Lancashire and Yorkshire Saddle Tank Engine Arrives at Didcot Railway Centre for May Events
Visitors heading to the living Great Western Railway museum this spring will have the chance to see a rare visiting locomotive in operation. The Lancashire and Yorkshire 0-6-0 Saddle Tank engine, known as No. 752, has officially arrived on site and will be featured prominently during two upcoming seasonal gatherings.
Experiencing No. 752 During May Special Events
The historic locomotive is scheduled to run during the centre's major highlights of the month, including the Steam into the '40s programme running from May 4th to 6th, followed by the Mini May Gala on May 11th and 12th. Visitors attending these dates can experience the engine in action within the authentic setting of the museum's reconstructed station environment and engine sheds.
A Century of Railway History
Originally constructed in 1881 as a tender locomotive at Manchester's Beyer Peacock works for the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, the engine underwent a rebuild into its current saddle tank configuration in April 1896. Following the 1923 Grouping, the locomotive was designated as LMS 11456, operating around the Wigan network until its retirement from mainline service in 1937.
Its post-mainline working life continued in the industrial sector. The engine served at several collieries under the Blainscough Colliery Company, the National Coal Board, and various pits around Wigan and Leigh until it was finally sidelined in 1966. Preservation followed in 1968 when it was secured by the organization now known as the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Trust, later finding a base on the East Lancashire Railway prior to its current visit. Today, it appears in a post-preservation British Railways livery bearing the number 51456.
To discover more heritage attractions and plan your time across the area, you can explore the interactive map view, browse additional museums list, or check what else is happening using Musemap (musemap.art).
