Steam train locomotives

[tiaandv]

Hi, my name is CJ and i'm from South Africa.
my mother, father , sister and brother are visiting me in uk from 10 july till 21 july.
My father works at the south african railways as an manager and is working for 28 years now. he can drive all the trains including steam locomotives. He is really interisted in steam ext. This bring me to my question, are there anywere in uk where you can fisit an old factory or something where the locomotife were build? the gea gerret are english and i thing somewere near manchester but not sure. I tried google ext but nothing.
please help
thanks
cj

[spudqueen]

Someone at the National Railway Museum, which is in York, may be able to help you.
http://www.nrm.org.uk/home/home.asp

[heathfield]

The national Railway Museum in York usually have a steam loco under repair in their workshops. Last year it was 'The Flying Scotsman'. Talk nicely to one of the engineers, and they'll possibly let you into the workshop. (They did for me, and I got some super photos inside the cab).

[sddsddean]

I'm pretty sure Beyer Garrett's, who built articulated locos for the African market, doesn't exist any more and as far as I know there are no 'full size' ones in the UK, but I think some of the narrow gauge lines in Wales have small versions. If you are quick, get down to your local newsagent and get a copy of 'Railway Modeller' for June. With this months issue there is a booklet with nearly all the railway related tourist places in the UK. The mag is �3.

[sddsddean]

Heres a site all about Beyer Garretts
http://users.powernet.co.uk/hamilton/
and they have got B-G's on the Ffestiniog line
http://www.cowgill.org.uk/WHR/FR/index0001.htm l

[dot.hawkes]

When my dad was a boy he lived near newtin le Willows (Burtonwood) and he walked to school last the Vulcan Engine Factory, this would be in the late 1920s. he used to see rthe massive engines leaving the factory on their way to the Docks at liverpool and from there they were shipped out to South Africa.
My Dad used to tell us that the engines were massive and were transported on huge lorries with a cab at the back where a man sat steering the rear brake.
http://www.n-le-w.co.uk/index.php?option=com_c ontent&task=view&id=64&Itemid=27

[dot.hawkes]

When my dad was a boy he lived near newton -le -Willows (Burtonwood) and he walked to school past the Vulcan Engine Factory, this would be in the late 1920s. he used to see the massive engines leaving the factory on their way to the Docks at liverpool and from there they were shipped out to South Africa.
My Dad used to tell us that the engines were gigantic and were transported on huge lorries with a cab at the back where a man sat steering the rear brake.
http://www.n-le-w.co.uk/index.php?option=com_c ontent&task=view&id=64&Itemid=27

[dot.hawkes]

sorry i submitted that twice after editing it :)

[dot.hawkes]

Newton- le-Willows is near Warrington and is about 20 miles from manchester.

[Trotbot]

There are lots of live steam railways (but with UK locos), including the Bluebell (South England), North York Moors (North East England), Severn Valley Railway (SW England) and Didcot (West England). Depends where you are going to be.

[Littlejohn]

Hi CJ. The Garratt locomotives were built by Beyer-Peacock
of Gorton, Manchester. This company no longer exists and the site has been re-developed. The only working Garratts in the UK are on the Welsh Highland Railway. These locos are 2 foot gauge and with one exception come from the Alfred County Railway in South Africa. As Trotbot says there are many heritage railways in the UK, both standard and narrow gauge, some allow the public access to their workshops, but an increasing number do not. However by prior arrangement most will do so. If you let me know your intended areas of travel I may be able to help with contact details.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.midlandrailwaycentre.co.uk/

http://www.midlandrailwaycentre.co.uk/English/ timetable.html

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/5559 72221orVIEw

This is a very good railway centre, where you can have unlimited rides on steam and diesel trains, There is also a workshop where they renovate locomotives, and a model railway. 56 miles or 91 kilometers from Manchester.