25 years ago, the sight of a BR blue electric loco in the south bays at Preston, was a common one, but this is 2009.

ACLG's 87002 Royal Sovereign  is pictured in the south bay of platform 4, having been detached from a  class 325 EMU set

Photo : Adrian Bradshaw 7/11/2009

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 : 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

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

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