A different kind of steam double for Preston...
Black 5s 45407 and 45231 sit off the end of platform 7 at the
beginning of an all-night stay in Preston, ahead of Sunday's Tin
Bath Extra tour.
Photo : Adrian Bradshaw 17/10/2009
|
60163 Tornado at Preston after bringing the diverted Cumbrian
Mountain Tornado into Preston.
More photos and video here
* Videos now on-line.*
Photo : Adrian Bradshaw 10/10/2009
|
6233 Duchess of Sutherland storms past Lightfoot lane
with the outward leg of The Royal Scot. This will be
the final trip over Shap for this stalwart of the mainline
steam scene. It is a great shame that we won't see this fine
locomotive on the main line for the next few years. The good
news is that the PRCLT will immediately begin the process of
preparing the locomotive for another stint on the main-line,
probably in about 5 years time.
Video to follow... plus photos
of the return leg....
Photo : Adrian Bradshaw 10/10/2009
|
Black Five 45231 hauls the Which Way tour past Flag Lane.
(Video Still - click image to watch on YouTube)
Video : Alastair Smith 3/10/2009
|
The Ribble Steam Railway held another successful Steam Gala on
the weekend of 12th/13th September, with three locos in steam,
including visitor "Cumbria".
There is a gallery of the day's events
in the Visitors
section.
Photo : Adrian Bradshaw 13/09/2009
|
60009 Union of South Africa pauses for a drink on
Preston's platform 7 en-route from Thornton to Crewe.
Photo : Adrian Bradshaw
24/08/2009
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1P05 - the Fridays-only relief from London Euston stands
pn platform 5. This was the first time that the newly
refurbished Mk3 set was used on this service, now sporting
Pendolino-style Virgin livery. 90020 was in charge on this
occasion.
Photo : Martin Brown 14/08/2009
|
5690 Leander was in charge of the third Fellsman
trip of the season. Pictured here, flanked by examples of
modern diesel and electric traction, the Jubilee is making
ready to head back to Carnforth after a slightly shortened
pause at Preston.
Photo : Adrian Bradshaw
12/08/2009
|
46113 Scots Guardsman stands on platform 5 after
another faultless performance on the second sell-out Fellsman
trip.
Hopes to see 45231 in the
station alongside the Scot were dashed when the Black 5 failed
to turn up before the Fellsman departed northwards.
Eventually, RTC's Welsh Mountaineer arrived an hour
late, in the gathering gloom, just 5 minutes after the other
tour had gone.
Photo : Adrian Bradshaw
05/08/2009
A gallery of shots of both
tours is available here.
|
Heading for Preston, the DBS pair of Tractors is seen here
at Leyland. 37670 is leading 37401, with the latter being
drafted-in at short notice due to problems with the other DBS
red-liveried classmate 37419.
Photo : Martin Brown 02/08/2009
|
Saturday's tractor pairing passes Cadley Causeway bridge,
coasting towards the station. 37087 and 37676 are in charge,
with 57007 bringing up the rear.
Video
Here
Video : Chris Bradshaw
01/08/2009
|
After reported delays, Leander was able to make up
lost time and arrived back at Preston bang-on time, departing
for Carnforth at around 9pm. The LMS Jubilee is seen here
simmering on platform 6.
Photo : Rob Maynard 29/07/2009
|
The weekly Fellsman service kicks off with 5690 Leander
in charge. The Jubilee is pictured here climbing Hoghton
Bank.
Photo : Phil Tyrer 29/07/2009
|
 Taken from Lightfoot Lane, to the north of Preston, 6233 Duchess
of Sutherland is pictured in full-flight with the outward
leg of RTC's Cumbrian Mountain Express from Worcester
to Carlisle.
Photo : ASB 18/07/2009
|
 87002 departs from Preston with the return leg of
Spitfire's Electric Scot tour.
More photos of this and the
Railtourer Snowdonian tour are on the Visitors
page.
Photo : ASB 11/07/2009
|
D1015 Western Champion makes a spirited start away from
Preston, bang-on-time, with the Western Chieftain tour.
Photo : ASB 21/06/2009
|
 Neither
of the two locos involved in The Scot over Shap tour is
a stranger to the WCML. Preserved AC electric 86259 Les
Ross handled the southern portion of the tour, with 46115 Scots
Guardsman taking the Preston - Carlisle portion.
Here, old and new(er) are
pictured side by side as the Scot heads for Lostock Hall to be
turned before returning to Carnforth.
More photos on the Visitors
page
Photo : ASB 09/05/2009
|
| Two
class 90 hauled passenger trains in three days...
|
 Sadly
37406, the trailing loco of the pairing on Pathfinder's West
Highlander, seems to have disgraced itself, resulting in a
66 having to take the tour north over Beattock. 37670
seems to have done all the work over Shap, and may
return with 37401.
Photo : Mike Thomas 10/4/2009
|
 From
the archive...
Now, once again, a familiar
visitor to Preston over the past few years, 71000 Duke of
Gloucester is shown here on the current platform 5 in back in
1961.
