
GB5RSR is operated by Central Lancashire Amateur Radio Club, formed in 1985 by a few members interested in various aspects of Amateur Radio.
The club were asked to put on a special event station for the inaugral opening of the Ribble Steam Railway. They have now become a permanent fixture with a purpose built Radio Shack within the railway centre.
Each weekend they broadcast to other radio amateurs in the UK and Worldwide giving info about the Steam Centre.
On this special event, contacts will be made on all amateur bands, around 14 in total, and club members Peter & Steve will be available to answer questions and give brief descriptions of the event.
The Railway Centre will be running Steam hauled trains on both days of this event.
If you are a Railway Amateur you may like to contact GB5RSR over the weekend and if you would like to know more about the hobby this would be an ideal opportunity.
Railways On The Air website - http://rota.barac.org.uk/

NOTE - GB5RSR has its own QSL card for those who request one after contact.

CONTACT
PETER SINCLAIR (G3UCA) - 01772 494474
pete.sinclair@ribblesteam.org.uk

(The first passenger train ran on a line in the North East of England from Darlington to Stockton and the radio event is co-ordinated by a Bishop Auckland Station).

* Teddy Bears Steam Specials - June 2012

2011-05-24T15:33:00Z

The volunteers at the Ribble Steam Railway on Preston’s Docklands have come up with another great family event that should delight the youngsters.

Over the three days of the Jubilee Bank Holiday (June 2nd 3rd & 4th) we are running Teddy Bears Steam Specials along the line.

There is a Teddy Bear Hunt around the museum exhibits by following paw prints & clues.

Look out for Teddy Bears along the line.... how many can you spot?

We also want you to celebrate another great British tradition by inviting you to bring your own picnic and eat it on the train.
So start organising your Teddy Bears outing and kids don’t forget “Teddy gets in for free!”.

Free Face Painting in the museum and sweets for the kids with Teddy's on the train too!!!

The railway is open 1000 to 1700 each day with trains every 45 minutes from 1045 to 4 for the three mile return trip.
A Buffet Car on the train will be serving drinks & snacks to purchase and there’s lots for the kids to do in the museum including dressing up, operating the cranes, blowing the whistle & colouring trains.
Adults £6 Children (from 3yrs) £4 and Family Ticket (2+2) £18 the tickets are valid all day on all trains. (Under 3's are free)

STOP PRESS – Ribble Steam Railway are also running Steam Trains on the School Half term Wednesday June 6th.