AS 2022 ended, several heritage railways seized the opportunity to run one last event to fill the void between Christmas and the new year – with several doubling up as locomotive farewells to boot.
The first withdrawal came at the East Lancashire Railway. Having been on hire from the Furness Railway Trust since 2021, GWR 0-6-2T No. 5643 bowed out on December 27 and will shortly return to the Ribble Steam Railway at Preston Docks for overhaul to commence.
The ELR also bid farewell to Bulleid West Country class No. 34092 on January 2 (picture, page 82) as it was withdrawn
