Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

as well as other stations a short stay in the resort, before returning in the evening through Accrington on its homeward journey. In a surprise move the Colas Rail tanker train was behind Freightliner's 70:009 on Tuesday the 12 th . The reason for this could be that Colas is short of its own Class 70s, and have had to hire one in to cover this working. This locomotive is allocated to Leeds – Midland Road engineering works, but is owned by the Akiem Company. It passed through Accrington right on time with a load of ten bogie tank wagons. On Wednesday the 13 th , a serious incident involving a fatality occurred at Church & Oswaldtwistle Railway Station that caused delays and cancellations. Some coaches were drafted in at short notice to cover for those services between Accrington, Colne, Hebden Bridge and Headbolt Lane until the all-clear was given by the authorities. However, there was an unrelated cancellation of a York to Blackpool North service, and the Colas tanks were also running over half an hour behind time again with 70:009 in charge. By 10:35 the station had reopened to traffic. Later on in the day and running some 120 minutes ahead of schedule, West Coast Railways ran a light engine movement from the East Lancs Preserved Railway's connection at Castleton to Steamtown Carnforth. This involved 47:237 towing Class 37:676 and had been scheduled to run twenty-four hours previously. Both locos were in the operators maroon livery. The Class 47 was new to Cardiff Canton Depot in March 1974 as D1913. On Sunday the 17 th there was a first through Accrington when Class 68:014 came through towing Direct Rail Services liveried Class 66:427 from Crewe Gresty Road to Leeds. The 68 was formerly fitted for push-pull workings on Chiltern Rail's services, but on release has received a new livery promoting 'On Track to a Greener Future. Unlike some members of its class it had not been named. During the final days of the month Colas Rail's VTG tankers ran on three consecutive days, which is unusual as it has only run intermittantly since the beginning of the year. On these occasions the locomotive was 70:816. It seemed that the advertised schedule has been superceeded by earlier running as most appearances are at least 20-minutes before time. However, by Thursday the 28 th , it was back running to the booked schedule but the locomotive had changed to 70:817. Engine #70:817 was back again on the following day, this time on a light engine movement from Barnetby Sidings to Crewe, Basford Hall. April The 1 st was Easter Monday and services were running as normal, with the addition of an appearance of one of HARSCO's Rail Grinder and Stone Blowers en route from Carlisle – High Wapping Sidings to Crewe. This same set made a second appearance on Tuesday the 2 nd , this time travelling between Chester and Guide Bridge. It was followed shortly afterwards by Colas Rail's 70:803 with the VTG tanks en route to the north east from Preston Docks. However, something must have gone awry on Wednesday the 3 rd , as the VTG tanks were running over fifty minutes late through town. The only train to pass through Accrington on Saturday the 6 th , this being an ASLEF strike day, was the West Coast Railway 'Northern Bell' excursion from York to Carlisle. The motive power was a regular combination of 57:601 ' Windsor Castle ' with 57:313 ' Scarborough Castle '. It headed out at 09:45 and would return at 19:20 but with un-named 57:315 replacing 57:601. This locomotive was allocated to Cardiff Canton sheds in November 1965 as D1911. It later received TOPS number 47:234 and was withdrawn from Crewe in December 2004, when it became the property of the Carnforth-based touring company. It isn't often that an electric locomotive passes along the East Lancs Line. However, on Tuesday the 9 th , there was a light engines movement between Doncaster to Crewe on behalf of Locomotive Services Ltd, which involved 37:521 towing 90:001 ' Royal Scot '. The Class 37 was formally D6817 introduced in March 1963 and also carried TOPS number 37:117 when allocated to Thornaby – Tees Sheds. At one stage it was named ' English China Clay ', but currently is un-named. The Class 90 was carrying BR's – InterCity livery, and was built at Crewe Works in 1987 as sub-contractors for GEC. Wednesday the 10 th saw the return of Black 5 number 45407 ' Lancashire Fusilier ' on an West Coast Railway's empty stock working from the East Lancs Railway on behalf of Locomotive Services Ltd. This engine was built by Armstrong Whitworth and was introduced into service during September 1937 to Grimsthorpe Sheds. It was withdrawn from Speke Junction (8C) in August 1968, having spent its working life at Saltley (21A), Kentish Town (14B) and Burton-on-Trent (17B) sheds. It was named after passing into preservation and has appeared through Accrington on several occasions since and during the latter stages of its BR life. It now carries the 65J shed-plate which is for Stirling.

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