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16th February 1988
Vehicle: 53923
With the disused former Up Line still in situ, a Class 116 Suburban 2-Car DMU (Minus its centre trailer car) with Driving Motor Second M53923 leading (presumably with M53870) complete with its West Midlands branding, climbs the gradient from Farington Curve Junction as it works a Preston to Ormskirk service on February 16th 1988. This was the period when almost new Class 142 Pacers had been sidelined awaiting modifications to improve reliability and poor-design features, causing the cobbling together of various first generation sets and the appearance of still serviceable sets drafted in from other parts of the country to keep things running until the new Class 150/2 Sprinter fleet appeared in sufficient numbers to allow the old DMU sets to bow-out. Martyn Hilbert.
25th February 1988
Vehicle: 53532
With the part-dismantled Up Line in the foreground, a 2-Car Class 104 formed of cars 53532 & 53487 passes the site of Moss Lane Junction with an Ormskirk to Preston service on February 25th 1988. 53532 has a small Network South East logo on the bodyside, having returned North back to its old haunts on an extended life to cover for faulty Class 142 Pacers. Martyn Hilbert.
25th February 1988
Vehicle: 53492
With the part-dismantled former Up line in the foreground, a Class 104 two-car DMU formed of 53492 + presumably 53439 were climbing the gradient from Farington Curve Junction as they approached the Occupation Crossing at Lodge Lane with a Preston to Ormskirk service on February 25th 1988. Double track was retained along the former main line from Farington Curve Junction to Midge Hall until 1983. Martyn Hilbert.
4th May 1987
Vehicle: 54262
Having just passed under the bridge at Flag Lane, a tidy-looking two-car Class 108 formed of cars 54262 & 53955 was running along the last few yards of the Ormskirk route as it approached Farington Curve Junction whilst working the 11.10 Ormskirk to Blackpool South service on May 4th 1987. With the East Lancashire route in the foreground, a Class 104 DMU is visible through the left hand bridge span on a Colne to Preston working, waiting at signal PN522 for the 108 to clear the junction. Martyn Hilbert.
11th May 1981
Vehicle: 56176
A view along the then double track Ormskirk route on Farington Moss with a Class 104 on the 11.55 Ormskirk to Preston service on a warm May 11th 1981. The two-car DMU is running between the occupation crossings at Naptha Lane and Lodge Lane, the then full-height chimney at the former Moss's Cotton Mill in Lostock Hall is prominent in this flat landscape. Closest is DTSL M56176 working with DMBS M50535. Martyn Hilbert.
12th October 1985
Vehicle: 53655
Trackside at Farington Junction during a major engineering possession at Euxton on October 12th 1985. A well-filled three-car Swindon Cross Country Class 120 DMU with DMSL M53655 leading on a Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria service, was getting underway on the Up Fast, having been brought to a stand at the adjacent signal number PN052. With major remodelling work taking place at Euxton Junction, all Southbound trains were being hand signalled through the area beyond Farington Junction. The signalman and his wooden cabin can be seen between the Up Slow and Down Fast lines next to signal PN051. Martyn Hilbert.
27th January 1988
Vehicle: 53355
The unique Gloucester/Cravens twin set formed of cars M53355 & M53812 was climbing the gradient from Farington Curve Junction and heading towards the site of the former Moss Lane Junction with the 13.09 Preston to Ormskirk service on January 27th 1988. The disused former Up Line towards Ormskirk was still in-situ having being taken out of use in 1983. Martyn Hilbert.
13th May 1989
Vehicle: 51144 Set: T414
A Tyseley allocated hybrid Class 116/127/115 4-Car Suburban DMU (T414 - 51144 + 59613 + 59661 + 51869), was running along the Up Fast at Farington Curve Junction with a well-filled returning excursion from Blackpool North on May 13th 1989. Martyn Hilbert.
9th December 1987
Vehicle: 53920
With frost still on the sleepers at lunchtime, a three-car Class 116 Suburban DMU with Driving Motor Second M53920 leading (presumably with 59372 + 53867), was darkening the sky as it climbed the gradient from Farington Curve Junction with a Preston to Ormskirk service on December 9th 1987. The DMU was passing the site of the former Moss Lane Junction that ran straight ahead towards Lostock Hall at this location. Until closure in 1972, it enabled trains to and from East Lancashire to access the former main line to Ormskirk and Liverpool Exchange without running via Preston. In the foreground is the part dismantled former Up line to Midge Hall, taken out of use in 1983, it took many years for it to be lifted and the track materials to be recovered. Martyn Hilbert.
5th January 1988
Vehicle: 54270
Returning to its old stamping ground, a Class 108 two-car DMU formed of DTSL 54270 & DMBS 53987 was passing Lodge Lane Crossing as it topped the gradient from Farington Curve Junction whilst working a lunchtime Preston to Ormskirk service on January 5th 1988. The former Moss Lane Junction which once enabled trains to run direct from East Lancashire to Ormskirk and Liverpool without running via Preston, is visible to the right of the 108. In the foreground is the part dismantled former Up Line that was taken out of use in 1983. In the 1970's and up to the early 1980's, Class 108's were regular performers on the Ormskirk Line, and then made sporadic appearances following ongoing issues with the then almost new Class 142 Pacer fleet. Martyn Hilbert.
