nigb55009

Thinking about the Local Trip Notice I mentioned earlier, it was later than 1982. Probably more likely 1987/8. The trip workings covered an area including

Warrington, Springs Branch, Preston, Carnforth, Barrow, Workington and Carlisle depots, as well as Crewe, Chester, Llandudno Jn and Holyhead.

Garston and Ellesmere Port, which had include work transferred from Birkenhead. I think by that time Northwich had closed, the work andsome of the 

men, moving to Warrington. Around the same time, Buxton and Manchester area freight traffic came under the responsibility of North West Freight, were

as previously freight had been part of each Area Managers control. I can`t remember when Buxton`s freight work was moved to Peak Forest, I think it would

have been a little later. 

No, I mean North Wales freight services. Trains to Holyhead, Amlwch, Transffyndd etc. I used to have a Local Trip Notice, from 1982  I think, which included Llandudno Junction workings as well as Chester and Holyhead. 

There was also North West Railfreight, based at Warrington. The area covered up to Carlisle, including the Cumbrian coast. ISTR it also covered the

North Wales coast, Buxton area and Crewe, including MGR workings from Silverdale Colliery. I`m not sure about the Stoke area, that might have become

part of one of the Midlands areas.

Beyond the realms of death, Judas Priest

I have a copy, you can have it if you like.

Ain`t talkin` bout love, Van Halen

Only six?

Bickershaw Colliery, near Wigan used two GE diesel locos. I think they were built at Vulcan Foundry, about 1979. They were named Western King and Western and Western Queen. 

After the Rapid Loading Bunker came into use, around 1988, the locos were transferred to Littleton Colliery in Staffordshire. They were moved via BR metals and

under their own power. A Springs Branch Driver acted as route conductor as far as Crewe. The move happened during daylight hours, IIRC. I`m sure there would have been a lot

of restrictions regarding speed and which lines the two were allowed to operate. Of course in those days there wasn`t the same access to the internet and social media, so the

working seems to have gone unnoticed. I haven`t been able to find any photos on line of the locos on BR metals, although I have seen photos of Western King at work after it`s

at Littleton. I wonder what Network Rails reaction if someone were to propose such a working today?

The lights burned out, Magnum

That`s Haverthwaite, not Lakeside.

The signal could be put back as soon as the train has passed it. The points would, probably, only be reset when the train has cleared the crossing and is no longer occupying the track circuit. As you say, clarification from someone with more specialised local knowledge would confirm, one way or the other.

The 33 isn`t running wrong line, it`s arriving in the platform having crossed from the Down line. The class 50 is doing the same thing, the signal is visible in the picture.

 Try Peters Spares website, though I think they are only available in pairs. 

It was also possible to carry out a brake continuity test by pulling the communication cord and then resetting it using the "butterfly" switch, situated at the end of

each vehicle at cant rail level.

All of my life, Magnum

I seem to remember 142084 being fitted with a Gardner engine at some point. It was tried as a poosible replacement for 

the TL11, before the adoption of the Cummins engine. I`m not sure of the dates though.

On the trail of the lonesome pine, Laurel & Hardy

Running with the Devil, Van Halen

Living after midnight, Judas Priest

I have a 1937 edition of the LMS Sectional Appendix, Western Division North of Crewe. A signal box called Broomfield & Worthigton Hall is listed and is shown as located 993 yards north of Standish Junction. Unfortunately it doesn`t show which side ot the line it is located.

Hope this is of some help.

Ballad of Bodmin Pill, New Model Army

Mary on a cross, Ghost

Have you tried the Barrowmore Model Railway Group website. They have BR Diagram books on there. You may at least be able to compare window spacings

and configuration. The dimensions of the bodies are obviously the same, being MK1 derivatives.

Just like an arrow, Magnum

Bye Bye beautiful, Nightwish