As a culmination of the Rocket 150 celebrations, that started

with the Great Cavalcade in May, a special train was run from Liverpool to Manchester. It was quite an organisation feat for BR but only proved that when the wanted to, they could really come up with the goods! In this photograph, the final part of the special train is seen passing Salford heading for Manchester Liverpool Road. The train is being hauled by 'Lion' designed and built by Todd, Kidson & Laird in 1838 only ten years after the famous Rainhill trials. There is heated debate about the exact provenance of this locomotive. Some suggest that it was rebuilt from a find at Liverpool Docks in the 1930s to whom it was sold in 1859 for use as a mobile pumping engine whilst others think it was a new build. Whatever its history, it is seen here passing through the western part of Manchester having picked up its invited guests and dignitaries at Eccles. While that line exists today but electrified, the empty trackbed and bank in the background are now home to the M602 motorway. The distinctive end of terraces is still extant today along Salford's White Street.