14th January 1988
Vehicle: 53421
A two-car Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53421 & M53529, was heading over Farington Moss on its way towards Midge Hall with a Preston to Ormskirk service on January 14th 1988. As a nod to its past life at Buxton Depot, the Driving Motor Brake Second M53421 had received a customised white cab roof. Alongside the unit are remnants of the former Up Line that was taken out of use in 1983, and removed piecemeal from Farington Curve Junction to Midge Hall until the early 1990's. Martyn Hilbert.
18th August 1990
Vehicle: 53294 Set: CH347
In a view now blighted by unchecked tree growth and the planting of some conifers along the lineside, a Met/Cam Class 101 three-car DMU was climbing Farington Curve, making a rare appearance, working the 14.05 Blackpool South to Colne service on August 18th 1990. Formed of DMBS 53294, TS 59303 and DMBS 53216 the unit was a Chester set (CH347) and may have been borrowed by Newton Heath, as this was the period when the Class 142 fleet was ailing, and with many examples stored, all sorts of first generation DMU's were having an extended period of operation to keep things going. Martyn Hilbert.
28th May 1985
Vehicle: 53666
A three-car Swindon Cross-Country DMU with Driving Motor Second Lavatory (DMSL) M53666 leading, was passing Farington Junction with a Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria service on May 28th 1985. This open view is no longer possible due to unchecked lineside tree growth. Martyn Hilbert.
5th June 1982
Vehicle: 51820
Coming out of a thunderstorm on a very murky day, a 10-Car DMU formation was climbing Farington Curve, heading for home with a Blackpool North to Leeds service on June 5th 1982. The leading set is a three-car Class 110 with E51820 leading. Behind the Calder Valley is a four-car Metro-Cammell Class 111, with a three-car Class 111 at the rear. The 110 units were daily visitors to Preston and Blackpool during the 1970's and the early 1980's on the daily Leeds-Blackpool North and return service that ran via Copy Pit and Blackburn. During weekdays a three-car set would suffice, but on Summer Saturdays the train would be formed of additional units as seen in this view. Martyn Hilbert.
12th October 1985
Vehicle: 51577
A Class 120/108 four-car DMU working a Preston to Colne service, was climbing Farington Curve on October 12th 1985. The train was formed of a two-car Swindon Cross-Country Class 120, with Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M51577 leading, coupled to M51586, with a two-car Class 108 bringing up the rear. Buildings in Preston town centre are visible on the skyline, including the 309ft spire of St Walburges Church, visible above the rear car of the train. The wooden post and rail fence visible on the left centre of this scene, marks the course of the Preston - Ormskirk route running in a cutting. Martyn Hilbert.
15th May 1981
Vehicle: 50757
In the days when the Ormskirk line was still double track from Farington Curve Junction on the WCML to Midge Hall, a Newton Heath Cravens Class 105 Power-Twin, M50757 + M50815 was passing over Lodge Lane Crossing with an Ormskirk to Preston service on May 15th 1981. The foreground was the location of Moss Lane Junction , where a short double track section ran to Lostock Hall at the top of Farington Curve, once enabling trains to run direct from Liverpool and Ormskirk to East Lancashire. The junctions were taken out and the track lifted following rationalisation of the track layout/signalling in the Preston area at the time of preparation for electrification and resignalling in 1972. The well-worn former Up Line to Ormskirk formed of cast iron chairs and bullhead rail, was taken out of use in 1983 and has since been lifted. Martyn Hilbert.
23rd July 1985
Vehicle: 53524
A BRCW Class 104 two-car DMU formed of cars M53524 & M53451 was passing over Farington Curve Junction with a well-filled late afternoon Preston to Ormskirk service on July 23rd 1985. The Newton Heath allocated set was a reform, with M53524 still wearing its white bodyside stripe from the days when it was part of a Manchester-Blackpool 'White Line' three-car set that included cars M59180 & M50472. M53524 was the last Class 104 car to retain the white stripe in service. The Newton Heath fleet of 'White Line' three-car 104's were a common sight in the 1970's along the busy Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North route which carried heavy commuter and leisure traffic. Six-car formations were the norm for weekday peak-time services and weekend workings in the Spring, Summer and Autumn. Martyn Hilbert.
11th March 1989
With the Pennines as a distant backdrop, a four-car DMU formed of a Class 101/108 hybrid and a Class 108, was negotiating Farington Curve with a Preston to Colne service on March 11th 1989. Martyn Hilbert.
11th July 1987
Vehicle: 53306
A Metro-Cammell Two-Car Class 101 DMU formed of cars M53306 & M53325 was heading along the Up Slow and about to take the East Lancashire route at Farington Curve Junction, whilst working a Preston to Colne service on July 11th 1987. 101's were never common at Newton Heath, this particular set was transferred from Chester in 1986 and was transferred back to Chester in late 1987. The set was withdrawn in October 1989 and scrapped by Berry's of Leicester. Martyn Hilbert.
6th May 1987
Vehicle: 53421
Complete with retro Buxton style white cab roof sections, a two-car Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53421 & M53487 was diverging from the Up Slow at Farington Curve Junction with the 18.00 Preston to Ormskirk service on May 6th 1987. Both cars were withdrawn from Newton Heath Depot in 1989 and scrapped by Berry's of Leicester. Martyn Hilbert.
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