nigb55009

Red, Sammy Hagar

Rylands Sidings, on the WCML north of Wigan. I hardly remember it really, I was four or five years old, it was just before the end of steam, 1967ish. Later, the iron bridge, which crossed the old top yard at Wigan NW. It also crossed the lines into Wigan Wallgate. From about 1975 myself and my younger brother would catch the bus down to Springs Branch on Saturday mornings. First real memory was 4472 Flying Scotsman, heading north past Rylands in 1969.

Perhaps players sent to the sin bin will be offered counselling and given time to reflect and take responsibility for their actions.

Rule 1 sounds good to me. In 1990 the 47s were replaced by class 60s on the Cumbrian MGR services. I`m fairly certain 56s didn`t get to that area until after privatisation. Have a look on Flickr at Dave McDigital, there is an album dedicated to Cumbrian coal trains. It also shows class 25 and 40 working MGR trains around the areas I mentioned above. The class 47 hauled MGR trains had an air-braked brake van on the rear for the propelling movement between Walton Old Jn and Arpley Jn at Warrington.

MGR traffic would have originated between Corkicle and Maryport on the Cumbrian Coast. At the time you intend to portray these would have been hauled by class 47s. Occasionally other classes would be used for part of the journey, a class 47 would be provided before the train left Warrington on the final leg of the journey to Fiddlers Ferry. Class 56s appeared in 1985, after the miner's strike. Coal for Fiddlers Ferry was moved from Knockshinnoch, on the G&SW mainline. The 56s worked between Carlisle Yard and Fiddlers Ferry. Drivers at Springs Branch were trained on 56s for this work, so it was not unusual to see pairs of class 20s substitutions due to a shortage of suitably trained drivers or even class 56s. On at least one occasion a class 56 worked through to the colliery. The Springs Branch crew being conducted over the route.

Big city nights, Scorpions

Hersham Boys, Sham 69

I got the info from a L&YR Society book." Signal Boxes on L&YR Lines North and West of Manchester, Part 2". There are photos of the original stone built box and the later 1922 box. There is also a signalling diagram and full description of the box and associated track and sidings. Unfortunately I can`t reproduce the photos due to copyright law. Sorry I can`t be more helpful.

The box is a L&YR Type 6 with the frame at the back of the box, hence the stove at the front. The makers plate in the box states LNWR Horwich, in line with its construction in 1922.

I would think J320 is in fact a Penrith to Workington service, as shown on the destination blind. Troutbeck is between Penrith and Keswick.

All of my life, Magnum

What do waiting for a British Gas engineer and tantric sex have in common? You stay in all day and nobody comes

Strange town, The Jam

Six Bells Junction website has a section called "The Railtour Files" It may take a while to go through it all but it is worth the effort. There are dates and times as well details of the locomotives involved.

Bird of prey, Uriah Heep

He is, Ghost

Hard luck woman, Kiss

That's not a sleeper, it's TGS, Trailer Guard Second. It's got InterCity 125 on the side.

Out in the fields, Gary Moore & Phil Lynott

Shadow of love, The Damned

Perfect strangers, Deep Purple

Last of the wilds, Nightwish

Can't take the hurt, Mammoth

Remember tomorrow, Iron Maiden

All the days, Mammoth