18th July 1976

Wirral Railway Circle
'Lincoln Castle' Cruise

Locos Used 40054, 40110 & 46019
Stock Used ????? (4)

Route :

Traction Route (2)
46019 Liverpool Lime Street - Edge Hill - Edge Lane Jn
40054 Edge Lane - Olive Mount Jn - Broad Green - St Helens Junction - Earlestown - Eccles - Manchester Victoria - Miles Platting - Philips Park No.1 Jn - Philips Park No.2 Jn - Ashburys - Gorton - Guide Bridge - Stalybridge - Marsden - Huddersfield - Mirfield - Dewsbury - Leeds
40054 Leeds - Methley Jn - Normanton - Turners Lane Jn - Crofton West Jn - Hare Park Jn - Adwick - Doncaster
40054 Doncaster - Kirk Sandall Jn - Thorne Jn - Goole
40110 Hull - Gilberdyke - Selby - Micklefield - Leeds - Batley - Mirfield - Huddersfield - Stalybridge - Ashton Moss north Jn - Miles Platting Jn - Manchester Victoria - Eccles - Earlestown - St Helens Junction - Edge Hill - Liverpool Lime Street

Notes :
(1) Ran in conjunction with the Hull Paddle Steamer Group and the Coastal Cruising Association.
(2) The letter sent out with the tour tickets stated that, due to engineering works, whilst the train would run direct from Liverpool to Manchester, it would require a reversal on the triangle 'at the south end of the Bootle Branch'. One class 40 was diagrammed to haul the train to the reversal point, from where a different class member would take the train on to Goole. It was also understood by organisers that the outward journey was to be via Doncaster. No details were given regarding the return routing. Roger Jones has subsequently been able to provide the loco information and also confirmed the routing.
(3) At Goole passengers transferred to the paddle steamer 'Lincoln Castle' at Victoria Pier for the sailing to Hull.
(4) Expected stock formation from Liverpool Lime Street was given as;

Coach A B C D E F - G H I J
Type BSK SK SK SK SK CK RMB CK SK SK SK

Sources : Roger Jones (on the tour throughout) & Neil Burns

Photo Review


'Lincoln Castle' at Goole, Victoria Pier (photo: Roger Jones)


'Lincoln Castle' during the cruise
(photo: Roger Jones)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Neil Burns & Roger Jones)

Location Booked Actual   Booked (rtn) Actual
Liverpool Lime Street 07.33d 07.33   20.28a 20.46
St Helens Junction 08.06d ?   20.06a ?
Earlestown 08.13d ?   19.59a ?
Manchester Victoria 08.40d ?   19.36a 19.35 ~ ??.??
Stalybridge 09.11d 09.09 ~ 09.11   19.17a ?
Leeds 10.11a ~ 10.31d ??.?? ~ 10.33   18.15a ~ 18.17d ??.?? ~ 18.23
Goole 12.15a 12.23   - -
Goole Victoria Pier 13.15d 13.25   - -
Hull -     17.10d 17.10


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