4th August 1968

G.C. Enterprises
Farewell to Steam

Locos Used 45156

Route : 1T80 throughout

Loco Route
45156 10.01d Stockport – Manchester (1) – Bolton – Blackburn – Hellifield – Carnforth
45156 Carnforth – Hellifield –Blackburn – Bolton (1) – Manchester – Stockport

Notes :
(1) Confirmation required of route between Miles Platting and Bolton, both outward and return. Was it direct, via Manchester Victoria, Salford and Kearsley, as with the LCGB tour, or via Oldham, Rochdale and Bury, as with the RCTS tour? Alastair Wood comments: To the best of my knowledge, being only 9 at the time, we did travel the direct route to Bolton; I can remember the fast stretch in the valley where the M62 as was now goes over, can’t say for definite on the return journey, but do remember the magnificent climb racing a DMU up Miles Platting Bank!! 
(2) This tour was advertised as being organised by G. C. Enterprises but carried a headboard proclaiming "Stockport (Bahamas) Locomotive Society". Alastair Wood comments: GC Enterprises was the name given by George Davis the ex-president of the Bahamas society, which he had previously used as Williams Deacons Bank Railtours, him being the head man of the bank in Manchester.


Un-named 45156 passing Daisyfield (photo: Jack Hodgkinson)

Sources : Leonard Rogers (from contemporary reports), Alastair Wood & Jack Hodgkinson

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