Life in Victorian Preston - Book Launch

David Hindle has been responsible for a number of excellent local railway books over the last few years. His latest offering isn't an out-and-out railway title, but will still be of interest to anyone with a wider interest in Preston's history. The book does include chapters on the Transport of Victorian Preston, so will cover the railway and tram systems that existed at that time.
With Christmas looming, I'm sure the book will do well. It can be purchased on-line - or you could pick a copy up at the book launch at Waterstones in Preston on Saturday 29th November.

Preston Trams... Back from the dead?

Just as everyone was writing it off, it seems that Preston City Council have shown some interest in the scheme being proposed by Tram Power Ltd. The company attended a Planning meeting last week at which its proposal to re-open part of the former Longridge branch through Deepdale, was expected to be refused. However, instead of finally quashing the scheme, a number of councilors expressed support for the ambitious plan, seemingly swayed by the environmental benefits and news of £25m of funding which Tram Power has secured.

An early motion to approve the application wasn't allowed to go forward, due to insufficient information being provided, but Tram Power have been given until December to fill the gaps, at which point the application will be considered.

The plan under discussion forms the first stage of a vision which would see trams on Preston's streets again, beginning with the line linking Deepdale Retail Park with the City, via the Longridge / Deepdale branch trackbed and terminating at the former site of Deepdale St Coal Depot, where the tram-shed would also be sited.

BlogPreston

Northern Loco-Hauled Services

It seems that Northern will be hiring in locos and Mk2 coaches from DRS to cover an extra diagram for shoppers on Saturdays between now and Christmas - 8th November to 20th December.
Locos are likely to be class 57, which will work several services on each day - see our Timetables / Gen page for times...