Ribble Valley 'on track' for steam engine weekend
The Ribble Steam Railway and Museum is hosting the annual Autumn Steam Gala this weekend, featuring at least four restored vintage steam trains, including the 1898 Royal Saloon, which will offer a full on-board dining service.
Anyone train enthusiasts in the Ribble Valley are on track for an exciting weekend this week as the region prepares to welcome its annual Autumn Steam Gala.
At least four restored vintage steam trains are set to be pulled back into action, with visitors welcome to enjoy a packed timetable of services running on a loop between Preston Riverside and Strand Road.
A highlight of this year’s line-up is the 1898 Royal Saloon, which was originally built for Princess Alexandra.
It will offer a full on-board dining service, and will be taken on a single trip at 4:30pm.
The Furness Railway Trust will also be opening their workshop for the day and offering rare tours of the space, where visitors will be able get up close and personal with their ongoing restoration projects.
Among these are the 4979 Wooton Hall, GWR 5643, Hunslet 3794 ‘Cumbria’, and the Peckett 1925 ‘Caliban’.
Organised by the Ribble Steam Railway and Museum, the museum has been entertaining and educating visitors for more than 20 years.
In the time since, its collection of railway memorabilia has vastly expanded, and new facilities such as the exploration centre and ‘cream tea services’ have proven extremely popular.
The Ribble Valley Autumn Steam Gala will kick off at 10am on Saturday September 2026, and will last until 6pm.
Tickets are £15, and are available on the Ribble Steam Railway and Museum website.