The Last Drops, the Very Last Drops
All shot in 1968. The
Gowhole-Tunstead ICI trip freights feature heavily, with a great number
of action shots at Buxworth, Chinley, Chapel en le Frith, Dove Holes, Peak
Forest, shed scenes at Buxton. Yes, there is snow.
Locations also featured
are:- Preston, Leeds (for the 0335 Leeds to Halifax/Manchester train),
the Copy Pit line, Carnforth shed, Bolton to Blackburn and the Settle and
Carlisle for the 15 guinea special. Motive power is what there was left
at the time - 8Fs, Black 5s, a couple of Standard Class 5s and of course
70013 Oliver Cromwell.
Unusual or notable pictures
include 70013 en route light engine for Norwich at Blackburn, and
various originals of pictures that have been in the Colour Rail catalogue
in the past.
Samples
from this show. These images are compressed. Actual images on the CD are
high resolution:-
North
end of Dove Holes Tunnel, 17th February 1968. An 8F and a EE Type 4 (later
class 40) double head an up freight, which could be the morning Widnes-Great
Rocks Jn.
Chinley, 17th February 1968. 8F 2-8-0 48424 being turned on the table at the south end of the station, and then watered, whilst reversing a train from Peak Forest to the Hope Valley route.
Preston 25th February 1968. Black 5 4-6-0 45345 ready as she'll ever be, to take over the 1653 Preston-Liverpool Exchange. We are very grateful indeed to a visitor to our trade stand at a recent exhibition for identifying the crew seen here. Driver Fred Hopkinson and Fireman Alan Marsden of Lostock Hall look out of the cab.
Chapel en le Frith Central,
3rd February, 1968. 8F 2-8-0 48442 gets underway having picked up the pilotman
for the’wrong line’ run to Peak Forest. The sun shines on the fresh clean
snow, and ecstatic gricers run for the cars.
Buxworth,
17th February 1968. 48532 giving her all whilst moving an ICI trip freight
out of Gowhole yard and up the 1 in 90 to Chinley and Peak Forest.
Ribblehead, 11th August
1968. The ‘15 guinea special’ crosses, with 70013 Oliver Cromwell
at the head. At the time, it seemed as if the entire world had descended
on this remote spot, but in reality, the area is sometimes more crowded
nowadays with ramblers let alone railway sightseers.
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