Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

the missing link. It was apparent that more of these heavy ballast trains would continue to run until this work was completed. The locomotive in charge of the VTG tanks on Monday the 2 nd was Colas Rail’s 70:812. In conjunction with the engineering works the first days of August would witness a whole procession of loco-hauled Freightliner trains on the East Lancs Line. Those for which paths had been secured were as follows - Day Approx. Time From To Type Haulage Monday 2 nd 16:40 Crewe Basford Hall Brewery Sidings Empty ballast 66:503 + 66:415 (1) Tuesday 3 rd 12:31 West Tees Yard Wigan I L P Track Treatment DR98955 + DR98905 Tuesday 3 rd 21:02 Crewe Basford Hall Brewery Sidings New ballast 66:953 + 66:539 Tuesday 3 rd 23:47 Brewery Sidings Crewe Basford Hall - - Tuesday 3 rd 23:49 Crewe Basford Hall Brewery Sidings - - Wednesday 4 th 05:37 Brewery Sidings Crewe Basford Hall - - Wednesday 4 th 13:49 Brewery Sidings Crewe Basford Hall Spoil ballast 66:539 + 66:953 Wednesday 4 th 23:47 Crewe Basford Hall Brewery Sidings - - Thursday 5 th 05:29 Crewe Basford Hall Brewery Sidings - - Thursday 5 th 13:02 Crewe Basford Hall Brewery Sidings Empty ballast 66:566 + 66:519 Friday 6 th 08:01 Crewe Basford Hall Brewery Sidings New ballast 66:591 + 66:618 Friday 6 th 10:02 Brewery Sidings Crewe Basford Hall Spoil ballast 66:618 + 66:545 Friday 6 th 13:46 Brewery Sidings Crewe Basford Hall Spoil ballast 66:548 + 66:510 Friday 6 th 16:49 Crewe Basford Hall Thorpe Bridge New ballast 66:513 + 66:592 Friday 6 th 22:24 Crewe Basford Hall Thorpe Bridge - - Saturday 7 th 04:36 Brewery Sidings Crewe Basford Hall - - Saturday 7 th 21:27 Brewery Sidings Crewe Basford Hall - - Saturday 7 th 21:47 Crewe Basford Hall Thorpe Bridge - - Saturday 7 th 22:26 Crewe Basford Hall Thorpe Bridge - - (1) Both 66:503 and 66:415 were in the latest orange-based Freightliner livery, whilst #503 is named ‘ THE RAILWAY MAGAZINE’ in homage to the longest running railway publication. (2) These trains consisted of 25 ton ballast discharge hoppers. All the trains connected to the engineering works were 20 bogie wagons in length with locos at each end. Both appeared to be working coming up out of town when fully loaded to 2,000 tons, with just the lead engine working on empties. ( Times through Accrington are approximate as some ran quite early whilst some ran very late .) On the morning of Sunday the 8 th , there were cancellations to services on Northern’s Blackpool North to Leeds and York service. The reason put forward was a shortage of drivers. Unfortunately there were no bus replacement services operating, so the only option was to board the Blackburn to Moston train and change in Todmorden. The service would have to wait until trains travelling from Leeds and York reached the resort for a service to be reinstated. Trains involved in the engineering work in the Greater Manchester area continued into the second week of the month as follows - Day Approx. Time From To Type Haulage Sunday 8 th 10:28 Crewe Basford Hall Thorpe Bridge New ballast (2) 66:574 + 66:597 Sunday 8 th 12:50 Crewe Basford Hall Thorpe Bridge New ballast (2) 66:591 + 66:567 Sunday 8 th 16:28 Brewery Sidings Crewe Basford Hall Empty hoppers 66:513 + 66:952 Sunday 8 th 20:53 Brewery Sidings Crewe Basford Hall Empty hoppers 66:592 + 66:571 Wednesday 11 th 07:50 Crewe Basford Hall Thorpe Bridge New ballast (2) 66:512 + 66:568 Wednesday 11 th 18:50 Crewe Basford Hall Thorpe Bridge New ballast (2) 66:554 + 66:594 Wednesday 11 th 20:40 Thorpe Bridge Crewe Basford Hall Empty hoppers 66:568 + 66:512 On Thursday the 12 th two High Speed Train (HST) power cars ran through Accrington en route from Leeds Neville Hill Depot to Crewe Holding Sidings. On this occasion both were from the ‘heritage set’ with 43:046 leading 43:055.

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