3rd September 2022

Branch Line Society
The Garston Growler

Locos Used 37516 & 37676 'Loch Rannoch'
Stock Used 5171+5216+5200+99316+5249+9392

Route :
1Z31 : Lancaster to Preston
1Z32 : Preston to Crewe
1Z33 : Crewe to Preston

Loco(s) Route
37676 (1) Lancaster - (via WCML) - Crewe
37516 (2) Crewe - Wilmslow - Heald Green South Jn - Heald Green West Jn - Manchester Airport
37676 (1) Manchester Airport - Heald Green West Jn - Heald Green North Jn - Slade Lane Jn - Engine Siding - Manchester Piccadilly
37516 (2) Manchester Piccadilly - Ardwick Jn (4) - Longsight Up & Down Goods - Slade Lane Jn - Heald Green North Jn - Heald Green South Jn - Wilmslow - Alderley Edge (weave through Down platform) - Chelford Up Loop - Chelford South
37676 (1) Chelford South - Chelford Down Loop - Alderley Edge - Wilmslow - Heald Green South Jn - Heald Green North Jn - Slade Lane Jn - Longsight Down Goods - (4) Ardwick Jn - Mayfield Loop - Manchester Piccadilly - Ordsall Chord - Manchester Victoria
37516 (2) Manchester Victoria - Salford Crescent - Bolton P5 - Euxton Jn - Preston Up & Dn Goods
37676 (1) Preston Up & Dn Goods - Springs Branch Jn - St Helens Central - Waterloo Branch Jn - Tuebrook, Up Waterloo Siding - Track Panel Siding - Victoria Road Tunnel Portal
37516 (2) Victoria Road Tunnel Portal - Track Panel Siding - Tuebrook, Up Waterloo Siding - Bootle Branch Junction - Picko No.2 Tunnel
37676 (1) Picko No.2 Tunnel - Bootle Branch Junction - Liverpool Lime Street
37516 (2) Liverpool Lime Street - Liverpool South Parkway - Garston Church Road - Garston FLT (Garston Holding Siding)
37676 (1) Garston FLT - Garston Through Sidings - Ditton Reception No 3 - Acton Bridge - Crewe - Basford Hall Up Independent - Stafford Royal Mail Terminal - Down Salop Sidings (Single Line up to Points, Loco & 1½ coach lengths off Stafford Goods Loop) (approx 133m22ch)
37516 (2) Down Salop Sidings Points - Stafford Royal Mail Terminal - Crewe Dn Fast - Arpley Shunting Neck No 2 - Warrington ‘The Hole’ - Preston
37676 (1) Preston - Rufford - Ormskirk
37516 (2) Ormskirk - Rufford - Preston - Kirkham & Wesham - Blackpool North
37676 (1) Blackpool North - Kirkham & Wesham - Preston

Notes: 
(1) 37516 on rear.
(2) 37676 on rear.
(3) Day 1 of 2 of "The Tower Tractors" Charity Tours raising funds for Martin House Children's Hospice.
(4) Hadfield couldn't be visited due to flooding at Fairfield, so an alternative was planned, & agreed with signallers, to have a trip to Chelford via a weave at Alderley Edge & both Chelford Loops.

Sources : Jim Sellens (on the tour throughout) & Alan Sheppard (on the tour from Lancaster & back to Preston at 20.46)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Alan Sheppard)

