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5th August 1985
Vehicle: 55006
A rare sight of a Gloucester RC&W Class 122 Single Unit, M55006 coupled to the rear of a 2-Car Class 108 departing from Croston with an Ormskirk to Preston service on August 5th 1985. Newton Heath Depot had a pair of Class 122s allocated for use on the Stockport to Stalybridge services, but the appearance of one on the Ormskirk Line was almost certainly a one-off. The former Jubilee Mill complex that forms a backdrop here has now been demolished and replaced with houses. Martyn Hilbert.
13th April 1983
Vehicle: 54456
Coupled to a Derby built Class 108 Driving Motor Brake Second in blue & grey livery, former Eastern Region Cravens Class 105 Driving Trailer M54456 was still in rail blue at Croston on August 13th 1983. The odd couple were working the 16.15 Ormskirk to Preston service. The downgrading of the former main line from Preston to Ormskirk is evident with the abandoned platform on this once double track railway. M54456 survived the cull of these once numerous DMUs and is now on the Llangollen Railway. Martyn Hilbert.
4th August 1987
Vehicle: 53059 Set: TS291
Complete with Tyseley Depot Board in the cab window and minus its centre trailer coach, a Class 116 Suburban DMU with M53059 leading, makes an appearance on a Preston to Ormskirk service at Croston on the 4th August 1987. This was a time when there were unit shortages at Newton Heath Depot due to the unreliability of the recently introduced Class 142s. Judging by the date on the board it would appear the set was on short term loan from its West Midlands home. Martyn Hilbert.
3rd September 1986
Vehicle: 53328
With the former (Now Demolished) Jubilee Mill as a backdrop, and under a dramatic looking sky, a Class 101 with car M53328 at the rear (and presumably 53318 at the front), departs from Croston with an evening Ormskirk to Preston working on September 3rd 1986. Martyn Hilbert.
21st June 1980
A scene which sums up the downfall of a one-time main line route, On Midsummers Day, June 21st 1980 a Cravens Class 105 Power-Twin (the Motor Brake Second noted as M50768), arrives at Croston with the 13.37 Ormskirk to Preston service. The station was still equipped with vintage LMS concrete lamps on the one remaining operational platform. The former main line was singled in the early 1970s, and the one-time Goods Yard became a Timber Yard. Martyn Hilbert.
26th September 1987
Vehicle: 53334
Accelerating away from Croston with a Preston to Ormskirk Service on the 26th September 1987, a Class 101 2-Car DMU with 53334 leading, passes over Club Lane Level Crossing. The former crossing keepers cottage on this former double track main line is on the right of this view. Martyn Hilbert.
4th August 1987
Vehicle: 53059 Set: TS291
Seemingly borrowed from Tyseley Depot, a West Midlands Class 116 Suburban DMU, minus its centre trailer car was on the Preston to Ormskirk service on August 4th 1987. With car 53059 trailing, the interloper is passing Jubilee Mill at Croston whilst running from Ormskirk to Preston. The leading car, 53109 has the West Midlands PTE 'WM' logo behind the cab door. Martyn Hilbert.
16th May 1992
Vehicle: 53956 Set: LO296
With the former Jubilee Mill in the background, Class 108 set LO296 (53956 & 54238) departs from Croston whilst working the 15.08 Ormskirk to Preston on May 16th 1992. Once a familiar sight on these services, this was probably the last visit of a Derby built class 108 to the line. In the intervening years Jubilee Mill has been demolished and a housing development now covers the site. Martyn Hilbert.
29th March 1984
Vehicle: 53971
On a dull and overcast March 29th 1984, A Class 108 2-Car DMU with Driving Motor Brake Second M53971 leading, arrives at Croston with an Ormskirk to Preston service. The remaining single platform was still equipped with its LMS concrete post electric lights. In the background the chimneys at the old brickworks complex were still standing. On the left of this scene the former goods yard site was being used by a timber company that manufactured wooden pallets, this area is now covered with a housing development. Martyn Hilbert.
6th April 1986
Vehicle: 52055
With the site of the long abandoned gated siding to the Brickworks at Croston in the foreground, A Class 108/104 hybrid 2-Car DMU formed of cars M52055 & M53447 get underway from Croston station, (visible on the extreme left) with a well-filled tea-time Preston to Ormskirk service on April 6th 1986. Martyn Hilbert.
