11. Rocket 150, Liverpool & Manchester-03.08.80

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1980 > 11. Rocket 150, Liverpool & Manchester-03.08.80
A Sunday trip to the north-west to record another event associated with the Rocket 150 celebrations. BR was criticised, and quite rightly so, for many decisions and strategies but they did do many things very well. When they made the effort they could really pull the stops out, for example, GWR 150 in 1985 but for the crass announcement of Swindon's closure! Another excellent celebration that they put together was Rocket 150 to commemorate the Rainhill Trials in 1829. The headline act was the great Cavalcade in May 1980 but there were many other events. Graham, Mike from Bristol and I made the Sunday journey to Chat Moss and Manchester in the Austin 1100 that suffered a broken fan belt on the way home near Cheltenham. Mike's AA membership came to the rescue!
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Images 1-17 of 17 displayed.

Astley signal box (BR, 1972) SJ704972 In the distance, Astley signal box is seen at a manually operated level crossing that remains closed to traffic unless a vehicle wishes to cross the line. This is the second box at this location the first one being slightly nearer to the camera. This 1972 BR Type 15 2h box is still in use today (2020) containing a fifteen lever frame. Until 1956 there was also a station at this remote location on Chat Moss. I am sure that we were in full view of the signalman on duty this particular day but it did not stop us getting away from the crowds at the crossing itself waiting for the passage of the steam special. Keywords: Astley signal box SJ704972 Chat Moss
Graham, set up, Chat Moss SJ704972 Graham makes some adjustments to his camera whilst standing behind his trusty Velbon tripod with his Super 8mm cine camera mounted on top. He, Mike and I were waiting for the passage of 5690 'Leander' leading a BR organised special charter from Manchester to Liverpool as part of the Rocket 150 celebrations. We are standing close to the lineside on the flat expanse of Chat Moss, somewhere that one would dare not to venture on to today such is the different attitude towards trespass then and now! Keywords: Graham Chat Moss SJ704972
5690, BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special, Chat Moss SJ704972 Former LMS Jubilee 5690 'Leander' approaches Astley level crossing with a BR organised and sponsored railtour from Manchester to Liverpool Edge Hill. This train, and its return working, were part of the Rocket 150 celebrations to commemorate the famous Rainhill Trials. Whilst I am not a fan of these low angle, three-quarter views of a train on a dead straight section of track it was symbolic that this spot was chosen as it was in the middle of the fabled Chat Moss. This totally flat area of very flat land described as having an 'anti-picturesque appearance' * was traversed by the world's first passenger railway and was where George Stephenson overcame the vast area of boggy land by building the tracks on a 'floating' wooden and stone foundation; a design that has endured from 1830 with the line still in use today. * Gary Priestnall's Home Page, University of Nottingham, 21.01.15 Keywords: 5690 BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special Chat Moss SJ704972 Leander
5690, BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special, photostop, Earlestown station 5690 'Leander' pauses at Earlstown station for a photo stop in the days when passengers were permitted to alight from the train and wander about with impunity to take their photographs or get a 'cab' of the locomotive. Leander was leading the outward leg of a BR sponsored special from Manchester to Liverpool Edge Hill and back again as part of the Rocket 150 celebrations. In this view taken from Junction Lane bridge the track curving sharply away to the south leads to Winwick Junction where it joins the WCML a short distance away. Keywords: 5690, BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special, photo stop, Earlestown station
5690, BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special, photo stop, Earlestown station With a queue of parents and excited children waiting to climb aboard the cab of 5690 'Leander' at Earlstown station, plenty of others clamber around the tracks. In this image there were no officials in sight with the public simply wandering about; a sight unheard of today even on preservation lines. The LMS Jubilee was leading the outward leg of train running from Manchester to Liverpool Edge Hill as part of the summer's Rocket 150 celebrations. Keywords: 5690 BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special, photo stop Earlestown station Leander LMS
Class 25, up PW train, Sankey viaduct SJ568945 An unidentified Class 25 trundles across Sankey viaduct heading east with, what appears to be, some sort of permanent way working. The first wagons seem to be carrying electrification wiring with a vintage carriage behind. Sankey viaduct became a Grade I listed structure in 1966 due to its international significance as 'the earliest major railway viaduct in the world'* In this view, looking north-east, some industry is seen behind the viaduct at the top of the ridge. In recent years this large industrial area has been cleared and covered by housing with the first row of the houses affording spectacular views of the viaduct from their gardens and south-west facing windows! *Sankey Viaduct (L&MR) engineering-timelines.com Keywords: Class 25 up PW train Sankey viaduct SJ568945
