APOLLO's GRAND DAYS OUT

[APOLLO]

Edited 28/3/14 to add this link to a 1969 BBC documentary film, well worth 45 minutes or your time

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p012d0t5/Tuesday_Documentary_Engines_Must_Not_Enter_the_Potato_Siding/

 

At long last I got a neg scanner for Xmas off the kids. I have hundreds of negs to do in boxes here and there. I'll not post everything, just the interesting stuff as I find it, and instead of littering the posts of others I'll put them here occasionally. I'll post them in no particular order, but try to put one days trip in one post, so all pix are on (or should be !) on the same date.

 

I'll kick off with the cold, cold Saturday 3 January 1970. With a friend we decided to do the Woodhead route, as it was the next to last day of passenger trains, then visit Retford & Doncaster. An early start from Wigan Wallgate to Manchester Victoria (Newton Heath set 423) and a brisk walk accross the city to Piccadilly, and here is E26053 PERSUES backing onto the train, taking us of course to Sheffield Victoria.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then a walk across Sheffield to Midland station

 

 

A DMU to Retford - The land of Deltics !!

 

 

 

 

D1507 took us up to Doncaster, we had a walk just to the south. Hadn't time to do the shed.

 

 

 

Back down to Retford Ex Works D9011 The Royal Northumberland Fusiler was coupled up to D1103 for some unknown reason. Both locos working, what a noise with head out of first window.

 

 

 

Back to Sheffield and dash to the Vic, and E26057 ULLYSSES took us to Manchester via a cold, dark Penistone.

 

 

 

 

Another dash across town, and a DMU home to Wigan. A grand day out never to be repeated.

 

Brit15

Edited March 28, 2014 by APOLLO

[Vin]

Hi Appollo,

A great set of now historical photos. One question does spring to mind. On the first photo was the corridor connection door open to get that angle? As the centre of the tracks are in the centre of the frame.

More photos please.

Regards

Vin

[APOLLO]

Vin, if I remember correctly yes the door was open with a shunter ready to close / lock it. I was lucky to get this shot. I will post some more trips as I find and scan the negs. I did this day out first as there are many Woodhead fans (self included) on this site.

 

Brit15

[Nobby (John)]

Great photos , thank you for posting

[jessy1692]

More please!

[great central]

I'm pretty sure I did the last day over Woodhead as well, no pictures though I'm afraid, remember it being very cold! I reckon some liberties were taken with the speedo down from Woodhead towards Manchester, ex LMS stock if I recall and a pretty lively ride. Should really dig out my notebook from the time.

Lovely set of piccies.

Edited January 19, 2013 by great central

[APOLLO]

Thanks for the kind comments. Now we are off to Crewe.

 

We visited Crewe sheds and works on four dates, 11/June/67, 25/Feb/68, 1/Dec/68 and 22/Jun/69. I kept a log of our trips & train locos but unfortunately did not record my photos, so I'm working from memory. I had not started work back then - and am now retired so it was an age ago - forgive me if some details / dates are wrong or out of order.

 

Back then, you could just turn up (if I remember correctly on the first Sunday every month at 2-00 pm) outside Gresty Rd (I think) entrance, where an old chap in uniform with a flat cap would sort out those with permits, and take pity on us lot without, relieving us of 4 shillings each (20p). No health and safety briefings, safety footwear, headgear or owt else - just a stern warning to keep up with him, don't touch anything, and don't jump over the pits. You can see him leading us in one of the pics.

 

Crewe North stabling point was a doddle, the Electric Depot was a no-no, and Crewe South was OK so long as you got past the electric depot on the footpath alongside. The diesel depot was done on the way back due to us allways being chucked out !! Who dare do this type of thing nowadays, aged 15 !!

 

Anyway, it's the 25 Feb 1968 and D1627 has brought us fron Wigan, and is being replaced with an Electric.

