Great Western Railway (GWR) No. 5643 is a GWR 5600 Class 0-6-2T tank engine. She is owned by the Furness Railway Trust and based at the Ribble Steam Railway but is currently out on loan.
History[]
Built by the GWR Swindon Works in October 1925 the locomotive spent its entire working life in and around South Wales until July 1963 when the locomotive was retired from service and was moved just a matter of yards to the now famous Woodham’s scrapyard in Barry.
The owner Dai Woodham made the decision to stockpile old locomotives because he was receiving more income from scrapping railway wagons. It was a decision that effectively saved hundreds of steam locomotives from the cutting torch. #5643 was such an engine, and was one of the first to leave Barry scrapyard.
It was bought in 1986 by members of the Lakeside Railway Society (LRS), moving to Haverthwaite three years later. The LRS later set up the Furness Railway Trust as a charity to manage its assets, and so #5643 passed to its present owners. It was restored to working condition in 2006.
GWR 56XX No. 5643 at Embsay & Bolton Abbey
Trivia[]
- Over 200 examples of the class were built between 1924-1928 and #5643 is one of nine engines preserved.
- She appeared on the Down at the Station segments.
- It was originally purchased for a now defunct steam operation in its native South Wales, but was soon transferred to Lancashire, and the now also closed Steamtown Railway Museum at Carnforth, near Lancaster.
Gallery[]