5690, BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special, Sankey viaduct SJ568945 Having just left Earlstown station a short distance away 5690 'Leander' makes its way across Sankey viaduct leading the outward leg of the BR organised Manchester to Liverpool Edge Hill Rocket 150 charter. The historical importance of the Grade I listed Sankey viaduct is right up there with other historical railway structures such as St. Pancras station and Box tunnel. It is the world's oldest mainline viaduct and is still in use today coming up for two hundred years after it opened. It carried the Liverpool & Manchester railway across a valley through which the Sankey Brook and the Sankey Canal both passed and was designed and engineered by the famous George Stephenson. There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see..https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29578716404/x5690-br-sponsored-manchester-liverpool Keywords: 5690 BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special Sankey viaduct SJ568945 Leander LMS
5690, BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special, Sankey viaduct SJ568945 With much blowing of its whistle, former LMS Jubilee 5690 (ex BR 45690) crosses Sankey viaduct leading the Manchester to Liverpool Edge Hill BR organised special as part of the Rocket 150 celebrations. When opened, the stonework of the viaduct had a somewhat different appearance than is seen here with the yellow sandstone and red brick having a cleaner and much more yellow colouring. With the pollution of the north-west over the past one hundred and fifty years, it is tarnished and in need of some cleaning especially as it is such a historical structure. Today it is still very much the same with the addition of electrification masts atop the structure and huge volumes of ivy enveloping the piers. Network Rail really could do with undertaking some clearing and cleaning of this fine structure, they would not let a station get into such a state so why this Grade I listed historical structure? There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see..https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29578716404/x5690-br-sponsored-manchester-liverpool Keywords: 5690 BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special Sankey viaduct SJ568945 Leander LMS 45690 Jubilee
5690, BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special, Edge Hill 5690 'Leander' is seen in Edge Hill yard in amongst, much stock and various wagons. I suspect that this was the first time that the former LMS Jubilee had been in the yard for many years since its initial withdrawal in 1964. Up to then, it would have been a regular visitor leading express' to and from nearby Liverpool Lime Street. This view is not possible of the now much-reduced yard located just east of Edge Hill station near to the Wavertree Road bridge. This early type of palisade fencing has now been replaced by the more normal taller variety and the bank on which I am standing is completely inaccessible. There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see..https://youtu.be/dC3Vdy6E4t8 Keywords: 5690 BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special Edge Hill Leander LMS 45690 Jubilee
5690, BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special, Edge Hill I must have become a little overwhelmed by the sight of LMS Jubilee 5690 at Edge Hill as this one of three rather similar photographs that I took! With each Kodachrome slide costing me a fair few pence, this was a bit of a surprise! After being held for a short while in the yard the train moves away towards the station a short distance to my right under the bridge where the locomotive would be detached ready to run round on the Wavertree triangle. There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see..https://youtu.be/dC3Vdy6E4t8 Keywords: 5690 BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special Edge Hill LMS Jubilee 45690
5690, BR sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special & 86229, Edge Hill My third and final photograph of 5690 'Leander' leaving Edge Hill yard for the station a short distance from this spot under the bridge that carries the B5178 Wavertree Road over the tracks. It was then going to run round on the Wavertree triangle to rejoin the rear of the train and lead it back to Manchester as part of the BR organised Rocket 150 celebrations. 86229 is seen in the foreground stabled in the yard. This AL6 survived until 2008 finishing its working career in Virgin West Coast's distinctive livery. There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see..https://youtu.be/dC3Vdy6E4t8 Keywords: 5690 sponsored Manchester-Liverpool Edge Hill Special 86229 Edge Hill Leander LMS Jubilee