 

 

 

Crewe North stabling point

 

 

 

Onto Crewe works - where this loco needs a bit of attention

 

 

Two new D400'ers from up the road at Newton-Le-Willows. 1T60 was the test train these locos hauled, presumably up to Carlisle.

 

 

Evening Star was in the works on 11 June 67

 

 

As was this A4. Not sure - think it was Sir Nigel himself - what would HE have thought of his masterpiece going through the works at Crewe ?.

 

 

D1962 at Crewe station. Note the experimental reversed headcode blinds fitted for a short time to a handfull of locos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Heljan 47 was in for a new Mazak chassis

 

 

 

This loco fell onto the floor. (we've all done that haven't we !!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crewe North again

 

 

Edited January 19, 2013 by APOLLO

[40 058]

Absolutely superb photos!

Love the woodhead stuff, and the tommies going through their multiple working overhauls at crewe, dont think ive ever seen pics of them having the work done before.

 

keep em coming!

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Brilliant material Apollo. The Woodhead trip brought back memories as I did something similiar a few weeks earlier and the weather was pretty dire then too.

 

Many thanks for sharing this.

 

Peter

[298]

The AL5 was the one involved in the Willesden derailment in July 1969, as discussed in the Bachmann class 85 thread.

 

You've inspired me to dig out my old photos, although they're more recent than your collection.

Edited January 20, 2013 by 298

[APOLLO]

Today it's 6th August 1969. School hols, not that I would be going back, starting work with "The Gas Board" in a few weeks. Not a very grand trip today, but it turned out to be an interesting one. Took the dog a walk to Springs Branch along the old L & Y Pemberton Loop line (Wigan avoiding line) which had recently been lifted. This line crossed the New Springs branch line on a grand girder bridge, and the Springs Branch was now just a short line to the Central Wagon works, who a few years previously had dismantled steam locos (another day out !) but now in 1969 was scrapping coaches and wagons, and making the "new" containers by the dozen. By the way, Springs Branch, the shed, was at the start of this branch on the WCML.

 

Incidentally this was one of the earliest industrial branch lines in the world. Built by the North Union Railway - and built by Vignoles in 1836. It was in designing this line that the distance was set between two sets of running rails at 6ft, later increased to 6ft 6" (according to the book The Wigan Branch Railway by D Sweeney). However, as we shall see - this distance was not enough !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hmm, two trains on the Branch, a Brush 4 & a Sulzer, lets go take a look.

 

 

The Sulzer looks a bit close to the wagons

 

 

Screech --- (As the trains where parted) - Conflab !! The sulzer was fouling the crossover, Brush 4 hit it at low speed, drivers in both locos in opposite cabs and didn't see each other. No one hurt, just dents and busted handrails.

 

 

Note the experimental reversed headcode blinds on D1965 (as seen at Crewe above on D1962)

 

 

 

 

 

Note at this end the first headcode blind is a normal one.

 

 

I don't know why your laughing - the Boss is on his way up from the shed, paperwork to fill in !!

 

 

Even the little engine from Central Wagon came to have a look !

 

 

Not allways as exciting was Springs Branch & area - But back then allways busy 24 / 7.

 

Brit15

 

 

 

 

[Thomas]

Enjoying all the photographs APOLLO, especially the Wigan area ones. Had one of my first firing turns shunting the 'bridgehole' and up towards Central wagon works.

Thanks for the memories.

 

Tom

[JeffP]

Lovely photos, lots of atmosphere, lots of history.

 

Like an idiot, I lost interest in railways for quite a while after the demise of steam, and was too young to have gone to see any of the final days.

Thus I ALSO missed out on trips over the Woodhead, the S&D, the GCR etc etc.

 

One point: the A4 at Crewe is 60026 "Miles Beevor". It was used as a donor when they were overhauling Sir Nigel. It was later cut up there.

[APOLLO]

JeffP - Thanks for that. many years ago. I've not found all my old trainspotting logs, and those I have found are hard to de-cipher these days !!