M.C Location Booked Actual
0.00
Lancaster 07.10d [P5] 07.10d [P5][UPL2]
11.39
Garstang & Catteral 07/23½ 07/23½
20.45
Preston Fylde Jn 07/33½ [UTL] 07/32 [UTL]
20.78
Preston 07.35a ~ 07.38d [P6] [UFL] 07.34a ~ 07.40d [P4][UFL]
21.42
Ribble Jn 07/39½ [FL] 07/41
26.33
Euxton Jn 07/45 [FL] 07/47
27.58
Balshaw Lane 07/47 [FL] 07/49
36.08
Wigan North Western 07/54 [P4] [FL] 07/55½ [P4][UF]
36.23
Wigan South Jn 07/54½ [FL] 07/55½
37.32
Springs Branch Jn 07/55 [FL] 07/56
42.02
Golborne Jn 07/59 [FL] 08/00
44.29
Winwick Jn 08/01 [FL] 08/02
46.63
Dallam Jn 08/03½ [FL] 08/04½
47.67
Warrington Bank Quay 08.05½a ~ 08.10d [P2] [FL] 08.06a ~08.09½d [P2][UF]
49.54
Acton Grange Jn 08/13 [FL] 08/13 [UM]
55.08
Weaver Jn 08/18 [FL] 08/18½
57.40
Acton Bridge 08/20 [FL] 08/20½
59.22
Hartford Jn 08/22 [FL] 08/22
64.37
Winsford 08/28½ [SL] 08/26 [UF]
71.10
Crewe Coal Yard 08/41 [SL] 08/31½ [UF]
71.75
Crewe 08.46a ~ 08.54d [P5] 08.33a ~ 08.52d [P5]
72.68
Crewe Sydney Bridge 08/57 08/55
76.42
Sandbach 09/03 [P2] 08/58½ [P2]
89.13
Alderley Edge 09/16 [P1] 09/16½ [P1]
90.63
Wilmslow 09/19½ [P1] 09/19 [P1]
93.15
Heald Green South Jn 09/25 09/22½
93.53
Heald Green West Jn 09/27 09/23
94.63
Manchester Airport 09.32a ~ 09.54d [P4] 09p28a ~ 09p54d [P4]
95.73
Heald Green West Jn 09/56½ 09/56½
96.58
Heald Green 09/58½ [P1] 09/57½
?
Mauldeth Road ? 10.04 ~ 10.06
102.65
Slade Lane Jn 10/09 [FL] 10/09
104.27
Ardwick Jn 10/11½ [FL] 10.12½ ~ 10.14
 ?
Piccadilly Engine Siding ? 10.15 ~ 10.15½ [Eng.Sdg.]
105.00
Manchester Piccadilly 10.14½a ~ 10.24d [P3] [EL] 10.17a ~ 10.24d [P3-UF]
 ?
Manchester Piccadilly East Jn ? [UF-DF]
105.53
Ardwick Jn 10/27 10/27 [DF-UDG]
106.37
Ashburys 10/29 [P1] DIV
109.71
Guide Bridge 10/33½ [P2] DIV
111.11
Hyde Jn 10/37½ DIV
116.67
Dinting 10/49 [P1] DIV
117.56
Hadfield 10.51½a ~ 11.05d DIV
 ?
Dinting 11/08 [P1] DIV
123.10
Newton for Hyde 11.15 ~ 11.15½ DIV
124.21
Hyde Jn 11/18 DIV
 ?
Guide Bridge 11/21 [P1] DIV
 ?
Ashburys 11/29½ [P2] DIV
-
Longsight North Jn DIV 10/28½ [UDG]
-
Longsight South (187m17ch) DIV 10/31 [UDG-UF]
-
Longsight South Jn DIV 10/31½ [UF]
-
Slade Lane Jn DIV 10/32 [UF-USty]
-
Burnage DIV 10/34½ [P2]
-
Heald Green North Jn DIV 10/38½
-
Heald Green South Jn DIV 10/39
-
Wilmslow DIV 10/42 [P2]
-
Wilmslow South Jn DIV 10/43 [UW]
-
Alderley Edge North Jn DIV 10.45 ~ 10.45½ [UW-DW]
-
Alderley Edge DIV 10/49½ [P1]
-
Alderey Edge South Jn DIV 10/50 [DW-UW]
-
Chelford Up Loop DIV 10.56 ~ 11.12½ [UChL-UW-DW]
-
Chelford South Jn DIV 11.15 ~ 11.17 [DW]
-
Chelford Dn Loop DIV 11/18 [DChL]
-
Alderley Edge DIV 11/25 [P1][DW]
-
Wilmslow DIV 11/27 [P1]
-
Heald Green South Jn DIV 11/30
-
Heald Green North Jn DIV 11/31½
-
Burnage DIV 11/36½ [P1]
-
Slade Lane Jn DIV 11/41 [DS]
-
Longsight South (187m17ch) DIV 11/43 [DS-DG]
-
Longsight North DIV 11/46 [DG-DS]
129.59
Ardwick Jn 11/31 [EL] 11/46½
 ?
Mayfield Loop ? 11.48 ~ 11.48½ [MGL]
