3rd August 1991

Branch Line Society
The Northern Explorer

Locos Used 26041, 31312, 47501 'Craftsman' & 47971 'Robin Hood'

Route :

Loco(s) Route
47971 Crewe - Sandbach - Middlewich - Northwich - Hartford CLC Jn - Ditton - Wavertree Jn - (via Downhill sidings) - Crown Street
47971 Crown Street - Rainhill - Golborne Jn - Preston - (via WCML) - Carlisle
31312 (1) Carlisle - Dumfries - Maxwelltown
26041 (2) Maxwelltown - Kingmoor Yard (up avoiding/goods/arrival lines) - Carlisle
47971 Carlisle - Preston - Blackburn
47971 (3) Blackburn - Rose Grove
47501 (4) Rose Grove - Padiham Power Station
47971 (3) Padiham Power Station - Rose Grove Down Goods
47501 (4) Rose Grove Down Goods - Preston - Poulton le Fylde - Burn Naze
47971 (3) Burn Naze - Poulton le Fylde - (via Kirkham & Wesham Up Fast) - Preston - (via WCML, Walton Old Jn) - Crewe
47971 Preston - (via WCML, Walton Old Jn) - Crewe

Notes :
(1) 26041 on rear.
(2) 31312 on rear.
(3) 47501 on rear.
(4) 47971 on rear.

Source : Trevor Cockram (on train throughout) & Howard Harrison

Photo Review


31312 at Carlisle (photo: John Cassey)


26041 at Carlisle (photo: John Cassey)


47971 stands at Padiham (photo: Derek Thompson)


47501 at Thornton on the Burn Naze branch (photo: Derek Thompson)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Howard Harrison)

Miles Location Booked Actual
0 Crewe 07.38d 07.39
4½ Sandbach 07/46 07/50
13½ Northwich West Jn 08/14 08/15
15¾ Hartford CLC Jn 08/19 08/21
29 Ditton 08/33 08/35
39 Wavertree Jn 08/47 08.48a ~ 09.04d
40½ Crown Street 09.20a ~ 09.45d 09.17 ~ 09.49
62 Wigan North Western 10.31a ~ 10.33d 10.27 ~ 10.30
78¼ Preston 10.58a ~ 11.02d 10.46 ~ 11.07
99½ Lancaster (TL) 11/19 11/25
150½ Penrith (down slow) 12/08 12.12a ~ 12.14d
167½ Carlisle 12.29a ~ 13.00d 12.31 ~ 13.00
176 Gretna Jn 13/10 13/14
200¼ Dumfries 13/43 13.43a ~ 13.49d
203¼ Maxwelltown 13.53a ~ 13.58d 14.01 ~ 14.06
206¼ Dumfries 14/08 14/22
230½ Gretna Jn 14/35 14/55
239 Carlisle 14.57a ~ 15.15d 15.24 ~ 15.37
256 Penrith 15/33 15/56
275 Tebay 15/49 16/12
307 Lancaster (TL) 16/17 16/34
328¼ Preston 16/38 16.51a ~ 16.51d
340½ Blackburn 17L03a ~ 17L25d 17.18 ~ 17.26
350¼ Rose Grove 17.42a ~ 17.44d 17.47 ~ 17.49
352 Padiham Power Station 17.54a ~ 17.58d 18.02 ~ 18.07
353¾ Rose Grove (down goods) 18.08a ~ 18.13d 18.18 ~ 18.18
363½ Blackburn 18.31a ~ 18.41d 18.39 ~ 18.41
375¾ Preston 19/05 19/03
384 Kirkham North Jn 19/16 19/13
390¼ Poulton-le-Fylde 19/22 19/22
394¾ Burn Naze 19.55a ~ 20.10d 19.42 ~ 19.44
399¼ Poulton-le-Fylde 20/40 20/17
413¾ Preston 21L02a ~ 21L20d 20.35 ~ 20.50
428¾ Wigan North Western 21.34a ~ 21.36d 21.08 ~ 21.12
440½ Warrington Bank Quay 21/50 21/23
464¾ Crewe 22.17a 21.50


Back to "The Railtour Files"