Fairburn Reflections - Photo Charter

A unique opportunity to photograph the only operational LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T, in the stunning surroundings of the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.

This one-off, two-day photo charter (26th/27th March) includes access to private land to obtain views which are not normally available to the public, so is not to be missed.

Click for more information.

Preston Tram Power Update

The Planning meeting on 12th January was another frustrating affair, where once again, the final decision was deferred. This time, some new concerns were raised about noise assessment and safety at Deepdale Mill St level crossing. These are both areas which Tram Power believed to have been comprehensively covered in previous reports, but the result was yet another deferment of the decision, giving the company until 30th March to provide information to satisfy the relevant Council departments.

Tram Power are confident that they can satisfy the requirements, and in anticipation of having the scheme finally approved, they are pressing ahead with funding and land ownership details.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Welcome to 2015... I hope '14 was kind to everyone.

This year, I plan to Update the News section here much more frequently, so if you know of anything relevant which should be mentioned on this page, please get in contact via the Contact Us page.

Meanwhile Dave Stuart continues to do a stupendous job of keeping the Gen / Timetable page up-to-date. Again, if you know of anything for that page, please get in touch...


Cheers...

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...

End of the Line for Preston Trams?

From Railway Herald Issue 430:
Signs are increasingly likely that the proposed tram scheme for Preston will not proceed.
Plans were lodged with Preston City Council earlier this year by Tram Power Ltd, to use part of the old Deepdale branch as the first section of a new city tram network.
It is understood that several objections were raised, including comments from Lancashire County Council's Highways Officers, who said that the tramway would impact on the highway network, adding that there were concerns over safety issues regarding the line.
The application is to be debated by the planning committee at a meeting on 3rd November.