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16th September 1977
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.
16th September 1977
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 September 1979
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
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.
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.
5th July 1980
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.
13th April 1983
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.
28th March 1984
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.
29th March 1984
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.
27th July 1985
A two-car Class 108 with Driving Motor Second Lavatory (DMSL) M51565 leading, was accelerating away from Croston with the a Preston to Ormskirk service on July 27th 1985. The unit is passing the remains of the loading gauge at what was once the southern end of the goods yard at Croston, in the days when this route was the double track main line between Preston-Ormskirk-Liverpool Exchange. The loading gauge with its concrete post stood watch here for many years, but has now gone, new housing now comes right up to the railway boundary. Martyn Hilbert.
5th August 1985
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.
17th August 1985
A two-car Class 108 formed of Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M53940 & Driving Trailer Second Lavatory (DTSL) M54273, was passing the former LMS platelayers brick hut, whilst approaching Croston with a Preston to Ormskirk service on August 17th 1985. The small hut was one of the few pieces of lineside infrastructure that survived the rationalisation of the Preston to Ormskirk route when it was reduced to mainly single track status in 1970. Martyn Hilbert.
24th August 1985
Running along what was once the double track main line from Preston to Liverpool Exchange, a two-car Class 108 DMU formed of cars M53983 & M54266, was approaching the village of Croston with the 09.00 Preston to Ormskirk service on August 24th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.
28th September 1985
A Class 101/108 Hybrid Two-Car DMU formed of cars M54052 & M51910 was departing from Croston with a Preston to Ormskirk service on September 28th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.
30th September 1985
Having just passed over the River Yarrow, a Leeds Neville Hill allocated Class 101 two-car DMU with WYPTE MetroTrain branding, with Driving Motor Second Lavatory (DMSL) E51496 leading, was leaving the village of Croston behind, whilst forming a Preston to Ormskirk service on September 30th 1985. These were the days when the evening peak service saw an Eastern Region DMU that had worked a Leeds to Preston service, being utilised on a Preston to Ormskirk round trip, before working back to Leeds. Martyn Hilbert.
2nd October 1985
With the former Jubilee cotton mill as a backdrop, A pair of Eastern Region two-car DMU's, a Metro-Cammell Class 101 and a BRCW Class 110 were approaching the village of Croston with a Preston to Ormskirk service on October 2nd 1985. The leading Class 101 set with it's West Yorkshire PTE 'Metro Train' branding has DTSL E54218 at the front. The pair of units had previously worked to Preston from Leeds and during their layover at Preston before returning back over the Pennines, they were utilised on an out-and-back teatime Ormskirk service. Martyn Hilbert.
26th October 1985
On a misty Autumn morning, a Derby Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars M51919 & M54257 was departing from Croston with a Preston to Ormskirk service (with the wrong destination displayed) on October 26th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.
25th January 1986
Despite the display on the destination blind, Class 108 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M53926 was leading a four-car Preston to Ormskirk service, departing from Croston on January 25th 1986. The rear set was a BRCW Class 104. Martyn Hilbert.
22nd February 1986
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.
4th April 1986
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.
Page 1 of 2, displaying 1-20 of 32 images › »