6th August 1966

L.C.G.B. / Branch Line Society
Hundred of Wirral Rail Tour

Locos Used 1638 & 42942
Stock Used 9 brake vans

Route :

Loco Route
42942 Birkenhead Woodside - Green Lane Jn - Rock Ferry - Hooton - Chester No.5 (1)
1638 Chester No.5 - Saltney Jn - Mold Jn No.1 - Mold Jn No.3
1638 (2) Mold Jn No.3 - Mold Jn No.4
42942 Mold Jn No.4 - Chester General - Helsby (3) - Helsby Jn
42942 (2) Helsby Jn - Helsby branch platform
42942 (2) Helsby branch platform - Helsby Jn
42942 Helsby Jn - Mickle Trafford Jn - Chester East Jn - Liverpool Road Jn - Dee Marsh Jn - Neston - Heswall Hills - Bidston Dee Jn - Bidston Yard - Birkenhead North No.2
42942 (2) Birkenhead North No.2 - Bidston East Jn - (via independent goods line past Seacombe Jn) - Bidston Iron Ore Terminal (4)
42942 Bidston Iron Ore Terminal - Birkenhead North No.2 - (via MDHB docks lines) - Green Lane Jn - Rock Ferry

Notes:
(1) 1638 was in a terrible condition and barely managed to cover the 4 miles to Mold Jn No.4 where the loco change back to 42942 was made (was booked to have been at Helsby).
(2) loco propelling.
(3) Train was booked to loco change and reverse at Helsby but the loco change had already taken place (at Mold Jn no.4) and the train ran through to Helsby Jn then reversed back into the branch platform. Departing again involved another reversal at Helsby Jn.
(4) Bidston Iron Ore Terminal: stopped at the end of the double track, before fanning out into sidings.

Sources : Terry Jackson, Kevin Driscoll & Gas Hill (BLS)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Kevin Driscoll)

M.C Location Booked Actual
0.00 Birkenhead Woodside 11.00d 11.00
0.64 Green Lane Jn 11/04 ?
1.55 Rock Ferry 11/06 ?
7.05 Hooton 11p17a ~ 11p27d ?
14.60 Chester No.5 11L43a ~ 11L53d ?
16.29 Saltney Jn 11/58 ?
17.69 Mold Jn No.1 12.05a ~ 12.25d ?
18.09 Mold Jn No.3 12.35a ~ 12.55d ?
18.29 Mold Jn No.4 12.55a ~ 13.10d ?
21.67 Chester General 13.45a ~ 13.55d ?
29.20 Helsby 14L10a ~ 14L27d ?
? Helsby Jn ? ?
? Helsby branch platform ? ?
? Helsby Jn ? ?
33.73 Mickle Trafford Jn 14/38 14/57
37.20 Chester East Jn 14/47 ?
37.58 Liverpool Road Jn 14/49 ?
43.01 Dee Marsh Jn 15.00a ~ 15.04d ?
48.17 Neston 15/14 ?
50.70 Heswall Hills 15p20a ~ ??p??d ?
56.52 Bidston Dee Jn 15/42 ?
57.22 Bidston Yard 15/45 ?
57.40 Birkenhead North No.2 15.50a ~ ??.??d ?
? Bidston East Jn ? ?
? Bidston Iron Ore Terminal ? ?
? Birkenhead North No.2 ? ?
60.77 Green Lane Jn 16/50 ?
61.68 Rock Ferry 16.55a 17.43

Mileage does not include extra move at Helsby.
Mileage does not seem to include moves between arriving at/passing Birkenhead North No.2

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