Cronton Colliery locos

[luke the train spotter]

Hi everyone. I am building a layout based on Cronton Colliery and would like to model some of the rolling stock. Does anyone know anything about the locos or future that they had after the colliery shut. Any help most appreciated as I'm a bit lost what to look for. Thanks.

[Steamport Southport]

One of them is in a scrapyard/industrial estate somewhere. I'll post details when I find them.

 

 

Here's a few recent photos.

 

https://www.aditnow.co.uk/Photo/Former-Pretoria-Pit-Ncb-Cronton-Loco_87612/

 

 

 

Jason

Edited April 12, 2018 by Steamport Southport

[LMS2968]

Chequerbent, the old station yard, just south of Bolton. Viridoe Recycling, Salford Rd, Over Hulton, Bolton BL5 1BW, I think.

[Marshall5]

The loco in Jason's photo is Avonside "Robert" which left Cronton in June 1965.  By the time I knew it in the early 1970's it had already lain in Jose K Holt & Gordon's scrapyard at Chequerbent for many years and gradually disappeared under piles of scrap. It was later joined by ex Walkden system? austerity 'Harry' which was plinthed outside.  I seem to remember that both locos left quite some years ago and may have gone to Bryn engineering for eventual restoration.

There is a section on Cronton Colliery in the IRS book 'Industrial Railways of St.Helens, Widnes & Warrington' and there's also an online article about Cronton and the Willis branch.

Ray.

Edited April 12, 2018 by Marshall5

[doilum]

Full details of NCB locomotives at Cronton Colliery are included in the Industrial Railway Society's publication - "Industrial Locomotives of Lancashire (National Coal Board)" of which I was co-editor.  It is obtainable on the society's website for the very reasonable sum of £7.50 + postage, although available stock is low.

 

In brief there were 5 non austerity steam locos - 3 Pecketts, 1 Fox Walker and 1 Avonside, all 0-6-0STs.  The Avonside was ROBERT which went to the scrapyard of José K.Holt Gordon Ltd. at Chequerbent in 1965.

 

There were 5 Austerity 0-6-0STs -

Unnamed            Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns  7180 of 1944 - Scrapped on site 1972

 

CRONTON          Hunslet  3693 of 1950 - Scrapped on site 1973

 

Unamed             Hunslet 3694 of 1950 - transferred to Bold Colliery 1961/2 and later named WHISTON, now on the Foxfield Railway

 

MONTY            Hunslet  3692 of 1950 - Scrapped on site 1973

 

ROBIN HILL            Hunslet  3779 of 1952 -  Scrapped on site 1972         

 

Then finally 6 diesel locos

North British 27877 of 1961 a 0-4-0 diesel hydraulic - ex Parkside Colliery; Scrapped 1977

 

Hudswell Clarke D1375 of 1966 a 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic - ex Hunslet 1976 (originally Mersey Docks & Harbour Board); returned to Hunslet in 1976 and later to NCB Hafodyrynys Colliery, South Wales

 

Hudswell Clarke D1186 of 1959 a 0-6-0 diesel mechanical - ex Hunslet, 1976 (originally Manchester Ship Canal Co.); returned to Hunslet 1976/7 and later to Gwent Coal Distribution Centre, Newport, Monmouthshire

(presumably the above two locos were found unsuitable for the work at Cronton)

 

North British 27728  of 1957 a 0-4-0 diesel hydraulic - ex Golborne Colliery 1976/7; to Marple & Gillott Ltd, Sheffield, Yorks, 1984

 

Yorkshire Engine Co. 2678 of 1961 a 0-4-0 diesel hydraulic - ex Golborne Colliery 1976/7; to Marple & Gillott Ltd, Sheffield, Yorks, 1984

 

Yorkshire Engine Co. 2745 of 1960 a 0-6-0 diesel electric - ex Walkden Workshops 1982, previously at Agecroft Colliery; to Chatterley Whitfield Mining Museum 1984

Thanks for that. I am collecting information about the post war austerities to supplement the detailed history of the original WD locos in "Continent,coalfield and conservation" .