meurglys3 Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Hi folks A pair of DRS class 20s (20 305 & 20 308) were today sighted on the "Kelbit" branch/spur of the old Haydock/St Helens branch off the WCML at Golborne. There was no rolling stock, just the two locos coupled together. This is the first working on this track for several years according to friends who live in houses backing on to the line, which used to run to Haydock racecourse but was severed at Edge Green in the 1980s/90s. Dose anyone have any idea what the purpose was? There is a Hanson aggregates railhead at the end of the spur, I don't know if the site is still operational though. The offices are boarded up. Pictures exist, but I am awaiting permission from the lady who took them before I post them here. I can find no mention of the working on realtime trains etc. Any info would be welcome. Thanks Pete 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 4630 Posted March 2, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 2, 2015 Is this the working that you saw? http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R00267/2015/03/02/advanced Route training for a forthcoming railtour. http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/index.php/tour-calendar-reader/events/the-lancs-links.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meurglys3 Posted March 2, 2015 Author Share Posted March 2, 2015 (edited) That's it, thanks! Railtour on Saturday. Definitely popping out to see that! Edited March 2, 2015 by meurglys3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gary H Posted March 3, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 3, 2015 The same pair of whistling wardrobes also visited Okehampton off the Barnstaple branch near Exeter last Thursday for the same reason- Pathfinder tours charter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 (edited) Came into Liverpool docks yesterday Edited March 3, 2015 by Michael Delamar 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Clip of them leaving the docks, first time we think 20s have been here since 1993. https://flic.kr/p/r9NsDb 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gary H Posted March 3, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 3, 2015 Clip of them leaving the docks, first time we think 20s have been here since 1993. https://flic.kr/p/r9NsDb Get around abit don't they!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 The railtour will be top and tailed 37s Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meurglys3 Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share Posted March 4, 2015 On the Haydock branch at Golborne. First train down there for years. Not my pics, but used with permission. Nice weathering! 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gary H Posted March 4, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 4, 2015 On the Haydock branch at Golborne. First train down there for years. Not my pics, but used with permission. Nice weathering! 2.jpeg1.jpeg Is this another railtour route / destination?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted March 4, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 4, 2015 Get around abit don't they!! they certainly do, ive taken 20305 (paired with 20301) down the cambrian to machynlleth a few times! the cab view pic of mikes shows the crossing where when i was collecting a pair of 70s from the docks last year a wagon ignored the lights and drove across the track in front of me 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meurglys3 Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 Gary - Yes, part on the Lancs Links tour on Saturday.I will be posting pics!http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/index.php/tour-calendar-reader/events/the-lancs-links.html 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meurglys3 Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 Plenty of people turned out to see this. Weird to see passengers on this line, I never have before today! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meurglys3 Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 Another pic from Ashton Road bridge looking the other way towards Haydock. (the line is truncated a few hundred yards further down) 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
87023Velocity Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Hi Pete, There was a railtour down there in Sept 91, it stopped the traffic on the road and there was a large crowd watching. I got there quite early on my trusty Raleigh mountain bike (I was 14 at the time so showing my age). By the time the railtour appeared the crowd had increased and passing car drivers asking what was happening. 37706 and I think 47479 where the locos top and tailed with Intercity liveried Mk1's. There was some footage on Youtube of the railtour at this location but I cannot find it now. This railtour with 37706 visited quite alot of freight branches aswell,think after Haydock it headed over to the Bickershaw branch which is now long closed -lifted? Cheers Simon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 (edited) Michael Delamar of this parish took this video https://www.flickr.com/photos/45827152@N07/16557000618/ Edited March 8, 2015 by Andy Y 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium corneliuslundie Posted March 7, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 7, 2015 Big Jim: when did you take 20s to Machynlleth? Some time ago presumably as they are not fitted with the current signalling system, as far as I know. Jonathan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted March 7, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 7, 2015 Back in 2006/2007 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
40044 Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 One from me: 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meurglys3 Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 87023 - thanks for the info about the previous tour. I must have been busy with the kids that day! Yes the Bickershaw line was lifted quite a few years ago. Probably mid-late 90s. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 (edited) Should be able to see this in HD now, even with headphones on it doesnt seem as loud as it was on the day. Edited March 9, 2015 by Michael Delamar 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerhaul 70 Pey Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Here's the pair of 20's at Wigan North Western on platform 1 on 3/3/2015. The last time I saw a train down the Haydock/St Helens branch off the WCML at Golborne was (I think) a Crewe to Ashton In Makerfield loaded stone that was top n tailed by a pair of Freightliner class 66's which must have been in 2010/2011 going to the Hanson site that's down there. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meurglysIII Posted October 15, 2018 Share Posted October 15, 2018 I have been informed by a local resident that a class 60 hauled stone train made the trip down the branch today. Looking at Realtime Trains, it seems there is another working this evening from GBRF Tuebrook sidings, maybe these are test/training runs? Anyway I'm off out to have a look in a minute, see if it makes an appearance. :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted October 15, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 15, 2018 I have been informed by a local resident that a class 60 hauled stone train made the trip down the branch today. Looking at Realtime Trains, it seems there is another working this evening from GBRF Tuebrook sidings, maybe these are test/training runs? Anyway I'm off out to have a look in a minute, see if it makes an appearance. :-) Worked empty from Tuebrook Sidings to Shap last night, loaded from Shap to Tuebrook sidings early this morning. The first half worked to Ashton-in-Makerfield this morning and then came back empty, the loco then collected the second half and took it to A-i-M, it is currently on the way back from A-i-M running 69 early at Bamfurlong. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meurglysIII Posted October 15, 2018 Share Posted October 15, 2018 boo, looks like I missed it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now