Last BR scheduled steam 3.8.1968 details

[MattR]

True, but as a scheduled service, I had hoped previous instances might give a general clue as to the consist.

[Steamport Southport]

Might be worth a peruse of this website.

 

http://www.prestonstation.org.uk/10D/page6aaaaaaaa.html

 

 

 

 

Jason

[keefer]

Robert Carroll's LHCS io.group might have a relevant LMR Carriage Working book for the period. This would give the booked formation for the service.

https://brcoachingstock.groups.io/g/main

(Requires membership)

[keefer]

12 hours ago, MattR said:

True, but as a scheduled service, I had hoped previous instances might give a general clue as to the consist.

What time of day was the train?

I think i may have found it.

17.26 Glasgow (17.20 from Edinburgh) - Manchester Victoria (between 22nd June - 7th September).

Liverpool portion detached at Preston.

Then runs as 21.25 Preston-Liverpool Exchange.

Formed TSO CK BSK CK BSK SK

(First three coaches are from Glasgow, last three from Edinburgh)

 

This is the only train where the detached portion goes to Liv.Ex. There are a few Glasgow-Liverpool trains but with those, the detached portion goes Preston-Manchester. They are also earlier in the day.

[MattR]

19 minutes ago, keefer said:

What time of day was the train?

I think i may have found it.

17.26 Glasgow (17.20 from Edinburgh) - Manchester Victoria (between 22nd June - 7th September).

Liverpool portion detached at Preston.

Then runs as 21.25 Preston-Liverpool Exchange.

Formed TSO CK BSK CK BSK SK

(First three coaches are from Glasgow, last three from Edinburgh)

 

This is the only train where the detached portion goes to Liv.Ex. There are a few Glasgow-Liverpool trains but with those, the detached portion goes Preston-Manchester. They are also earlier in the day.

 

Amazing, that looks like it! The 17.25 from Glasgow then split and run as 1F51, the 21.25 to Liverpool Exchange.

Edited November 9, 2023 by MattR

[MattR]

 Now I guess my next question is, is the 6-coach consist listed before or after it was split for Manchester and Liverpool?

 

The reports remark that there only a few regular passengers in the split consist bound for Liverpool, which makes me think the split consist didn't have very many coaches, however it seems insane that the "seething" masses of people trying to ride the train for historic purposes may have been crammed into just three coaches. 🤔

Edited November 9, 2023 by MattR

[keefer]

@MattR

The split portion forming Preston-Liv.Ex is six coaches as listed.

The train originated in Glasgow, three coaches from Edinburgh were added (probably at Carstairs) and this then travelled to Preston where the rear 6 coaches (3 from Glasgow and the 3 from Edinburgh) were detached to form the Liverpool train.

EDIT:

(Courtesy Robert Carroll's io.group)

Full train:

 

Preston-Liverpool Exc. portion:

Edited November 9, 2023 by keefer

[MattR]

Incredible! Thank you so much for finding this information!

 

 

[keefer]

@MattR glad to help! Quite pleased i managed to find the correct notice, sometimes can't quite manage to find the exact working.

Of course, the actual train may differ from the booked formation - either coach types or the order they are in.

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

In the concurrent Railway Magazine (september/october) there was a full page article on this train, from memory it didn't go into any detail of the actual train, but conveyed a sense of the atmosphere.

 

Mike.

[62613]

I seem to recall a photo of this train at Preston, in colour, in an around - the - turn - of - the - century issue of Backtrack. Certainly between about 1999 and 2005. The loco was the main subject, but and the leading coach was definitely blue/grey

Edited November 10, 2023 by 62613

[MattR]

Interesting! I've seen this B&W shot of it, but it's hard to tell what color the lead coach is.

 

 

Edited December 1, 2023 by MattR

[bécasse]

1 hour ago, MattR said:

Interesting! I've seen this B&W shot of it, but it's hard to tell what color the lead coach is.

 

 

It's very unlikely to be blue and grey which in the earliest applications were all but matt - and the reflections show that this vehicle certainly wasn't. It can't be wet either since the loco tender side isn't. I would say that it is a maroon-liveried BSK, certainly not a TSO, which would suggest that we are looking at the Manchester portion.

[25kV]

The train appears to be in the same location as the two images of the same shown on PrestonStation.org (http://www.prestonstation.org.uk/10D/page6aaaaaaaa.html) so it's very likely to be the Liverpool portion.  If the Glasgow-Liverpool portion of the formation had been reversed or reformed for some reason, it would account for the BSK at the front.