Horwich-built steam locomotive coming home after £650,000 restoration project

Horwich-built steam locomotive coming home after 650,000 restoration project

9:51am Thursday 9th January 2014 in News By Melanie Wallwork, Entertainment reporter

AFTER 16 years and a 650,000 restoration project, a treasured steam locomotive is coming home.

Enthusiasts will be able to see the Horwich-built 76084 locomotive in action when it takes to the tracks of the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) this month .

The engine was one of the last to be produced at Horwich Works in 1957, just seven months before the site stopped building them.

Members of the 76084 Locomotive Company restored it to its former glory and were delighted to see it make its first journey in many years on the North Norfolk Railway last July.

Eric Bond, from the group, said: Having 76084 on the East Lancashire Railway, even for only two months, is a dream come true.

We really want 76084 to run in the north of England as she was first built here, ran here for British Railways and eventually was restored in the north.

Running at the North Norfolk Railway puts her a significant travel time away from most shareholders and supporters.

It was the ELR that approached us to see if 76084 was available to run during their Winter Steam Gala. It will run as part of the ELRs Steam Galas on January 18 and 19 and February 22 and 23.

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Horwich-built steam locomotive coming home after £650,000 restoration project