Lostock Junction

[bulleidboy]

Lostock Junction is obviously a busy place - great pictures as usual. BB

[cheshire lines]

Lostock Junction is obviously a busy place - great pictures as usual. BB

Thanks BB. More to follow shortly.

[cheshire lines]

9:45am, after several more passenger workings in either direction, attention again focuses on the loco shed where Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 number 46426 is making her way onto the Up Main


before crossing onto the Down Main

and eventually onto the Branch. She needs to have cleared the Down Main by 9:55am to ensure the road is clear for the 10am Down Semi-Fast.

[cheshire lines]

After proceeding into the goods yard she starts to assemble her train of vans destined for the local salt works, located along the branch line.


Once she has collected the requisite vans, she propels them to the yard exit road.


She may also shunt other wagons to other sidings in the yard as directed by the Yard Supervisor and then collect a brake van for her train.


She then propels the whole train out of the yard.

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After moving her train onto the Up Main line she runs then runs round via the Down Main


before coupling onto the front and hauling it onto the branch line


and then proceeding tender first up the branch at about 10:15am.

This working replicates real life ones along the salt branch from Northwich to Wincham until the mid 1960's. Given the light axle loading allowed on the branch (and the fact that it has first radius curves) it is usually worked by a Stanier class 2 2-6-0. The shedmaster at Lostock Junction shed is hoping that the Stanier loco may be joined by a similar BR Standard 2-6-0 MT to assist with these workings.

[cheshire lines]

10:30 am - A loaded ICI limestone hopper train approaches on the Up Main behind 48073.


She passes through the station, heading under the road bridge towards the exchange sidings.


She then crosses over into the sidings, where she will detach from the train and pull forward, looping back onto the Down Main. At the same time, the one of the shunting staff will be uncoupling the brake van from the rear of the train.

This is one of two limestone trains scheduled for the day, with corresponding return journeys for the empty wagons. At this time (early 1960s) they are almost invariably hauled by a Stanier 8F. 48073 is a vintage diecast Wrenn model which performs as well, if not better, than my plastic bodied Hornby version (which was seen earlier on the Covhop working).

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The ICI diesel is seen waiting on an adjacent road.


She then couples onto the front of the hopper wagons


and then hauls them into the works, passing the BR loco on the way.


The 8F then reverses past the brake van before making her way to the Down Main and away for turning

[cheshire lines]

Squeezed in between the set daily pattern of passenger trains and ICI freight trains are a number of paths for freight and other traffic which runs as required.







It must be cattle market day in a nearby town as, at 10:50 am, we see an Up cattle train working hauled by rebuilt Patriot number 45536 Private W Wood VC. This will easily clear the section before the 11:am Up Local stopping train is due.

[Walkingthedog]

Great pictures keep them coming.

[cheshire lines]

Thanks WTD.
More to follow over the weekend (hopefully).