DMU Operations: London Midland Region
Preston - Colne
DMUs were introduced to the services as last phase of the North East Lancashire (Manchester Part 3) diesel scheme on the 6th March 1961. The same section of the route was also covered by Blackpool - Colne and Preston - Skipton DMUs.
Rolls-Royce powered Cravens sets (Class 112/3s) would initially be the main sets used. These would be replaced by conventional Cravens power twins (Class 105s), followed in the early 1980s by Class 104s and 108s. As the photos show the odd interloper could be found: a Class 100; Class 101; Class 116; and Class 120s. Second generation sets took over in the early 1990s.
Sample Timetables
These stapled booklets covered a number of other services such as Preston - Skipton and Preston - Todmorden. All measured 4 1/2" x 6" when folded.
6th March to 11th June, 1961
Cover only shown
11th September, 1961 to 17th June, 1962
Cover only shown
7th September, 1964 to 13th June, 1965
Cover only shown
Images
16th March 1968
A Rolls-Royce powered Cravens DMU with hydraulic transmission (later a Class 113) with a Colne service on 16 March 1968. Seen approaching Hospital Crossing the the east of Bamber Bridge station, Brindle Road Crossing can be seen at the other side of the bridge. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa late 1960s
A two-car Rolls-Royce powered Cravens DMU on a Preston - Colne service to the east of Rishton station. Date unknown - circa late 1960s. Accrington allocated M51778 leads, it was withdrawn in April 1969. Stuart Mackay Collection.
April 1976
Cravens Local Passenger Class 105 "power twin" 2-car dmu Nos.M50777 (105/2 ex-3-car set with one piece headcode), M50810 (105/1) of the 1957 batch, in Rail Blue livery with all-yellow front end arriving at Accrington on a Colne - Blackburn - Preston service, 04/76. Hugh Llewelyn.
April 1976
Accrington station, originally built by the East Lancashire Railway in 1848, but little of it remained by the time this was taken in 04/76. A Cravens Local Passenger Class 105 "power twin" 2-car dmu (note the grey covering over the route indicator) is seen arriving on a Preston - Blackburn - Colne service. Hugh Llewelyn.
April 1976
Cravens Local Passenger Class 105 "power twin" 2-car dmu Nos.M50809 and M50776 departing Accrington on a Colne - Blackburn - Preston service, April 1976. Hugh Llewelyn.
16th April 1976
A Class 105 power twin departs from Colne on 16 April 1976. Michael Mensing.
25th June 1976
A two-car Cravens set is seen in Colne station on June 25, 1976 with the 8.45am Preston service. Michael Mensing.
9th July 1977
Two Class 105 DMUs (the closest being a power-twin) at Chaffers Siding, east of Nelson, with the 11:45 Colne-Preston service on 9 July 1977. Michael Mensing.
25th July 1977
Under a threatening sky, a Cravens Class 105 Power-Twin 2-car DMU with DMCL M50801 leading, was stood at Bamber Bridge with a Colne to Preston service on July 25th 1977. The Power-Twin Class 105 fleet allocated to Newton Heath Depot were the mainstay of services in East Lancashire during the 1970's. Martyn Hilbert.
23rd June 1978
Standing amongst the Rhodendrons, A Cravens Class 105 Power-Twin with M50810 trailing, calls at Pleasington whilst working the 11.45 Preston to Colne service on June 23rd 1978. The small station at rural Pleasington became a request stop in May 2012. Martyn Hilbert.
27th January 1979
On a bright Winter day, A Cravens Class 105 power-twin with Driving Motor Composite Lavatory M50801 at the rear, was stood at Bamber Bridge with a Preston to Colne service on January 27th 1979. On that cold day that Cravens would have no doubt been warm on the inside, complete with its oily/diesel smell aroma. What price now a ride to Colne in first class with a view of the line through the rear cab? Martyn Hilbert.
27th January 1979
Deep & Crisp and Even at Bamber Bridge as a Cravens Class 105 Power Twin formed of Driving Motor Composite Lavatory (DMCL) M50788 and Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M50761, was approaching the station with a Preston to Colne service on January 27th 1979. The Newton Heath allocated Cravens Power Twin fleet dominated these services from the late 1960's through the 1970's and into early 1980's. Martyn Hilbert.
27th January 1979
Complete with its Paraffin tail lamp, a Newton Heath allocated Cravens Class 105 Power-Twin formed of cars M50761 & M50788, was stood at a snowy Bamber Bridge with a Preston to Colne service on January 27th 1979. The Cravens Power-Twins were synonymous with the ex L&Y routes in Lancashire and Greater Manchester from the late 1960's until their demise in the early 1980's. Martyn Hilbert.
5th August 1979
A view looking East at a basic Colne station, terminus of the East Lancashire line from Preston on August 5th 1979. A two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M50498 & M50446 was preparing to return to Preston. Colne once had a three platform station, a large goods yard with a warehouse, coal sidings and a carriage shed. The fortunes of this once busy location declined when the route from Colne to Skipton was closed in 1970. Worse was to come when 'economies' saw the line towards Preston singled to Chaffers Siding just East of Nelson. Colne station became unstaffed in 1971 and the demolition of all the remaining railway structures followed swiftly, leaving the bus shelter mediocrity seen in this view. Over 40 years on, the line is still single track, the station has been tided-up, but is still unstaffed. As for the route to Skipton, which if reinstated would become a useful trans-pennine link, it remains just a 'maybe one day'. Martyn Hilbert.
10th August 1979
Taken with a long-lens, a Derby Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars M51925 & M52037 was approaching Bamber Bridge with a Colne to Preston service on August 10th 1979. At the time the stone built Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway waiting room was still standing on the eastbound platform, along with the subway buildings adjacent to the level crossing. The 108 had just passed under what was a historic bridge. The brick built structure was the first in the UK that took a Motorway over a railway line, the M6 Preston By-pass opening for business in December 1958 and was the first stretch of motorway in Britain. The bridge was enlarged and altered when the M6 was widened in the late 1990's. Martyn Hilbert.
23rd August 1980
Almost funicular style, as one Cravens Class 105 arrives at Bamber Bridge with the 13.46 Colne to Preston, another has departed on the 14.30 Preston to Colne working. In this scene from August 23rd 1980, DMBS M50771 passes over the A6 trunk road about to make its last stop on the way to Preston. In the foreground the old L&Y subway is still in existance, note the youngster on a 1970's Chopper pushbike waiting on the pavement! The Newton Heath based Cravens Power-Twin sets, dominated the services along the East Lancashire Line during the 1970's. Martyn Hilbert.
23rd August 1980
Very much the daily routine at the time, a Cravens Class 105 2-Car Power-Twin DMU with DMBS M50771 trailing, departs from Bamber Bridge with a Preston to Colne service on August 23rd 1980. Martyn Hilbert.
6th October 1980
An Cravens unit at Preston, headed for Colne on October 6, 1980. Jeremy Chapter.
12th January 1981
A Cravens Class 105 power twin seen near Colne on 12 January 1981. Walter Burt.
11th May 1981
A Cravens Class 105 Power-Twin has just passed over the half-barrier level crossing at Hoghton with the 11.33 Preston to Colne on May 11th 1981. The former Goods Shed in the background was home to a dealer in ex Ministry of Defence vehicles. The area surrounding the line then had an open aspect, today the trackside is tree lined and the Goods Shed has been demolished and housing now covers the site. Martyn Hilbert.