Steam Train through South Liverpool. Sunday 11.8.13

[viscount]

Normally chartered steam trains into and out of Lime Street go through Edge Hill and out through Broad Green to Newton-le-Willows. However due to electrification widening work (already reported on posts on this forum), a steamer will run on the former CLC line through Hunts Cross junction then out through Widnes, Warrington Central and Trafford Park to Manchester Piccadilly and thence to Carlisle. The first steamer along the CLC line for at least 35 years it is stated, certainly in 29 years of living next to the line I've never seen/heard one, so will go along with that claim - although do remember them in the mid 60s, and the fires caused in the cutting!

The day return is named "The 15 Guinea Special" and operated by The Railway Touring Company, recreating BR's final steam train of 45 years ago pulled by a 'Black 5' steam loco. On Sunday 11th August, the special will pull out of Lime Street at 09.10 hauled by former LMS 'Black 5' 45305. Although 3 other engines are involved during the day, it will be 45305 that returns along the CLC route through Warrington Central to Edge Hill and Lime Street, arriving 19:50.

Maybe not of great import to many nwan members, for me living alongside the line, it is a great photo opportunity. My thanks to Alan Pritchard for alerting me to the details above.


There is another steam special out of Lime Street this year, on 8th September but follows the usual route Lime St, Edge Hill, Broad Green, then through Chester along Deeside and the North Wales coast to Holyhead.

[Deleted]

I was at Broadgreen to see the original 15 guinea special in 1968, hauled by the late replacement black 5 45110. I will probably be at Edge Hill to watch it go through on he 11th, carrying my brother and nephew, at a price far in excess of 15 guineas!

Dave

[Samba]

I was standing at South Parkway last saturday morning 06 40 waiting for my connection to Runcorn and Euston
and the next minute Steam, it was a pullman on it's way to Lime St for a day return service, what a lovely site.
Bob.

[calflier]

There you are Bob,if we had still had a Heathrow service,you would have missed that!,a bit tonque in cheek sorry about that.

[groundhugger]

It's surprising how much steam is about at present , this is a regular on Fridays this summer , the 'Scarborough Flyer' copped this last friday evening on its return to Crewe. at Stockport Station

[viscount]

It would appear that the times of the steam pulled train through Hunts Cross on Sunday 11th August have been amended.

Alan Pritchard has informed me that the morning times show a delay of around 40 minutes. To me they are very much slower than a standard short local diesel train, so the steam train should not be going through at speed.

Amended times appear to be:
Departing Lime Street Station 0954 (was 0910)
Liverpool South Parkway 1009
Hunts Cross Station 1013
Then onward to Warrington Central

A breakdown of the return times is not known to me, however arrival at Lime Street is now expected 2246 (somewhat later than the original 1950 hours) - which unfortunately is now well after dark for photography.

While the train through South Liverpool will be pulled by a Black 5 loco, there will be a diesel unit attached to the rear of the train too. One advantage of the CLC route for photographer is the lack of overhead electric cables and stanchions.

Found the amended times on the web: www.uksteam.info/tours/t13/t0811b.htm

[Deleted]

Don't ask me where I got them ( ) , but these are the Network Rail actual planned times of the 15 Guinea special 1T57 from Lime St. to Carlisle and return. May be of use to anyone on the route (and may still be subject to change)...

Outbound.....



Return....




Cheers,

Dave

[Andy T]

Thanks Dave, I am probably going to Edge Hill as I start work (on call) at 10 so can't afford to go far.

[viscount]

On time the 'The 15 Guinea Special' ran through Hunts Cross Station. Great to have a chat with Bryan 'Workdog' Workman while waiting.

45305 appearing under Hillfoot Road bridge



45305 pulling 12 coaches and working hard pulling up the incline from the junction. The left and centre lines are used by traffic from/to Lime St., the right hand line is the Merseyrail 3rd rail electric approaching the terminus as a single line. The plant growth is so tall this summer that I can only make out a little of next door's roof. In winter I could have easily taken my shots off the flat garage roof!



Black 5 in action



Bit worried that on some shots the focus the front of the loco is a tad 'soft', especially I'm off down to Woburn next weekend for the Moth Meet. Confirmed that indeed AF set 'on', while VC set 'off', so auto-focus should have been doing the job properly.

Added later on edit: Realise that it my camera 'set-up' that was incorrect for the job. I have the focus set at central sensor only (to get just behind the cockpit area of fast approaching aircraft on 27 sharp) - it is the diagonal shots, with the loco front towards a corner that show the soft focus - the centre point somewhere down the carriages is probably sharp! Lesson hopefully learned.

[Deleted]

Link to my video of it going through Edge Hill this morning

15 Guinea Special - 45 years on

Incidentally, that is my brother waving from the rear carriage!!

Cheers,

Dave

[viscount]

A further movie of 'The 15 Guinea Special' passing through South Liverpool this morning from Eddie Quinn.

youtu.be/_hSJ7ndonOA

Taken from the platform, rather than the bridge at Hunts Cross.