Tucked away on the edge of Preston Docks, the Ribble Steam Railway & Museum is marking 20 years of operation.
The milestone reflects countless hours of volunteer work, practical skill, and a passionate commitment to preserving local railway history.
Walking around the site today, it’s hard to imagine that it was little more than open land just over two decades ago. “There was literally nothing here,” says manager Paulo Marques, who is one of three paid employees. He first came to the museum four years ago as a volunteer, after moving to Preston from Portugal. “A group from Steamport Southport built the place from scratch. It took about five years before the site could even open.”
Today, roughly 300 volunteers from Ribble Steam and 140 from Furness Railway Trust keep the operation running, from cafe helpers and ticket inspectors to engineers and drivers. Only Paulo, assistant manager Julie, and a member of the tea-room staff are paid. “Everything else is volunteers,” Paulo says.
Tim Owen, a long-time volunteer and chair of the Furness Railway Trust is painting a loco sign when I meet him. Tim explains that he’s had a lifelong affinity with the railway.
“I blame my mother,” he says. “She left the pram too close to the main line when I was a lad! I’d watch the steam trains go past and think, ‘I’d like to drive one of those.’”
Tim became a driver 40 years ago, later moving into railway finance, and now remains connected through volunteering. He is also the author of Furness Railway Locomotive No. 20 – The Story So Far, which is about one of the museum’s most important engines.
The Furness Railway No. 20 is the oldest working steam locomotive in Britain, built in 1863. It saw lengthy service at the Barrow steelworks and then spent 23 years as a children’s playground engine before being rescued with Heritage Lottery funding between 1996 and 1998.
“We rebuilt it in the Barrow shipyard,” Tim says. “People were astounded when it came out, because the work was done behind closed doors. It’s travelled all over the country, and here it is, still running over 160 years later.”
The locomotive has also appeared on the BBC One programme, Our Lives, and has taken part in Railway 200 celebrations marking two centuries of public railways.
Other engines of interest include the Heysham No. 2 and Travelling Post Office, but the museum isn’t just about historic machines. Recent projects include installing a full driving simulator with a smart TV screen, while local artist Gavin Renshaw painted the timeline mural at the entrance.
Visitors often only see the finished product – trains steaming along the riverside, the playground, the seasonal events – without realising the scale of work involved behind the scenes. Engines undergo ten-year boiler overhauls and other components are regularly renewed and maintained. Some jobs are given to specialist contractors, but a lot of the work is undertaken by volunteers. “All the knowledge is passed down person to person,” Tim says.
So what is it about the railway that inspires such dedication? Says Tim: “The locos come alive. They’re different every day. You become part of them.”
The museum is increasingly focused on family visitors. “We can’t depend just on enthusiasts,” Paulo says. “You’ve got to be a family attraction nowadays.” Events now range from murder mystery trains and model railway weekends to classic bus days, cream teas on Princess Alexandra’s Royal Saloon, and the popular Santa Specials.
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Paulo says the reason to visit is straightforward. “It’s a living part of the city’s history. Everything here is kept alive by people giving their time, not for themselves, but for the people of Preston and future generations. And we’re always trying to evolve – to be a place where families can learn, have fun and create joyful memories.”
At the same time, the museum faces challenges, with Covid affecting volunteer numbers, both front of house and behind the scenes. “We’re working to regenerate and get things going again,” says Tim. “We’d like to get more young people involved. You don’t need experience, but an interest in railways helps. And while a couple more mechanically-minded volunteers would be useful, most skills can be learned here.”
Standing in one of the workshops, dwarfed by the huge engines, the scale of the volunteer effort becomes apparent. Every painted board, polished brass fitting, and overhauled boiler represents years of expertise and commitment – which have allowed the Ribble Steam Railway & Museum to survive and thrive for 20 years.
Looking ahead, the focus remains on celebrating the railway’s heritage and recruiting passionate volunteers, while evolving the operation to ensure it remains part of Preston’s living history for many more years to come.
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