Preston Station - Waiting Room

[2000 - 2011] [2012 Photos]	PHOTO of the DAY / week / month

NEWS
9th May 2012
Tornado to be replaced at RSR
The Ribble Steam Railway has announced that the intended forthcoming visit by the new A1 class steam locomotive No. 60163 'Tornado' has been cancelled for reasons beyond its control. Despite Tornado's high-profile appearance on the line having been booked more than a year ago, it was discovered by the engine's owners on 8th May that it was too long to go around the curves on the route leading to the dockside heritage line. Ribble Steam Railway Chairman Dave Watkins said: "We are extremely disappointed that Tornado's visit has had to be cancelled at such short notice, but we understand the engine's owners' wishes to protect their investment." The railway is presently making arrangements for another visiting engine to replace Tornado.
3rd May 2012
Charity Bike Ride
A regular contributor to this webiste, Phil Tyrer writes to tell us about the charity bike rid he is involved in: CCT, the company I work for supports the Blood Bikes charity and will be joining them on a cycle ride to provide funds to assist them in their work. By doing this we hope to raise awareness to the fantastic work that Milk Banks do and to raise enough money to purchase additional vehicles for Blood Bikes who provide support for the Neonatal Intensive Care Units: As well as delivering blood, x-rays etc for the NHS, the Blood Bikes charity now delivers expressed milk to premature or very sick babies, and a courier service for the parents of those babies who often face crippling travel costs to attend hospital each day. Phil will be cycling from Liverpool to Crewe on Thursday May 3rd, and Crewe to Birmingham the following day. Details of the ride You can DONATE here. GOOD LUCK PHIL...!
27th April 2012
Steam flurry over
After a rash of activity on the steam front, there is now a gap of a month before the next tour at Preston. 46233, fresh from overhaul, arrived with the Great Britain V tour last night, but being low on coal, was dragged to Carnforth instead of running to Crewe as planned. The Duchess then ran with its support coach this morning, a few minutes behind 70013 Oliver Cromwell, which is in charge of the Preston - Bristol leg. Not Preston, but here are a couple more photos from yesterday and today: 46233 through rain-soaked Langho 26-Apr-2012 70013 thunders through Standish 27-Apr-2012
23rd April 2012
Steam move and a test-run
Tuesday sees a test-run of the "K1" 62005 round the circuit from / to Carnforth. Beware - test-runs often run early (or not at all). On Thursday, 34067 Tangmere heads south to Bristol, to take-up railtour commitments in the south. Details are on the Gen/timetable page
13th April 2012
Down The Docks
This week sees a tour heading down the dock branch to the Ribble Steam Railway. There aren't too many opportunities to see a train cross Strand Road at a weekend, this being the first since 55022 tackled the steeply graded line last year. Details are on the Gen/timetable page
11th April 2012
Weekday Steam
After a quiet patch, the next few days see a little prelude to the summer steam season. Today (and next week) we have The Roses, heading for York with Black 5 45305. Tomorrow, 34067 Tangmere deputises for Scots Guardsman on the Cumbrian Mountain Express, with "sparky" 86259 handling the non-steam portions. Details are on the Gen/timetable page
Preston Trams at Westminster
Just when it seemed that everything had gone quiet on the Tram Power proposals for Preston... A share initiative has been launched, inviting Preston residents to invest in the scheme. See the Tram Power websites and for details. Tram Power Tram Power Preston Today local TV was reporting that the scheme was to be debated in the House of Commons.
12th March 2012
Carnforth Photo Exhibition
There is a display of BR memorabilia and photographs of the BR scene in the 1960s, at Carnforth Railway Station Visitors Centre until the end of March, in the Bateman Gallery. The photo display is titled 'Carnforth at the End of Steam 1967/1968 - a photographic dsiplay by Mike Taylor and the late Peter Ditchfield' and also includes videos of the steam era.
