In the days of good old British Rail
Everything that moved was painted in the standard livery of blue for
locomotives, and blue, pale grey and white for coaching stock. So when
they took the decision to paint a Class 37 (37350) in the old British
Railways green, the engine immediately became a target for enthusiasts
specials.
Seen here passing Kirkham and Wesham on the final leg of a special into
Blackpool North, the 'Growler' is hauling an excursion called 'Power to
the Tower'.
Although the Fleetwood branch, which diverges from the Blackpool North line at Poulton Junction, has been mothballed for some years now, it's good to look back at the type of traffic the line once attracted. This picture shows the Burn Naze to Barry tanker train slowing for the level crossing at Thornton station, being hauled by a grubby Class 47 (47370). Although not used for many years, the station is in remarkably good condition, and if ever a train operating company fancied running passenger services to Fleetwood again, Thornton would be a natural stop to re - open.
In the land of semaphores
Blackpool North is synonymous these days as being the largest terminus station in the country, controlled totally by semaphore signals. In this view, taken before Sprinterisation, and locomotive hauled trains were still common, the final Class 40 in traffic, 40 122 waits with an Anglo Scottish working, while 47 535 University of Leicester powers the Blackpool to London Euston service.
Eyes down
These holding sidings, as indeed the motive power, are no
longer in existance. A bingo hall (inevitably for Blackpool) now
covers the area. In happier times, a brace of English Electric type 4's,
and a Class 25 take a well earned rest between duties
Peak performer
Class 45's were also to be seen in Blackpool, although they weren't as common as 40's or 47's. Generally they could be seen on summer Saturdays hauling trains from the north east. This lumbering giant 45 023, The Observer Corps met its fate in October 1984, when it was withdrawn with three other classmates, and dismantled for spares
Seen passing Salwick
A six car first generation diesel multiple unit. Made up of a three car Class 120 and Class 104, these units provided the backbone for services into Blackpool North. The Swindon built Class 120’s were ‘imported’ from Wales, and were rapidly approaching their sell by date. However, their power to weight ratio may have left a little to be desired but even these worn out units were more comfortable than a latter day Pacer.
The Class 104’s were a product of the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon factory. Unlike a lot of the D.M.U.’s in the seventies and eighties which had been refurbished, the BRCW’s weren’t so fortunate, and when they were running at speed the vibration from the underfloor engines caused anything and everything to rattle!
Six car sets were a common sight for many years, hence complaints of overcrowding were virtually unheard of. Unlike today - six car sprinters are a near extinct commodity. There are several examples of the Class 104’s preserved and several members of the class are given an occasional run on the Llangollen railway.
Class 47 Great Western in its distinctive G.W.R. livery
Although its paintwork has seen better days, there's no mistaking celebrity Class 47, 47 500 Great Western in its distinctive G.W.R. livery, seen here accelerating away the London - Blackpool train from Kirkham on the final leg of its journey.
The English Electric type 4 diesel locomotive
The English Electric type 4 diesel locomotives (latterly Class 40) were
always a familiar sight along the Fylde coast, and certainly in the 1960's
were first choice motive power for London services. In the twilight of
their careers, they were regularly rostered for mystery and day excursions
from the Fylde, and the 'Whistlers' always proved to be a popular engine.
It was on one of these runs - to Durham to be precise - that one of these
old girls forgot her age and really enjoyed a good old romp along the
'York Racetrack' topping 85 m.p.h. in doing so !
In this photograph, 40 009 the last vacuum braked only example, is seen
here taking a well earned rest in the summer sunshine against the buffer
stops in platform 8 at Blackpool North.
A view before the Kirkham bypass was constructed pre 1990
The picture of this Class 47 powering a Blackpool North to London service carries no date details. However, it is certainly before 1990 when construction of the Kirkham bypass started - it now crosses the railway just in front of Kirkham North Junction signalbox (on the right). Compared to the very colourful scene of rolling stock carrying the various colours of today's twenty five train operating companies, the corporate ' B.R. blue ' now seems far removed.
A trio of named Class 31’s
Our Eli, Wigan Pier, and Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
These shots were all taken in May 1995, when several services into and out of Blackpool North were locomotive hauled, and recalled the days of Club Trains. There were four arrivals within an hour in the evening at the famous resort – two from Liverpool Lime Street, one from Manchester Victoria, and one from Manchester Piccadilly.
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| Class 31 ( Our Eli ) | Class 31 ( Wigan Pier ) |
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| Class 31 ( Keighley and Worth Valley Railway ) |
The service from Manchester Victoria was usually in the hands of a Class 37 (37418 East Lancashire Railway is featured), whilst the remainder were powered by Class 31’s, which relieved the monotony of Sprinters and Pacers.
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| Class 37 ( 37418 East Lancashire Railway ) |
Weed Killing trains
Railtrack has over the last year or two been criticised for not doing more to control weed infestation over the length and breadth of the rail network. Not too long ago, there were two operational weed killing trains, one of which made a brief visit to Blackpool North. Powered by two Hunslet Barclay Class 20’s 20903 and 20905, they are now part of the Direct Rail Services (DRS) fleet, and at the time of writing 20903 is still a runner, but 20905 is stored out of use.
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| Hunslet Barclay Class 20’s 20905 | Hunslet Barclay Class 20’s 20903 |
May 1998, Virgin re–introduced London to Blackpool services
In May 1998, Virgin re – introduced London to Blackpool services after a gap of six years, and this was recognised by naming an HST power car Blackpool Rock. It illustrates just how many miles one of these sets can accumulate, when just five days later it was noted in Penzance !
It's difficult to realise that...
This tranquil spot is less than ten miles away from the hustle and bustle of Blackpool town centre. This is Witch Wood, on the outskirts of Lytham. The photograph was taken before the new generation of Sprinters and Pacers had fully taken over from the venerable multiple units, that were built in the late 1950's/early 1960's. The class 108 Derby units were the 'staple diet' for the Blackpool South branch for a number of years, and it was always nice to be able to sit behind the driver and see out from the front - something that you can't do today !
Copyright ©1999/2005
B.A.F.R.U.A. All rights reserved.
Revised: 14, February 2005