Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

back from Preston to Rose Grove. Another ‘Black 5’ 45318 was noted passing through with just one passenger coach and a single van in tow. ‘special’ goods from Burnley to Burn Naze (Fleetwood) was behind 48393, whilst 48773 was on a Burnley Central to Moston train of wagons. On August 1 st , the Burnley to Moston wagons were behind 48423. It was a busy day for steam as 45110 was on the Preston to Colne parcels and return working, 45287 was taking empty passenger stock from Colne to Blackpool North, 48666 was in charge of the Rose Grove to Wyre Dock coal train with the empties returning behind 48727, 48730 was the engine on the Ribble Sidings (Preston) to Rose Grove wagons and the Burnley Central to Moston fitted freight was behind 48773. On the 3 rd , 48423 was on the return Wyre Dock to Rose Grove, whilst 45156 formerly named ‘Ayrshire Yeomanry’ was on a Preston to Healey Mills (Wakefield) mixed goods train. Big 8s 48519 was on a westbound goods and 48393 was on a ballast working. The last steam working on the Blackburn to Bolton line via Darwen was the Burnley to Moston goods behind 48167, which would return via Walton Summit. The Preston to Colne parcels and return working, were hauled by 45407. Unfortunately 48666, which was on Copy Pit banking duties, derailed in Todmorden and was rescued by 48773. The former was due to work a special on the 4 th , and the latter was substituted on this also. On August 2 nd , the last scheduled steam working on the Fylde Coast lines was the Burnley Burn Naze Power Station coal train, which was worked by 48727. Another of the class, 48393 worked a coal train to Huncoat Power Station. It then took empty wagons to the Portsmouth Loop on the Copy Pit section, before returning light engine to Rose Grove Sheds where it was withdrawn along with 48348, which had done a trip working to Padiham Power Station. There they joined 48191, 48278, 48493 and ‘Black 5’ 44894 also all withdrawn. As referred to before 48773 had been specially cleaned and prepared in order to work the Blackburn to Carnforth leg of the Locomotive Club of Great Britain’s ‘Farewell To Steam’ tour of August the 4 th , with 48519 also steamed and ready on Rose Grove Sheds as the standby engine. In the event it was not required, but so as not to waste its steam the fire was run down by shunting permanent way wagons as a substitute for an 08 shunter. Later that evening 48773 returned through Accrington light engine from Carnforth, to be the last engine in steam on Rose Grove Sheds. However, Rose Grove’s 48493 had also been in steam at Lostock Hall Sheds on the 4 th , where it had shunted ballast wagons. The final weekend of steam haulage on August 4 th , saw no less than six special trains working in the North West. The Stephenson Locomotive Society ran two trains each of ten carriages, under the titles ‘A Farewell To Steam’ from Birmingham New Street, which returned from Manchester Victoria through Huddersfield then over Copy Pit. These trains halted in Rose Grove Station to allow the enthusiasts to visit the adjacent sheds before recommencing their journeys through Accrington. The first train was headed by 44871 with 44894, whilst the second was behind 44874 with 45017 all Black 5s. from Carnforth Sheds, with the exception of 44871 which was last allocated to Stockport Edgeley. The Railway Travel & Correspondence Society chartered a thirteen coach special from Euston to Skipton, which returned via Colne through Accrington to Blackburn and onward behind 45407 and 73069. The Locomotive Club of Great Britain operated its own twelve-coach special from St. Pancras to Carnforth, but this ran from Blackburn over the Hellifield Line. The most (in)famous special ran on August the 11 th , and because of the prices charged has gone down in history as the ‘15-guinea Special’ between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Victoria to Carlisle via the Settle & Carlisle route. This ran via Blackburn to Hellifield so did not pass through Accrington. The train had failed to be fully booked due to the cost of a seat, (the equivalent of about £250 in 2019 money), so was shortened to ten carriages from the original eleven. The reason it is mentioned here is that one of the two engines, 44871 had acting Footplate Inspector Frank Watson of Accrington Sheds on the footplate. (The other locomotive was 44781). On the return leg between Carlisle and Blackburn David Greenhalgh from Accrington was firing on the footplate of 44871. Inspector Frank Watson returned on the footplate of 70013 ‘Oliver Cromwell’ light engine from Carlisle to Lostock Hall where it was coaled and watered, and then was taken to Doncaster by a crew from Healey Mills passing through Accrington on this last journey. Probably the most spectacular freight was one of double-deck car transporters going from the Merseyside works to Immingham for export to the Continent. This was almost exclusively hauled by Class 40s in the D200 series and returned empty often at lunch times.

297