129.72
Manchester Piccadilly 11/34 [P14] 11/49½ [P14]
130.40
Manchester Oxford Road 11/37 [P2] 11/51 [P2]
130.68
Deansgate 11/40 [P2] 11/52½ [P2]
131.16
Water Street Jn 11/41 11/53½
131.48
Salford Central 11/42 11/55
131.79
Deal Street Jn 11/42½ [FL] 11/56
132.31
Manchester Victoria 11.44½ ~ 11.59 [P6] [FL] 11.57 ~ 12.01 [P6]
132.74
Deal Street Jn 12/01 12/02
133.10
Salford Central 12/01½ [P2] 12/03 [P2]
134.10
Salford Crescent 12/04½ [P2] 12/06 [P2]
143.01
Bolton 12*17 ~ 12*24 [P5] 12.18½ ~ 12.26 [P5]
145.70
Lostock Jn 12/30 12/31½
154.51
Chorley 12/42 12/42
157.62
Euxton Jn 12/50 [SL] 12/48½ [DS]
 ?
Farington Curve Jn 12/53 [SL] 12/54 [DS]
162.01
Skew Bridge 12/54½ [GL] 12/56 [DG]
 ?
Ribble Jn 12*57 ~ 13*04½ [UFL] 13.00 ~ 13.10½
163.25
Preston 13.07 ~ 13.26 [UDGL] 13.13 ~ 13.25 [UDGL(P7)]
163.77
Ribble Jn 13/27½ [FL] 13/27 [UF]
 ?
Euxton Jn 13/33 [FL] 13/35½ [UF]
 ?
Balshaw Lane 13/35 [FL] 13/37½
178.43
Wigan North Western 13/42 [P4] [FL] 13/45 [P4][UF]
178.79
Wigan South Jn 13/43 [FL] 13/45½
179.65
Springs Branch Jn 13/43½ 13/47 [UM-US]
187.23
St Helens Central 13/57 [P2] 13/59 [P2]
192.76
Huyton 14/04 [P2] [SL] 14/06½ [P2]
193.37
Roby 14/05 [P2] 14/07½ [P2]
195.77
Olive Mount Jn 14/09 14/11
 ?
Bootle Branch Jn 14/11 14/14
197.01
Tuebrook Sdgs GBRf 14.14½ ~ 14.32 Up Waterloo Sdg : 14.16 ~ 14.21
Track Panel Sdg : 14.22 ~ 14.23
Tunnel Mouth : 14.28 ~ 14.32
Up Waterloo Sdg : 14.36 ~ 14.44
197.51
Bootle Branch Jn (GPL LE121) 14.34 ~ 14.44 14.49 ~ 14.59 [Picko No.2]
 ?
Former Edge Hill S.B. 14/45 [FL] 15/00
198.18
Edge Hill 14/46 [P4] [FL] 15/01 [P2][DCM]
198.71
Liverpool Crown Street Jn 14/48 [FL] 15/03½ [DCM]
199.49
Liverpool Lime Street 14.51a ~ 15.38d [P10] [FL] 15.06a ~ 15.38d [P10]
 ?
Liverpool Crown Street Jn 15/40½ [FL] 15/40½
 ?
Edge Hill 15/42 [P3] [FL] 15/42
201.23
Former Edge Hill S.B. 15/42½ [FL] 15/42½
202.14
Wavertree Jn 15/44½ [SL] 15/45
205.24
Liverpool South Parkway HL 15/51½ [P4] 15/51
205.69
Garston Jn 15/55½ 15/53½ [Arr]
 ?
Garston Church Road 15.57½ ~ 15.58½ 15.55 ~ 15.56
206.38
Garston F.L.T. 16.05 ~ 16.18 16.00 ~ 16.07½ [FLHS]
 ?
Garston Church Road 16.24 ~ 16.25 16/11 [Dep]
207.07
Garston Jn 16/26½ 16/14 [UGG]
207.79
Speke Jn 16/33 [SL] 16/18 [UDS]
211.49
Ditton West Jn 16/38 16/26
211.63
Ditton Reception Sidings 16.40 ~ 16.45 [Recp.3] 16.28 ~ 16.33½ [Recp.3]
212.04
Ditton East Jn 16/47 16/35
214.31
Runcorn 16/51 [P1] 16/39
215.47
Halton Jn 16/52 16/41
220.01
Weaver Jn 16/57 [FL] 16/47½
 ?
Acton Bridge 16/59 [FL] 16/51 [UF]
 ?
Hartford Jn 17/01 [FL] 16/52½
 ?
Winsford 17/06 [FL] 16/57½ [UF]
 ?
Crewe Coal Yard 17/13½ [FL] 17/03 [UF]
236.68
Crewe 17.16a ~ 17.27d [P12] 17.07a ~ 17.28d [P12]
237.11
Crewe South Yard 17.32 ~ 17.32 [IL] 17/31 [to UpInd @ 157m27ch]
 ?
Sorting Sidings South ? 17.36 ~ 17.37
238.48
Crewe Basford Hall Jn 17/42 [SL] 17/40 [UF]
245.30
Madeley (Staffs) 17/48 [SL] 17/48½ [UF]