6th March 2012
Preston Station Remodelling Talk
Mike Norris is giving his excellent talk on the 1970s remodelling and electrification at Preston, at the RTIAS meeting this month. RTIAS - Monday 19th March 7.30pm (£2 donation for non-members) "Preston Station Remodelling - Electrification and Resignalling by Mike Norris" At the Lightening Club, Mill Lane, Warton For a taster, take a look at Mike's article on the same subject HERE.
29th February 2012
RSR - Made in Preston Exhibition
Made in Preston aims to tell the stories of those who worked on Strand Road in Preston, pioneering electric tram and railway technologies. Featuring Dick, Kerr Ltd and English Electric works in Preston, who supplied electric train equipment used all over the world, even into the nineteen eighties they were supplying electric traction motors for the whole of the Southern region. The museum are very interested in hearing from anyone who worked on the Deltic production. The railway are hoping to have a number of Preston-built locomotives on show including the Netherland Railway 601, English Electric Battery 788 and the prototype Deltic from the National Railway Collection. The exhibition is to be part of the Guild celebrations. Anyone who worked on Strand Road in the past or knows anyone who did is asked to contact Jayne on 01254-601641 or 07888795124 email waring.jayne@hotmail.com. MORE
RSR - Confirmed for the Guild
Tornado Booked for Ribble Steam Railway The Ribble Steam Railway has landed a visit by new-build A1 No. 60163 Tornado between May 26-29 2012. Tornado is to work 10 passenger trains each day during the four days it visits the RSR. MORE Oldest Working Steam Locomotive In Britain Since being displaced from its original base at the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway The Furness Railway Trust has established a new base at the Ribble line. FRT’s magnificent 1863-vintage Furness Railway 0-4-0 No. 20 will be running on the RSR early in 2012, including Easter as part of the Preston Guild celebrations and every Sunday in April. The city’s council has approved plans to extend the Ribble Rail shed to allow it to fit new locomotives and wagons from the Furness Railway Trust. A lot of the equipment is quite old and the new building will ensure it remains safe from vandalism and under cover. MORE
RSR - Extension Approved
The city’s council has approved plans to extend the Ribble Rail shed to allow it to fit new locomotives and wagons from the Furness Railway Trust. A lot of the equipment is quite old and the new building will ensure it remains safe from vandalism and under cover.
27th February 2012
Gallery Extra
There have been a number of new photos of the recent RSR Steam Gala, added to the gallery... Also added to the gallery, a shot of 45305 passing the site of Lostock Hall Shed :
22nd February 2012
Tours
In addition to the Cumbrian Mountain Express on Saturday, there is another tour - previously missing from out Gen/Timetable page. UK Railtours' Grand Cumbrian Panorama features a mix of diesel and electric traction covering the S&C and Cumbrian Coast routes.
16th February 2012
Railway Talks and Slideshows
There are a number of groups in the North West who have monthly railway talks and slideshows - too many to report here, but you'll find information about some of the groups' plans on our sister website : Lostock Hall MPD. A couple of events in the next couple of weeks, of particular interest to the Preston enthusiast are : 20th February - RTAIS '1980s Railways" by Tom Heavyside at The Lightening Club, Mill Lane Warton 7.30 start (£2 for non-members) 23rd February - RCTS 'The Development of Railways Around Preston' by Mike Norris at the Claremont Hotel, Blackpool Rd, Preston 7.30 start (£2 for non-members)
8th February 2012
FR20 Arrives at the Ribble Steam Ry
FR20, The Furness Railway Trust's flagship loco has arrived at the Ribble Steam Railway, its new home-base. FR20, Britain's oldest working steam loco, will be based at the Preston railway, but is expected to be in demand at other preserved lines, so this is an ideal chance to see and ride behind this unique machine. No.20 will be just one of the locos involved in the RSR's Winter Steam Gala
28th January 2012
Book News
Robert Gregson's acclaimed Preston book (see advert, centre panel), which sold-out over Christmas, has now been re-printed and is again available in all good bookshops. The reprint includes extra photos and a sneak preview of the follow up, covering the LNWR part of the Preston network, slated for publication before the summer. Also due for publication around the same time is The Railways of Preston - Half a Century of Change. Telling the story of the lines and stations in the Preston area since the mid-1950s, Andrew Fowler’s interesting book charts the dramatically-changing face of the railway from the last decade of steam through the ‘corporate blue’ era to the present day. The book, specially produced for the Guild Year, will feature some 300 photos, many in colour. Details of these books can be found on the Atkinson Publications website.
