Preston Station - Past & Present
The WLR - Whitehouse

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pic1Southport shed's Stanier 2-6-4T No. 42675 crosses the East Lancs River Ribble Bridge and slows for Whitehouse West Junction, before veering right towards Southport with the 18-24 ex Preston. This section of line, actually part of the originally East Lancashire Railway route to Blackburn, was built on a steep embankment over a mile long across the base of the Ribble valley to beyond Whitehouse South Junction. After the cessation of WLR services, it will continue to see both Liverpool and East Lancs traffic travelling via Todd Lane Junction, until 1st May 1972 when all services will be diverted via the alternative but steeply-graded route via the West Coast Main Line and Farington Curve Junction and Todd Lane Junction station (the old "Preston Junction") will be closed completely. 
(c) Alan Castle 17th August 1964

pic2Literally the end at Whitehouse North Junction. This ex-L&Y box (along with that at Whitehouse West Junction, both built in 1900) became redundant upon withdrawal of the Southport trains. The third remaining cabin of the former trio, at Whitehouse South Junction will, however, survive a few months longer as freight traffic will continue to run until 25th January 1965 to the former WLR terminus at Preston [West Lancs Goods]. This remaining stub of the old WLR is a route, by now, reduced to a daily trip working carrying cattle foodstuffs to the sidings at the depot of Messrs. R. Silcock & Sons, whose offices are located in the old Fishergate Hill station buildings. 
(c) Alan Castle 20th April 1965

pic3No 45218, one of Southport shed's several Stanier Class 5 4-6-0s, rounds the curve between Whitehouse South and West Junctions, thus avoiding a reversal at Preston, with the 17-27 Blackburn - Southport. This service will call at all stations except Penwortham and Hoole.
(c) Alan Castle 22nd August 1964

pic4No 45218, one of Southport shed's several Stanier Class 5 4-6-0s, rounds the curve between Whitehouse South and West Junctions, thus avoiding a reversal at Preston, with the 17-27 Blackburn - Southport. This service will call at all stations except Penwortham and Hoole.
(c) Alan Castle 22nd August 1964

pic5Transporting Saturday shoppers home from a day out at Preston Market on 13th July 1963, Stanier 2-6-4T No. 42494 heads the 17-30 Preston - Southport over the pointwork at Whitehouse West Junction and underneath the 6 tracks of the West Coast main line. The triangle here proved to be extremely useful for turning locomotives of trains arriving at Preston, particularly when the more circuitous route between Todd Lane Junction and Farington Curve Junction via Lostock Hall was congested with other seasonal traffic.
(c) Alan Castle 13th July 1963

pic6Saturday, 23rd May 1964 and Carlisle Kingmoor's Standard Class 6MT Pacific No. 72007 "Clan Mackenzie" has just commenced its journey, having departed a few minutes previously from the East Lancs side of Preston Station and is seen rounding the 1893 curve from Whitehouse North Junction at the head of an RCTS [Lancs & North West Branch] special. This will turn out to be a quite circuitous itinerary eventually bound for such diverse destinations as Hellifield and Lancaster [Old Goods] and which is to take in the majority of the WLR during the earlier stage of its itinerary and then utilising the spurs at Roe Lane Junction and at Burscough Bridge to head back northwards again towards Lostock Hall and Blackburn.
(c) Alan Castle 23rd May 1964

pic7A side-on view of the 1883 Whitehouse West to Whitehouse South Curve, taken from the sports field of Preston Catholic College. A very grimy BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 (thought to be No. 75015) heads the only train of the day to run over the WLR with Class 1 lamps - the 1L59 17-32 Southport - Accrington. The status of Class 1 was, presumably, bestowed on this service by the timetabling department in recognition of the fact that it did not call at either Hoole or Penwortham, a fairly unusual occurrence on such a rural branch-line as this. Nevertheless, the train has called everywhere else! About to pass in the opposite direction is another of Southport shed's allocation, the equally unkempt, ex-LMS Caprotti Class 5 4-6-0, No. 44687, at the head of 7K13 the 18-10 (SO) Lostock Hall to Southport Goods. 
(c) Alan Castle 27th July 1964

pic8On an idyllic summer's evening, with wheel-flanges squealing around the sharp curve from Whitehouse North Junction, Southport shed's Stanier 2-6-4T No. 42675 returns to base for the last time today with the 18-24 ex Preston, transporting a handful of late home-bound commuters past Whitehouse West Junction box and onwards underneath the 6 tracks of the West Coast main line.
(c) Alan Castle 1st August 1964

pic9The road is set up and the home signal is at clear for Lostock Hall's BR Standard 2MT 2-6-0 No. 78040 to take the North curve at Whitehouse West Junction with the 13-17 Southport - Preston. The distant signal will not be pulled-off, however, as, in actual matter of fact, the box was permanently switched-out yesterday evening immediately after the passage of the very last passenger train to traverse the South curve, the 17-32 Southport - Accrington (headed by Lower Darwen's Standard Class 3MT 2-6-0 No. 76081). On Monday morning, the points will be reset permanently to the latter route and clipped in position, thus enabling both closure of the North Curve and also of this ex-L&Y cabin dating from 1900 The South curve will remain in use for a few short months to facilitate access to Preston [West Lancs Goods] for No. 17 Target, [9T17] the daily 7-30am trip working from Lostock Hall hauling supplies to the sidings of R. Silcock & Sons, a local firm of provender merchants. The scene is captured on film by ardent WLRs devotees Ray Manning and the late Jack Pottle. 
(c) Alan Castle 6th September 1964

pic10The fireman's view from Lostock Hall's BR Standard 2MT 2-6-0 No. 78040 heading the 13-17 Southport - Preston, as the locomotive prepares to swing sharply to the left onto the North curve at Whitehouse West Junction for the final ½ mile climb into the East Lancs side of Preston Station. The distant signal will not be pulled-off, however, as, in actual matter of fact, the box seen was permanently switched-out yesterday evening immediately after the passage of the very last passenger train to traverse the South curve, the 17-32 Southport - Accrington (this, headed by Lower Darwen's Standard Class 3MT 2-6-0 No. 76081). On Monday morning, the points will be reset to the latter route and permanently clipped in position, thus enabling both closure of the North Curve and also of this ex-L&Y cabin that dates from 1900. The South curve will remain in use for a few further months to facilitate rail access to Preston [West Lancs Goods] for No. 17 Target, [9T17] the daily 7-30am trip-working from Lostock Hall that brings supplies to the sidings of R. Silcock & Sons, a local firm of provender merchants. 
(c) Alan Castle 6th September 1964

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