Photo : Tony Gillett 6th June
1961
|
 After
an extended stay in platform 7, 37375 was finally rescued by
Cotswold 47810, which travelled from Doncaster
The unusual pair are seen here
at Farington Junction.
Photo : Mark Bartlett 27/2/2009
|
 Advenza
"Duff" 47375 failed on its scrap train south of
Lancaster yesterday and was dragged into Preston by 57303,
where it remained overnight. It is reportedly to be taken
south by 57006 later today.
Photo : Mike Thomas 25/2/2009
|
 90018
stands at the north end of P6 after hauling the first regular
loco-hauled service into Preston for a few years
More Here
Photo : ASB 20/2/2009
|
 90024 in "Barbie"
livery stands at the West side of the station waiting to take
over the Westmoreland and Cumbrian Coast tour
which was hauled from Carlisle to Preston via Barrow.
Photo : Rob Maynard 18/2/2009
|
 60026
was pressed into serviice for Pathfinder's Hills of the
North Winter Wonderland tour. The loco was apparently substituted following the failure of the booked
class-mate. Still wearing its early EWS livery (from before
they dropped the "&"), it waits off the end of
Platform 6 while the passengers have a leg-stretch...
Photo : ASB 31/1/2009
|
 With
the WCML to the north closed - at least to passenger trains
due to flooding, a rather late, 66425 heads through Platform 4
with 4S43 (which normally uses 3 or even by-passes the
platforms near the Res side). It stopped with the loco at the
north end for a crew change.
Photo : Mike Thomas 12/1/2009
|
 40145
stands at the head of the "East Lancs Ambasador" as
67006 is attached at the rear.
Photo : Mike Birtles 3/1/2009
Martin Brown's video of this
tour is available here.
|
 Pathfinder's
SETTLE & CARLISLE EXPLORER provided a rare
opportunity to see a class 56 at Preston. Sadly, the
"Grid" only passed through the station on the return
leg, under the cover of darkness.
56312 is pictured here passing
through Bamber Bridge with a class 67 in the consist.
NEW
Video of the Bamber
Bridge pass is here (taken by my son Chris - AKA "the
Clone")
Video of the pass
through Preston Station is here. (ASB)
Photo : ASB 29/12/2008
|
 A
familiar loco with a new look...
Former Virgin
"Thunderbird" loco 57315 is pictured in the Derby
siding at Preston where it has been seen many times before -
except here, it is sporting its newly applied Arriva livery
and branding.
Photo : Mark Bearton 27/12/2008
|
 On-time
according to the new freight timetable,
66418 waits on platform 3 for the "peg" on the 4s44
liner.
Photo : Haydn Tomlinson 17/12/2008
|
 Yellow
peril...
DBSO 9714 on the north end of a
Network Rail test train on Preston's platform 5. 31105 is on
the other end of the short mixed rake.
Photo : Mark Bearton 1/12/2008
Mark's Fotopic site is here
|
 Out
of the fog...
Spitfire's "Christmas
Cracker" from Skipton to Blackpool passes Lea with 37248
leading 37676.
Photo : ASB 29/11/2008
|
 From
the other direction...
Class 180 Adelante 180103 heads
towards Preston
Photo : ASB 29/11/2008
|
 "Whistler"
40145 deputising for the unavailable Deltic made this tour the
Capital Whistler rather than the Capital Deltic,
from Preston to London Kings Cross.
Here the loco is seen shortly
before departure at the south end of platform 6.
Martin Brown's video of the
spirited departure is here.
Photo : Martin Brown 15/11/2008
|
 Just
to prove that the old girl got to The Cross, here is a shot of
the 40 on the blocks at her destination.
Mike and Martin's photos are
available on the Visitors Page.
Photo : Mike Thomas 15/11/2008
|
 Any
stragglers from the PrestonRail Yahoo! Group monthly meet-up
for a pint and a chat, may have caught this ensemble back at
the station a little later. Old-timer 37612 drags the young
whipper-snapper 66427 north through platform 3.
Photo : Mike Thomas 12/11/2008
|
 This
isn't exactly news, but it's an interesting photo...
There aren't too many photos of Metrovics at Preston, but they
were, for a short period, quite common. This photograph will
be added to the South End page
soon, but I thought I'd share put it here first. Perhaps one
day we can look forward to seeing the sole
surviving class 28 back out on the main line.
This photo is one of several
which Tony Gillett has kindly sent for use on the website, so
you can expect more in the coming weeks.
NEW
PAGE Early Modernisation Plan
Diesels & Prototypes at Preston
Photo : Tony Gillett 24/08/1962
|
 The
Ribble Steam Railway are holding a Diesel Weekend today (
Saturday 4th) and Sunday 5th October. A number of diesel
shunting locos are either in use or on show for the day.
Possibly the star of the show today was the newly painted
ex-BR class 05
Hunslet D2595, which was one of those used to haul trains out
to Strand Road and back.
Why not support your local
preserved railway and pay a visit tomorrow (Sunday 5th) ????
