27th July 2003

Branch Line Society
The Bird in Hand

DMU Used 156460 (52460 + 57460)

Route:

DMU Route
as listed Manchester Piccadilly [P14] - Ordsall Lane Jn - Eccles - Newton-le-Willows - Huyton - via Edge Hill Up Wapping Siding - Edge Hill Wapping (End of Line - Onto Single Track Section)
as listed Edge Hill Wapping (End of Line) - via Edge Hill Up Wapping Siding - Huyton - St. Helens Central - Cowley Hill Sidings (Up side of loop) (up to Gate)
as listed Cowley Hill Sidings - Gerards Bridge Jn
as listed Gerards Bridge Jn - Bryn - Ince Moss Jn - Bamfurlong Sidings Jn - Bamfurlong Jn (Up Slow)
as listed Bamfurlong Jn - (Up Slow - Down Slow - Down Goods) -via Low Level Down Goods - Wigan South Jn via connecting line (i.e. Not touching Up Fast) - Wiagn North Western [P1] - Balshaw Lane Jn - via Slow Line - Preston [P5] - Kirkham & Wesham (Down Slow [P1]) - Blackpool North [P8]
as listed Blackpool North [P8] - Kirkham & Wesham (Up Fast) - Preston [P2] - Wigan North Western - via Bamfurlong Low Level Up Goods - Golborne Jn - Parkside Jn - Eccles - Ordsall Lane Jn - Manchester Piccadilly [P13]

Notes from ticket letter:
Due to the signalling at Strand Road still not being commissioned, the Ribble Branch at Preston had to be omitted from the itinerary. The decision was made to still run the tour as many people had already made arrangements for the weekend and also the special approval given for the traversal of the Cowley Hill Branch. As a slight compensation for the deletion, and likely extra standing time at Preston, a round trip to Blackpool North was put in at the last minute, which reversed at (I believe) a little used platform, [P8].

Source : Alan Sheppard (on train throughout)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Alan Sheppard)

Location

 Booked Actual
Manchester Piccadilly [P14]

11.53d

12.00d
Eccles 12/00 12/07
Newton-le-Willows 12.13a ~ 12.16d 12.21a ~ 12.22d
Huyton [P1] 12/26 12/32
Edge Hill Wapping (End of Line) 12.42 ~ 12.53 12.44 ~ 12.48
Edge Hill (Up Wapping Siding) 12*52 ~ 12*54 12.56 ~ 12.57
Huyton [P2] 13/03 13/08
St. Helens Central [P1] 13/11 13/16
Cowley Hill Sidings 13.18 ~ 13.33 13.32 ~ 13.36
Gerards Bridge Jn (Up side of Loop) ? 13*38 ~ 13*43
Gerards Bridge Jn (Up Main) (rev) 13.44 ~ 13.47
St. Helens Central [P1] 13.44 ~ 13.48 DIV
Ince Moss Jn 13/59 14/00
Bamfurlong Sidings Jn ? 14/04
Bamfurlong Jn 14.11 ~ 14.15 14.05 ~ 14.11
Wigan South Jn (connecting line) ? 14.28 ~ 14.30
Wigan North Western [P1] 14/40 14.34 ~ 14.35
Balshaw Lane Jn ? 14/45
Euxton Jn 14/50 14/47
Preston [P5] 15.00a ~ 16.00d 15p00a ~ 16p01d
Blackpool North [P8] 16.24a ~ 16.34d 16p22a ~ 16p34d
Preston [P2] 17/09 16/57
Wigan North Western [P4] 17.25a ~ 17.28d 17.14a ~ 17.18d
Wigan South Jn ? 17/20
Springs Branch No.1 Jn ? 17/27
Bamfurlong Sidings Jn ? 17/32
Bamfurlong Jn ? 17/34
Golborne Jn 18/01 17/41
Parkside Jn 18/04 17.44 ~ 17.45
Eccles 18/15 17/55
Manchester Piccadilly [P13] 18.28a 18.02a


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