40018, unidentified down freight, Salford SJ815981 Getting trackside was a far for common practice back in previous times something, for so many reasons not undertaken today. However, it did afford some fascinating views of trains rather than from teetering on the top of ladders or craning over parapets! Here in Salford to the west of Manchester city centre 40018 ex 'Carmania' heads a short Sunday un-fitted freight. Notice 40018's number neatly painted on the nose in the middle of the marker discs that, unfortunately, they do not read anything but if the centre lower disc had been displaying white it would have been a Royal Train working! Back in 1980, I recorded an Ordnance Survey grid reference for this spot and this pinpoints it as being just about under the present-day A57 roundabout where the M602 starts. The two bridges in view here carry Windsor and West Eggerton Streets respectively. The large warehouse building and gasometer to the right have long been demolished with office blocks taking their place. Keywords: 40018 unidentified down freight Salford SJ815981 Carmania
5690, return leg of BR sponsored Liverpool Edge Hill-Manchester Special, Salford SJ815981 Approaching the end of its foray out from and then back to Manchester ex LMS Jubilee 5690 'Leander' passes through Salford. It is leading a BR organised special as part of the 1980 Rocket 150 celebrations. This highly questionable trackside view is taken looking westwards from under Windsor Street bridge. The bridge in view here has now been demolished with the area covered by the large roundabout from where the M602 motorway starts that then follows the former trackbed seen to the right in this photograph westwards away from the city Keywords: 5690 return leg of BR sponsored Liverpool Edge Hill-Manchester Special Salford SJ815981 LMS Leander 45690
Manchester Deal Street signal box (LMS, 1929) I have spent much time researching this LMS signal box built in 1929. It was located at the western approach to Victoria station with the River Erwell passing underneath the bridge seen in the foreground. The reason for my research was to discover why it was named Deal Street. Even looking back at Victorian street maps of central Manchester reveals no street of that name so its name remains a mystery unless any of my Manchunian readers with local knowledge can advise! The box contained a ninety-nine lever Westinghouse Brake & Saxby Signal Co. Ltd. Style 'K' frame that was in use right up until its closure on 31.07.88 when control was transferred to the Manchester North Signalling Centre. Notice the large BR (LM) enamel sign attached to the front of the box with a large arrow pointing to Victoria station acting almost like a huge and somewhat distanced running-in sign. The land to the right of the photograph was once occupied by Exchange station and, once again, I do not know quite how I got to this particular spot. Keywords: Manchester Deal Street signal box LMS Manchester Exchange
Former LNER goods depot, Deansgate, Manchester Looking roughly south down Manchester's Deansgate the rather run-down former LNER goods depot is seen in a burst of evening sunshine after a recent shower of rain. Just over a year previous to this photograph being taken the building had been Grade II listed. It seemed to attract car spare shops with no less than three located adjacent to each other, with Karcare (sic) and Hemmings visible here. The building at the end of the former goods depot on the corner houses a well known Northern car franchise H & J Quick who started in the motor trade back in 1914 and are still trading today. As a Ford dealership, their simple mantra was and still remains 'Quicks for Ford'. As part of the recent restoration of the fine former LNER building, the Quick's building has been demolished but the superb gabled building the other side of Peter Street has been restored now housing various restaurants and bars including the oddly named Dirty Martini! Keywords: Former LNER goods depot Deansgate Manchester
Former LNER goods depot, Deansgate, Manchester A second view of the former LNER goods depot in Manchester's Deansgate. This vast rail connected goods and exchange depot was opened in 1899 and was constructed to a very high specification including it being 'fireproof'. With the general decline in freight services on the railways, eventual closure came in 1954 with it becoming very dilapidated until restoration rescued it from the brink. It is now the home to a number of bars, restaurants, shops and a multiplex having become an attraction in its own right. Notice that all the retailers occupying the building in this view are involved in car spares and accessories including one selling exclusively motoring books! Keywords: Former LNER goods depot Deansgate Manchester
Former Manchester Liverpool Road station The rather sad and rundown remains of Manchester's Liverpool Road station taken on a wet evening. However, today I am pleased to report that the buildings have been restored and that they are now part of the Science Museum group's visitor centre. The station's historical importance cannot be emphasised enough with it being the eastern terminus of the world's very first passenger railway opened in 1830. Unfortunately, with the construction of the so-called Ordsall Curve to the left of where I am standing here the station is now isolated from the national network with its former tracks that crossed the bridge to the left in this photograph have now been truncated; an absolute travesty of the highest order. Notice the posters attached to the building advertising the Great Railway Exposition that was one of the events celebrating the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the line. Keywords: Former Manchester Liverpool Road station.

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