Leonard Rogers considers locomotive preservation before the creation of the British Transport Commission in 1948.
If one were to ask the questions ‘In which century did steam preservation start?’ and ‘Was it the public or private sector that led the way?’, it might well be that the answers given, depending on the age of the respondent, would be along the lines of ‘Why, the 20th century, of course! Didn’t the Talyllyn Railway start the ball rolling in the 1950s?’ and ‘It would have been private individuals surely. Government and local authorities weren’t into that sort of thing, were they?’ Those with slightly longer memories, or who had read the author’s previous articles in Steam Days for September 2020 and September 2022, might have modified the first answer by suggesting that York Museum kicked things off in the 1920s. However, it may surprise some readers to know that steam preservation actually began as early as the mid-19th century – in fact just about 15 years after the Rainhill Trials – and that, separately, public authorities had a big hand in getting the ball rolling.
The record for being the first British steam locomotive to be preserved belongs to Invicta of the Canterbury & Whitstable Railway. Built in 1830 by Robert Stephenson & Co in Newcastleupon-Tyne, this 0-4-0 hauled the opening train on the Canterbury & Whitstable line on 3 May 1830 but subsequently proved to be rather underpowered for the needs of the railway. It was withdrawn from service in 1839 and entered preservation almost by accident – it was offered for sale after withdrawal but, with no tak
