4th August 1968

British Rail
Last Days of Steam (Steam Hauled Tour of N.W. Lines)

Loco Used 45305

Route : 1T85 throughout

Loco Route
45305 Manchester Victoria - Deal Street Jn - Ordsall Lane Jn - Eccles - Parkside Jn - Newton-le-Willows - Earlestown - St Helens Junction - Huyton - Olive Mount Jn - Edge Lane - Bootle Jn - Hall Road - Birkdale - Southport South Jn - St Lukes - Meols Cop - Burscough Bridge - Wigan Wallgate - Ince - Hindley Jn - Crow Nest Jn - Dobbs Brow Jn - Walkden - Brindle Heath Jn - Pendleton - Windsor Bridge - Manchester Victoria

Notes :
(1) Vince Rutland comments: From memory it went almost into Liverpool and the skirted it, although I'm not sure exactly which route it took - presumably via Tuebrook and Bank Hall. At Southport it took the avoiding line, meaning it didn't have to stop or turn there, and crossed another steam special at Wigan Wallgate. As I recall, this was the first and only stop en route. Somewhere I have some photos of it at Manchester Victoria along with other tours there literally minutes beforehand.


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.

Sources : Leonard Rogers, Vince Rutland & Ron Herbert

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from various including Ron Herbert)

Location Booked Actual
Manchester Victoria 14.20d [P11] ?
Deal Street 14/22 ?
Ordsall Lane No.2 14/24 ?
Eccles 14/30 ?
barton Moss Jn 14/32 ?
Kenyon Jn 14/41 ?
Earlestown 14/48 ?
St Helens Junction 14/52 ?
Huyton 15/02 ?
Olive Mount Jn 15/10 ?
Edge Hill Jn 15/14 ?
Bootle Jn 15/24 ?
Southport South Jn 15/54 ?
St Lukes 16/00 ?
Meols Cop 16/03 ?
Burscough Bridge 16/12 ?
Wigan Wallgate 16w25 ~ 16w35 ?
Hindley No.2 16/40 ?
Crow Nest Jn 16/43 ?
Dobbs Brow Jn 16/45 ?
Brindle Heath Jn 16/59 ?
Pendleton 17/01 ?
Windsor Bridge No.1 17/05 ?
Manchester Victoria 17.10a 17.18


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