Photo : ASB 04/10/2008
|
 The
VSOE Northern Belle trains are usually top & tail class
67s, but on this occasion silver liveried 67014 is in sole
charge of the trip from Crewe to Edinburgh.
67014 runs into Platform 4 with
the 1Z67 outward leg.
Photo : Mike Thomas 19/09/2008
|
 An
unusual livery at Preston - The Voyagers which transferred to
Arriva Cross Country when Virgin lost the franchaise last year
have been gradually repainted into this smart new
colour-scheme. Although common further south, they don't
normally venture as far north as Preston. On this
occasion, a failed Virgin West Coast Voyager resulted in the
hiring of this unit from Arriva. The train worked into Preston
and then quickly south again, with the northward diagram being
taken-over by a Virgin unit.
Photo : Martin Brown 10/09/2008
|
 46115
Scots Guardsman was on railtour duty and although it didn't
pass through the station, it did skirt Preston, on its way to
the S&C.
A crowd of around 30 were at
Bamber Bridge to see the Lune Habitat pass
through. Martin Brown was our man on the spot!
A video
is also available on Martin's
YouTube page.
Photo : Martin Brown 06/09/2008
|
 55022
Royal Scots Grey arrives at Preston's, Platform 3 with
1Z55 "The Retro Scot".
30/08/2008
Photo : Martin Brown
|
 The
AC Locomotive Group are now providing "Thunderbird"
locos for the GBRf postal trains. 86101 is currently on
standby for use hauling the class 325 units, with 87002 also
available if required.
86101 was in action on Monday 11th and, seen here passing Preston, on the return
working on Tuesday 12th August.
Photo : Martin Brown
|
 By
way of a change...
Here is a photo from the camera
of Frank Boyle, who has kindly provided a selection of photos
for the site. These will be added to various pages as I get
round to re-vamping them.
40099 stands at the north end
of platform 2 some time in the late 70s.
Photo : Frank Boyle
|
 No,
this isn't a photo from 1982. The sight of BR-blue liveried
87002, back with its original name "Royal
Sovereign", hauling a rake of blue/grey coaches will be
hauntingly familiar to all us 40-somethings who took an
interest in the WCML in the late 70s and early 80s.
This photo and a gallery of an
interesting day at Preston on 16th July are on the Visitors
page.
Photo : Martin Brown 16/07/2008
|
 One
of the two locos used on Saturday's "Paignton Pudden"
tour, 37606 heads back to Carnforth with the empty stock.
Photo : Martin Brown 23/06/2008
|
 40145
was in charge of the Compass Tours Cambrian Coast Explorer
on Monday 5th May. The "Whistler" is seen here
pausing at platform 2 on the homeward trip from Aberystwyth to
Barrow.
ASB 05/05/08
|
 Class
52 "Western" D1015 Western Champion pauses at
Preston several minutes earlier than booked, on the homeward
leg of the Western Scot tour which had taken the
diesel-hydraulic to Edinburgh.
More on the Visitors
page.
ASB 03/05/08
|
 Photographed
on the same day as the fleeting visit by Sir Nigel Gresley,
Freightliner's 90046 passes through the station on an
intermodal.
Mike Thomas 16/4/08
|
 On
Wednesday 16th April, 60007 performed a loaded test run from
Carnforth, to Blackburn, then back via Cherry Tree and
Preston. The booked stop was both early and short, leaving 5
minutes before it was due to arrive. Fortunately, Martin
Brown, our roving reporter was there in time to grab some
photos.
There are more photos here,
along with photos of Black 5 45407 which also passed through
Preston on Friday 11th.
Martin Brown 16/4/08
|
 90020
stands at Platform 5 having arrived on the pre-Bank Holiday
relief. It arrived on time, and was due to propel the 17.00
back to London Euston
Mike Thomas 20/3/08
More on the Visitors
page
|
 Ian
Riley's BR Standard 76079 stands at platform 7 taking water
before its last leg of its circular trip.
ASB 15/3/08
More this tour on the Visitors
page
|
 The
pair of DRS 37s stand at Preston on the return leg of
Spitfire's Cumbrian Coast Explorer.
Mike Thomas 8/3/08
More this tour and 71000 Duke
of Gloucester on the Visitors
page
|
 The
Turning Movement mini-tour brought newly main-line certified
86359 Les Ross to Preston. Here it waits, pan-down,
having been dragged from Liverpool by 47773. The next leg of
the tour was handled by the veteran AC loco to Crewe, from
where the 47 returned the train to Liverpool for the return
leg of the main tour - The Les Ross Day Tripper.
ASB 1/3/08
|
 On
the evening of 29th February, high winds caused empty
containers to be blown from a train over Shap. The line was
therefore closed, resulting in the Caledonian Sleeper being
recalled to Preston. Here, it is pictured at Preston the
following day.
ASB 1/3/08
|
 90028
stabled north of Preston. The loco is on hire to GBRf for 6
weeks, acting as a "thunderbird" loco for the 325
mail EMUs
(thanks to those who have emailed with
this information).
ASB 19/2/08
|
 The
Duke at Preston
ASB 9/2/08
More here
|
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