 

Here is a photo that explains what you said, taken around 1967/8 . Sir Nigel Gresley having been overhauled at Crewe was run in on parcels trains up to Carlisle. Here she is Wigan North Western's platform 1 hauling a southbound parcels train. No date I'm afraid, and my dad took the photo (that's why it's a good un - he was a press photographer !!).

 

 

Still scanning & having fun - more to add soon.

 

Brit15

 

 

[Fairburn]

Great photo, and even a newspaper / parcels van in the yard behind.

[APOLLO]

Now I may have the tale a little wrong about the above picture. Sir Nigel has one lamp, indicating a stopping passenger train. The book I was reading this afternoon - Foxline scenes from the past 52 - Wigan to Preston the Northern Union line remembered has a little more info, page 49. (pix of 4498  1 April1967 at Boars Head on Crewe Carlisle A4 Locomotive preservation society special)

 

Sir Nigel had been purchased privately in May 1966 and overhauled at Crewe 66/67. It states amongst her running in turns was the 3P07 - 23.45 Crewe to Preston and the 2K52 - 05.30 Preston to Crewe local passenger. (No dates). Given the direction of the train (southbound), headcode and darkness, and it looks like passenger coaches rather than parcels vans behind her, I think this train is the 2K52. Though I never remember my dad getting up early, he probably did so ! - we did live only a mile from Wigan NW back then !!

 

Brit15

[Gdaysydney]

Really great photos - if I was you I'd be copyrighting them as they are scenes that can never be repeated.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Really great photos - if I was you I'd be copyrighting them as they are scenes that can never be repeated.

Since Apollo took the photos, he already holds the copyright.

[APOLLO]

 As I said, dad was a press photographer with only a passing interest in railways and in his youth was a keen cyclist. I still have a medal he won for the Wigan Wheelers cycle club Wigan to Shrewsbury and back - 123.5 miles in 7 hours and 28 mins in July 1930. a club record back then, when most roads were cobbled through towns, no motorways or bypasses, tram lines also.

 

Back in the mid 60's dad had an old Mk 7 Jag  - but my dad loved 2 wheels, and bought a Vespa scooter for his work transport, which on this day (back around 1965 or) so took us up to Garstang. (I hated riding pillion - scared to death !!!). We visited the then open Garstang & Catterall station (on the WCML between Preston & Lancaster still open back then - it closed on 3 Feb 1969) and the remaining stub of the old Garstang & Knott End railway which served a coal merchant at Garstang Town station, about a mile from the main line station and alot closer to town.

 

The Garstang & Knot End would make a nice model railway. (Has anyone done / doing it ?).

 

Garstang & Catterall Station

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garstang Town Station

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brit15

Edited January 30, 2013 by APOLLO

[Eggesford box]

I think the Oakwood press did a book on the Garstang and Knott End railway though the no longer appear to list it. Contained plans of some of the buildings iirc.

Edited January 30, 2013 by Eggesford box

[Old Gringo]

Just found your thread this evening.

 

What a wonderful selection of photographs and memories.

 

Thanks "Apollo" for posting them and please keep 'em coming.

 

All the very best,

 

John.

[Phil Bullock]

Super stuff - in the Crewe shots that looks rather like D5037 is wearing 2 tone green.

 

Kind regards

 

Phil

[62613]

In one of the photos of Garstang & Catterall, there is an EE4 with all 3 of  its lower headcode discs open; what's going on? I did have a look to see if the top one was open, too, with all its connotations, but it wasn't.

[DavidB]

Love the Clan - were they common on WCML freights?

 

David

[APOLLO]

I remember Clans were seen occasionaly through Wigan (and Garstang further north) back in the early 60's as some were (I think) allocated to Kingmoor then. They were also regularly used on the daily Manchester Exchange to Glasgow afternoon express, which ran via Tyldesley & Wigan North Western.

 

Brit15