6th April 1986
Vehicle: 53812
A brief burst of sunlight on an otherwise dull day illuminates the Cravens/Gloucester Twin, as it departs from Croston with the well-patronised 11.10 Ormskirk to Preston service on April 6th 1986. Each of the cars (53812 & 53355) were the last of their respective classes at Newton Heath Depot, and had been paired together for their last stint of service. The unit was earmarked for the National Collection at the NRM, but following withdrawal the DMU was vandalised beyond repair at Crewe South and was sadly scrapped. Martyn Hilbert.
4th April 1986
Vehicle: 52053
Class 108 DMS M52053 disappears beneath the bridge that takes the B5247 Bretherton Road across the line, as it departs from Croston whilst working the 17.25 Ormskirk to Preston on April 4th 1986. It is working with a Class 104 DMBS - probably 53478. Martyn Hilbert.
21st May 1986
Vehicle: 51924
A Class 108 Derby Lightweight formed of cars M51924 & M52038 was at Croston with the 17.25 Ormskirk to Preston on May 21st 1986. At the time the newly introduced class 142 Pacers were spelling the demise of the first generation DMU fleet at Newton Heath depot and scenes such as this were coming to an end. Martyn Hilbert.
22nd February 1986
Vehicle: 53531
A Class 104 2-Car DMU formed of cars M53531 & M53465 accelerate away from Croston with the 11.40 Preston to Ormskirk on February 22nd 1986. On the right in the trees is the skeletal remains of the loading gauge situated on what was the exit from the former goods yard. Martyn Hilbert.
5th September 1979
Vehicle: 51941
Viewed through the blackened stone arch of the B5247 Bretherton Road bridge, a two-car Class 108 DMU with DMBS M51941 trailing, accelerates away from Croston with an Ormskirk to Preston service on September 5th 1979. The surviving single line along this route was once the Down (Northbound) track when the route was a double track mainline. Clearly visible here, the formation is slewed across to follow the former Up line in order to serve the remaining platform at Croston station. Its difficult to image now that non-stop Glasgow to Liverpool Exchange services once hurtled through Croston at 60-70 mph. Martyn Hilbert.
8th September 1979
Vehicle: 56263
Two intending passengers greet the arrival of a two-car Class 108 DMU formed of cars M56263 & M50980 as it arrives at Croston with an Ormskirk to Preston service on September 8th 1979. The station although heavily rationalised still retained its LMS concrete lamps on the single remaining operational platform on this one-time main line. The chimney in the background formed part of the brickworks that was once rail-served. Martyn Hilbert.
28th March 1984
Vehicle: 53466
A Class 104 Two-Car set formed of cars M53466 & M53511 was departing from Croston with an Ormskirk to Preston service on March 28th 1984. This particular set was once a three-car that had a centre trailer composite car, along with a first class saloon at the leading end of M53511. As a three-car set it was one of the large fleet of 104's based at Newton Heath that had a white bodyside stripe, used mainly on Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North workings. Martyn Hilbert.
16th September 1977
Vehicle: 50982
In Rail Blue livery and complete with its tail lamp, a Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars M56265 & M50982 was departing from Croston with a Preston to Ormskirk service on September 16th 1977. The station still had its LMS concrete post lamps with tin shades and bare blubs. In the distance the loading gauge was still in-situ at the entrance to the trackless former goods yard. Ahead of the DMU the single track of this former main line is visible regaining its alignment along the former Down Line. When the route was downgraded and singled circa 1970, the track was slewed across to the Up Side at Croston to serve the single remaining operational platform. Martyn Hilbert.
5th July 1980
Vehicle: 50974
With the former Jubilee Mill as a backdrop, a two-car Class 108 DMU formed of cars M50974 (closest) + M56227 was getting underway from Croston with an Ormskirk to Preston service on July 5th 1980. Martyn Hilbert.
16th September 1977
Vehicle: 56265
A two-car Class 108 DMU, formed of cars M56265 (Complete with its First Class saloon) & DMBS M50982, were arriving at Croston with a Preston to Ormskirk service on September 16th 1977. The station still retained its LMS concrete platform lamps, and the former Down platform is visible on the left, including the holes and the patch in the stonework of the bridge, where steps once connected Station Road to the platform, a legacy from the days when this was a double track main line from Preston to Liverpool Exchange. Martyn Hilbert.
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