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THE WEST
LANCASHIRE RAILWAY
PRESTON - SOUTHPORT |
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 Having, earlier in the afternoon of 5th September 1964, been a rare and extremely unanticipated visitor to traverse the line (indeed the first of its type to have been observed in over 12 months), after turning up at the head of the 12-44 Southport - Preston, 'Jubilee' 4-6-0 No 45642 "Boscawen" has curiously then been returned light-engine directly back from Preston Station to Southport, specifically in order to work the later 17-32 Southport - Accrington. In this view the locomotive has been captured passing by at speed through the rainswept and deserted platforms of Crossens. Particularly notice the electric lamp installed on the footbridge stairway and which appears to have been adapted from an old gaslight fitting. On the West Lancs line were none of the fluorescent strips and sodium floodlighting later to come so commonplace as part of the corporate (and, arguably, bland) 'British Rail' image. To all intents and purposes, at its death this was a Victorian / Edwardian railway still replete with much of its original and very attractive regalia that exuded so much individual character.
5th September 1964
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 The 'last-day' 16-52 Preston - Southport approaches Crossens station on Sunday 6th September 1964, with a commendably clean Fairburn 4MT 2-6-4 tank at the head. No. 42296 has been specially prepared at Lostock Hall shed, for, as part of the diagram, its return working is to be at the head of the final northbound train of all over the doomed West Lancs line. At the same instant that No. 42296 pulls in, another Lostock Hall engine, Standard 2MT 2-6-0 No. 78041, is just starting away from the platform-end in the opposite direction with the 17-10 Southport - Preston. Notice the 1500V DC third-rail, which continues for a few yards beyond the terminus of this commuter-belt extension to the Liverpool - Southport electric line. The electric service, that operated via Meols Cop, has actually already seen its last train the previous evening, there being no Sunday workings.
6th September 1964
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