24th January 2012
Steam Bonanza
The second half of the year is shaping up to be another good 'un for the steam fan. At the peak we have regular steam on Mondays (Mersey Moorlander Express), alternate Tuesdays (Welsh Mountaineer), Wednesdays (Fellsman) and Saturdays (Cumbrian Mountain Express). The Gen / Timetable page is beginning to fill-up!
23rd January 2012
Steam Move
In addition to any other rumoured steam activity this week, 34067 Tangmere is scheduled to move from Southall to Carnforth on Thursday. The times show a short stop at Preston at 16.29.
21st January 2012
Preston and South 1965 -1968
A photographic show featuring images from the late Peter Ditchfiled presented and compiled by Mike Taylor... A digital image show in black and white using the 35mm negatives from the late Peter Ditchfield who lived in Preston and was a frequent visitor to Preston station photographing steam locomotives leaving and arriving during this period. The first of two shows showing Peter Ditchfield's work concentrates on departures and arrivals at the south end of Preston station, with visits to Lostock Hall mpd, Wigan Springs Branch mpd and his trips to Crewe works, to the Manchester area, Birkenhead and Shrewsbury for railtours in between the shots at Preston station. If you were a trainspotter at Preston during this period you may well remember these sights and you may even be in one or two images! Very few dates were recorded by Peter at Preston during this period, so bring along your old 'spotters books' and help us identify the dates! The first show is at the LCGB at the Pied Bull Hotel, Newton-le-Willows, Thursday 16th February, starting 7.30pm. There may be a small charge for entry Space I believe is limited at this venue. The same show is being shown at Rishton Golf Club, Thursday 23rd February, start time here is 8.00pm, where the ever popular 'Railway Meetings' are held each month during the winter season. Entry is £3.00 and the always excellent supper £2.00 at half time. There is plenty of room here and a bar is available.
16th January 2012
You wait for one...
Bob Gregson's excellent book The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway around Preston has sold out the initial print-run. The good news for anyone that didn't find one in their Christmas Stocking, is that second batch is currently on order from the printers and should be available soon. The reprint has a few extra photos at the back and a sneak preview of the next book.... The success if the L&Y book means that "part 2" will now be published. The second volume will complete the railway picture in Preston, covering the former LNWR lines. Publication is expected in the Summer. Also on the cards for Guild year, from a different author, is a nostalgic look at the of railways in Preston. It will feature a large number of photographs, mostly in colour, and should complement Bob Gregson's books nicely, by covering half a century of Preston railways, including the final days of steam.
3rd January 2012
Tours.... lots of them
A very big thank-you goes to Graham Boreham for compiling a huge list of tours for our Gen / Timetable page. The newly updated list now includes over 40 tours between now and the middle of the year... Highlights for the steam-buffs include the return of main-line favourite 6233 Duchess of Sutherland in BR green livery, plus "Castle" 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe on a couple of tours. Things are looking less exciting for the diesel-fans at the moment, but it's good to see 86259 stretching its legs on the Euston - Preston legs of several Statesman Rail steam tours.
3rd January 2012
2012
Happy New Year...! It should be an interesting year for railway enthusiasts in Preston - The Guild celebrations will almost certainly make Preston a destination for a few railtours and plans are afoot to bring some interesting visiting locos to the Ribble Steam Railway. 60163 Tornado is already confirmed and the NRM's prototype Deltic should also be coming back to its birthplace. There are other "irons in the fire" which should bring some once-familiar types back to Preston and the Dock system. Looking at the early railtour schedule, we see that The Cumbrian Mountain Express will feature strongly in the first few months, but there's not much else to report yet. If you spot some railtour announcements that I've missed, please get in touch.
HST Power Car- Weds 4th
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