Long Meg to Widnes

[Michael Delamar]

The Long Meg to Widnes working was a well photographed train in the 1960s.

 

Ive seen plenty of shots of it on the Settle-Carlisle line.

 

however Ive never seen any on route to Widnes and Id like to know the route it took and where exactly in Widnes it went to.

 

I come across this shot of what appears to be the working at Aintree on the Cheshire lines committee route.

 

It looks as though it has come from Preston on the L&Y route via Ormskirk, then onto Aintree CLC to Gatacre and either Widnes on the CLC or via running round at Speke and onto Ditton junction and then Widnes that way.

 

 

 

Id like to know if the working via Aintree was was the regular route.

 

 

Aintree (CLC) by Kerry Parker (KP), on Flickr

 

many thanks in advance

 

Mike

Edited May 16, 2012 by michael delamar

[LMS2968]

There were several routes used depending on the period; I hadn't heard of this one before but that doesn't rule it out.

 

The most common route was through Hellifield to Blackburn, then over the Lancashire Union Line through Whelley, Ince Moss, St. Helens, then down the St.Helens and Runcorn Gap line (which Edge Hill men always called the 'Clock Face line', after the colliery it passed just south of St. Helens) and so into Widnes. Can't remeber where it went after that, though.

[Michael Delamar]

so it could of went from Blackburn to Lostock hall on this occassion?

[APOLLO]

Definitely many went via the Whelley line, crossing the WCML at Fir Tree House Jcn then to St Helens via Ince Moss. I saw this train many times there in 1966/7, usually a short stop for water at Fir Tree House Jcn (westbound) & usually a 9F hauled. Empties returned same way.

 

Though this pix shows a southbound (loaded) train passing thru' Wigan NW, so I supposed it used several routes.(scroll down a bit)

 

http://www.penmorfa.com/steaming60's/seven.html

 

Brit15

[Michael Delamar]

thanks Apollo. link isnt working but found it..

 

http://www.penmorfa....39;s/seven.html

 

Edit, link doesnt like being put in here.

 

just noticed Paul Bartlett has commented on the Aintree flickr page saying they might be salt converted wagons so might not be the working after all? but I still think they are on their way to Widnes.

Edited May 17, 2012 by michael delamar

[APOLLO]

Here's one, an empty ascending the steep bit from Ince Moss to Fir Tree House. Signal is off for the Whelley line

 

http://www.wiganworl...ways&offset=540

 

And a loaded westbound taking water at Fir Tree House. .

 

 

http://www.wiganworl...ways&offset=540

 

 

Big photo's so I'll just post links.

 

Just as I rememember. Great days.

 

Brit15

Edited May 17, 2012 by APOLLO

[Michael Delamar]

think I may have found an answer

 

Bob Pixtons book, Liverpool & Manchester 2. Cheshire lines

 

has a pic of a jinty shunting the wagons at United Sulphuric Acid corporation sidings tanhouse lane Widnes.

 

he says "2 trains a day brought raw materials to the works from Long Meg quarry near Settle. The two-day journey took one train onto the cheshire lines at Aintree, stopping overnight at Walton, and the other went around Wigan and approached along the LNWR line.

[hmrspaul]

thanks Apollo. link isnt working but found it..

 

http://www.penmorfa....39;s/seven.html

 

Edit, link doesnt like being put in here.

 

just noticed Paul Bartlett has commented on the Aintree flickr page saying they might be salt converted wagons so might not be the working after all? but I still think they are on their way to Widnes.

 

I've changed my opinion, although they don't have the tarpulin supports that were fitted to Anhydrite hoppers (but not from new, so I don't know when that happened) http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/branhydritehopper they appear to have 4 side stanchions, not 3 plus 2 of a Salt - Iron Ore hopper. http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brironorehoppersalt

 

Paul Bartlett

[Leander]

After the Lancashire Union line closed, it went over the WCML via Wigan, Leyland, Farington, then Lostock Hall and Bamber Bridge to Blackburn. The loadeds went the same way AFAIK. I only remember seeing the empties (9F hauled naturally).

[Michael Delamar]

Im glad they ran on the CLC north Liverpool line, ive never come across any shots or references to them along here, I dont think Ive even seen a pic of a 9f along there although I know they did get along it.

Its a line Ive researched quite a bit in the past as its local and would like to model some part of it one day.

this just makes it a bit more interesting.

[Michael Delamar]

heres another shot of the same working passing Ormskirk.

 

Ormskirk Station by Lime street Dave, on Flickr

[Thomas]

 

Taken in August 1968 passing Amberswood West, signalled for FirTree House. Ince Moss and St Helens when coming off the Whelley line with a class 40.

[ianwales]

Hi

 

When did these trains start running, was it LMS days or BR days?

 

Ian

[Michael Delamar]

Ive just found that class 40 shot on Flickr and was about to post it here great shot!

[APOLLO]

Little bit about USAC (United Sulphuric Acid Corporation) Widnes where the loaded trains ran to. Now gone.

 

http://www.cementkilns.co.uk/cement_kiln_widnes.html

 

Brit15

[Michael Delamar]

My pooch and I had a look around the disused area around Ince Moss junction to Fir Tree House Junction today.

 

 

 

 

Can recommend this book.

 

 

Ive also recently been building the first of a rake of 15 Long Meg Widnes Anhydrite hoppers from Macgeorgie of this forums kit. This is a really nice kit to build..

 

 

Edited July 22, 2020 by Michael Delamar

[Michael Delamar]

Also back to the original post, it was the closure of the Widnes CLC loop In 63 and opening of the chord from the St Helens and Runcorn gap railway in the early 60s which did away with the Workings via Ormskirk, Aintree Central and Halewood.