Riley & Son (E) Ltd, is a railway locomotive engineering and refurbishment company, based in Heywood, Greater Manchester. From 2004 to 2016, the company undertook the restoration of LNER A3 Pacific No. 4472 Flying Scotsman, and enabled it to undertake journeys on the current main line.
In 2006, the company worked on the reversion of the GWR 4900 Class locomotive 4942 Maindy Hall to be 2999 - Lady of Legend when running as a 4-6-0 and 191 Churchward when it runs as 4-4-2.
The company was previously known as Ian Riley Engineering when in addition to engineering, it operated as a spot-hire company. The company has been a leader in main line steam haulage for some time, being one of the pioneers of fitting air brake, TPWS and OTMR equipment to their locomotives.
The company used to own a fleet of Class 37 diesel locomotives that were gradually sold to other operators. The final four locomotives were sold to the West Coast Railway Company in May 2004.
Flying Scotsman restoration
In January 2006, work began at the National Railway Museum on an overhaul of Flying Scotsman locomotive that was expected to take 18-20 months and cost £1.6 million. However costs and timescales grew out of control and there were tensions between the museum and its contractors. In 2013 Riley & Son were granted the contract to see the project to completion at its then 159 year-old works in Bury. The work was finished in early 2016. Riley & Son will manage the locomotive's operations for two years after the restoration.