257.19
Little Bridgeford Jn 18/03 [SL] (17/58 UF)
 ?
Stafford Doxey Jn ? 18.03 ~ 18.03½ [UF-US-DS]
261.28
Stafford Royal Mail Term. 18.15 ~ 18.58 [UDGL] 18.07 ~ 18.09 [UDGL]
add
Down Salop Sdgs DIV 18.12 ~ 18.49½ [Sdg Points]
261.28
Stafford Royal Mail Term. 18.15 ~ 18.58 [UDGL] 18/50½ [UDGL]
 ?
Stafford Doxey Jn 18/59½ [FL] 18/52 [DS-DF]
 ?
Norton Bridge 19/06 [FL] 18/57 [DF]
 ?
Madeley (Staffs) 19/17 [FL] 19/07 [DF]
 ?
Crewe Basford Hall Jn 19/25 [FL] 19/12½ [DF]
285.68
Crewe 19/27 [DF] 19/14 [DF]
 ?
Crewe Coal Yard 19/28 [FL] 19/14½
 ?
Winsford 19/35½ [FL] 19/20
 ?
Hartford Jn 19/41 [FL] 19/24½ [DF]
 ?
Acton Bridge 19/43 [FL] 19/26
 ?
Weaver Jn 19/46 [FL] 19/28 [DM]
308.09
Acton Grange Jn 19/54 [OL] 19/36½ [DH]
309.13
Walton Old Jn 19/57 19.40 ~ 19.43
 ?
Arpley Grid Iron Jn South ? 19.46 ~ 19.48
 ?
Arpley Sidings 20.00 ~ 20.01 [Shunt Neck 2] 19.51½ ~ 19.55½ [Shunt Neck 2]
 ?
The Hole ? 19.58 ~ 20/03
310.01
Warrington Bank Quay 20.07½ ~ 20.07½ [SL] 20/05½ [DS]
 ?
Winwick Jn 20/12½ [FL] 20/12½
 ?
Golborne Jn 20/15 [FL] 20/15½
 ?
Springs Branch Jn 20/19½ [FL] 20/21
 ?
Wigan South Jn 20/20 [FL] 20/21 [DF]
 ?
Wigan North Western 20/20½ [P5] [FL] 20/21 [P5]
 ?
Balshaw Lane 20/27½ [SL] 20/29 [DS]
 ?
Euxton Jn 20/29½ [SL] 20/31 [DS]
 ?
Farington Curve Jn 20/38½ [SL] 20/38½ [DS]
 ?
Ribble Jn 20/40½ [DFL] 20.42 ~ 20.43½ [DS-US-DF]
336.70
Preston 20.42a ~ 20.52d [P3] [DFL] 20.46a ~ 20.51½d [P3]
 ?
Ribble Jn 20/53½ [SL] 20/52½ [DF-US]
338.39
Farington Curve Jn 20/57 20/55½
346.60
Rufford 21.09 ~ 21.10 21.11½ ~ 12.12
352.14
Ormskirk 21.19a ~ 21.32d 21.21a ~ 21.31½d
 ?
Rufford 21x40½ ~ 21x46½ 21.42 ~ 21.48½
365.69
Farington Curve Jn 21/58½ [SL] 22/06
 ?
Ribble Jn 22/00 [DSL] 22/08½
367.38
Preston 22.01½a ~ 22.11½d [P1] [DSL] 22.10a ~ 22.12 [P1][DnFylde]
367.78
Preston Fylde Jn 22/13 22/14
375.25
Kirkham & Wesham 22/21 [P2] 22/21 [P2]
381.69
Poulton-le-Fylde 22/29 [P1] 22/28
384.38
Devonshire Road Jn 22/32½ 22/32
385.07
Blackpool North 22.36a ~ 22.51 [P2] 22.36a ~ 22.46d [P1]
 ?
Devonshire Road Jn 22/53 22/48
 ?
Poulton-le-Fylde 22/56½ [P2] 22/51½
 ?
Kirkham & Wesham 23/05½ [P3] 22/58½
 ?
Preston Fylde Jn 23/13½ [DFL] 23/06½
402.56
Preston 23.16a [P3] 23.08a [P3]

Mileages as shown in the tour brochure.


Associated E.C.S. Workings

5Z31 : (37676 with 37516 on rear) : Carnforth Steamtown to Lancaster
 

Location Booked Actual
Carnforth Steamtown 05+25d ?
Carnforth H.S. 05+35 ~ 05+45 ?
Carnforth 05+50 ~ 06+50 [DFG] ? ~ 06+33
Carnforth North Jn 06/51 06/34
Morecambe South Jn 06/57 06/41
Lancaster 07+00a [P5] 06+47 [P5]

5Z33 : (37676 with 37516 on rear) : Preston to Blackpool North
 

Location Booked Actual
Preston 23+54d [P3] [DSL] 23+20 [P3]
Preston Fylde Jn 23/56 ?
Kirkham & Wesham 00/04½ [P2] 23/28
Poulton-le-Fylde 00/14½ [P1] 23/36
Devonshire Road Jn 00/17½ 23/39
Blackpool North 00+20a [P1] 23+45 [P1]


Back to "The Railtour Files"