DMU Operations: London Midland Region
Manchester - Blackpool
The stomping ground of the white stripe Class 104s.
Images
1st May 1963
Two BRC&W triple DMUs arriving into Eccles station on 1 May 1963, with Blackpool displayed on the destination blind. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1966
Another summer Saturday afternoon in 1966 at Manchester and a Cravens power-twin unit and a BRCW sit alongside each other having both arrived at Manchester Victoria. The Cravens unit had arrived from Blackpool but I didn't find out where the BRCW unit was from. Edgehillsignallman@Flickr.
15th June 1972
Seen running into Preston on I guess a Manchester to Blackpool service on the 15th of June 1972 is a Class 104 DMU. The KDH Archive.
circa early/mid-1970s
Two Class 104 'white stripers' (M50478 closest) at Blackpool (North), circa early/mid-1970s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa May 1974
A Class 104 'white-striper' in Manchester Victoria. M50471 seems to be the closest vehicle, with the glass broken on the destination box and yellow wiper arms. The slide process date was May 1974. Stuart Mackay Collection.
19th July 1975
Passing at Preston. A Class 104 DMU, arriving at Preston, passes Class 86 electric locomotive No. 86204 at the north end of the station. The DMU has come from Blackpool North despite what it says on the destination blind. Photo taken in July 1975, probably on Saturday 19th. Seeing this photo again, it occurs to me that the 'knitting' north of Preston was still relatively new at the time. Tom Harper.
11th June 1976
A three-car Class 104 dmu leaving platform 2 at Preston Station on a Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria service. Friday 11 June 1976. Ian 10B.
9th October 1976
Two unidentified class 104 3-car white line dmu’s approaching Bradkirk (near Kirkham) on a Manchester Victoria – Blackpool North service. Saturday 09 October 1976. In the background are the abutments for the former Marton fast line flyover. The bridge decking having been removed, it was still there two years earlier in August 1974 as I stood on it taking photographs. Ian 10B.
19th March 1977
Two three-car Class 104s run into Bolton, probably on a Blackpool to Manchester Victoria service, on 19 March 1977. Kevin Lane.
19th March 1977
A Manchester to Blackpool class 104 DMU leaving the Lancashire town of Bolton on 19 March 1977. A Class 100 can be seen in the distance. Kevin Lane.
August 1977
Late on a warm Summer evening in August 1977, with the oil tail lamp glowing in the dusk, a six-car Class 104 formation was stood on the down fast at Leyland station. DMBS M50479 was bringing up the rear of a Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North service, the large Newton Heath allocated fleet of 104's were the mainstay of these workings in the 1970's. On the grass bank alongside the up fast are a group of spotters - plenty of loco-hauled action to keep them entertained in those days. Martyn Hilbert.
10th September 1977
With the cobbled roadway of the former goods yard on the right, a well filled three-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M50453, M59161 & M50505, complete with two first class saloons, was passing Salwick at speed with a Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North service on Saturday September 10th 1977. The former Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway signalbox dating from 1889, was retained at Salwick as a fringe box to the Preston PSB. The structure which must have been a busy place when the route between Preston and Kirkham had four tracks, was 'modernised' with UPVC windows and a lowered internal ceiling in later years. The 'box was closed in November 2017 as a prelude to resignalling and electrification between Preston and Blackpool North, and was demolished on December 19th 2017. The now electrified Blackpool-Preston route is signalled from the ROC at Ashburys. Martyn Hilbert.
3rd April 1978
Running at full speed, a BRCW Class 104 three-car 'Manchester-Blackpool White Liner' with Driving Motor Composite Lavatory (DMCL) M50522 leading, was passing the island platform of Salwick station whilst running between Kirkham and Preston with a Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria service on April 3rd 1978. Allocated to Newton Heath depot, these well-worn 104's were a familiar sight along this busy route at the time. To the right of the DMU was the site of a pair of fast lines that once avoided the station platform at Salwick, a legacy from the days when the four track route from Preston to Kirkham North Junction handled huge amounts of excursion traffic. Martyn Hilbert.
1st July 1978
The English Summer! This is 1 July 1978 and the weather's so bad, you can't see the top of the Blackpool Tower. White stripe M50472 sits in Balckpool North, and on the left a 108 (closest) and 104. Jeremy Chapter.
July 1978
A Class 104 leaving Manchester Victoria on a Blackpool via Bolton service in July 1978. The Boddington's Strangeways Brewery in the background. Taken from the footbridge of Manchester (Exchange) station - a superb vantage point now long gone! Hugh Llewelyn.
circa late 1970s
A Class 110 DMU with a Blackpool service in Manchester Victoria station. No date, probably late 1970s. The closest vehicle is recorded as 51818. Stuart Mackay Collection.
11th May 1979
A Swindon-built Class 124 ‘Trans-Pennine’ DMU consisting of 51962, 51981, 59772 and 51967 travelling south from Blackpool South towards Kirkham & Wesham approaching Highbury Road bridge, St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea. Friday evening 11 May 1979. Ian 10B.
11th May 1979
British Rail Class 124 ‘Trans-Pennine’ DMU consisting of 51962, 51981, 59772 and 51967 approaching Highbury Road bridge, St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea while working a Manchester Victoria – Blackpool South service on Friday evening 11 May 1979, the last day that these “posh” units operated on the Blackpool South line. Ian 10B.
23rd June 1979
Whilst alighted passengers make their way down the platform, the crew have a conversation in the cab of Class 104 Driving Motor Composite M50528 whilst it was stood at Bolton leading a six-car Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria service on June 23rd 1979. This was very much a routine daily sight along this busy route in the 1970's, with the BRCW Class 104's working most services to and from the Fylde Coast. Martyn Hilbert.
12th August 1979
Having arrived at journeys end on one of the well-patronised services from Manchester Victoria, and with Driving Motor Brake Second M50474 bringing up the rear of a six-car formation, alighted passengers were making their way out of the station at Blackpool North on an overcast August 12th 1979. Martyn Hilbert.