Another fatality causes chaos

At 10.30 this morning, a TPE Barrow - Manchester Airport service (2U60) struck a person just north of Lancaster station, resulting in the closure of the WCML in both directions north of Preston.

Other than the obvious distress for the victim's family, train-crew and passengers, the death resulted in delays and cancellations affecting several hundred people.

The LEP have a report on-line and a video of the huge queues at Preston.

This is just the latest in what seems to be a worrying trend, with fatalities seemingly every week.

DELTIC photo-shoot

On Saturday (5th Oct), the Ribble Steam Railway are organising a rare chance to photograph the Prototype DELTIC out in the open air.

As part of an evening photo-shoot, the Preston-built loco will be posed with maroon Mk1 coaches to give photographers a unique chance to capture the Napier-engined loco as it would have looked in service with BR.

There will also be a second scene for photographers to photograph, featuring the railway's class 05 and 14 locos.

See the RSR's news panel on this page for more details.

Tours galore

The Fellsman season may be over, but this weekend has lots to offer by way of preserved diesel and steam tours at Preston.

"Western" D1015 makes a welcome return after a few years out of action.
61994, The Great Marquess now heads up day 1 of the West Highlander, with the K4 now being attached at Preston instead of Crewe.
The Cumbrian Lakelander will be hauled by WCRC class 47 or 57 locos, as will the SRPS tour from Dundee to Blackpool.

See the Timetable page for full details.

Signalboxes preserved.. oh hang on...

You would think that the news yesterday, that Network Rail and English Heritage are going to give 26 "highly distinctive" signal boxes Grade II listed status, would be good news. We can all think of a SB which should be saved from the wrecking ball. There must be great examples up and down the country which really should be saved. But hang on... what's this? Only two in "the North" ? and both in Yorkshire? But EIGHT in Kent alone? Who on earth came up with that list?

With electrification and resignalling on the way, the Preston - Blackpool line surely has one worth saving?
BBC News article

1968 End of Steam Festival at The ELR

27th & 28th July 2013
A very special invitation is being extended to any railwaymen - and, in particular, steam footplatemen who worked at any of the final steam motive power depots throughout the North West during the last days of British Railways' steam in 1968, to participate in our commemorative event to be held at the East Lancashire Railway at Bury over the weekend of 27-28 July.

Full Details HERE

Steam Ban?

With the continuing run of hot dry weather, it seems that a ban on steam traction is almost inevitable, however we're not there yet. It seems that the Scarborough Spa Express and Fellsman will both run this week, with diesels tucked in behind for assistance, presumably to avoid the steam loco from having to try too hard an thereby reducing the chance of sparks - and resulting fires.

45699 Galatea is booked to take charge of the Fellsman this week, giving the newly restored loco it's first trip round the Settle & Carlisle line in almost 50 years.

Fellsman problems

Today's Fellsman, hauled by 8F 48151, seems to have had problems today, arriving at Preston over an hour late. Some have reported that the loco, which underwent a loaded test last week, sounded "sick".

A class 37 diesel was sent to haul the train back to Carnforth, reportedly due to a chronic shortage of coal.