1960s Nostalgia – Scotland and North West England

On Thursday 14th November the Branch welcomed Keith Jones from Aberdeen with his presentation “1960s Nostalgia – Scotland and North West England”.

Beginning with the Aberdeen/GNSR area, we saw the problematical NBL Type 2s on a number of services.  Aberdeen station in summer 1966 witnessed the final steam hauled services on the Aberdeen to Glasgow route using the A4s, 60024 Kingfisher at the head of the 1.30pm departure to Buchanan Street.

         NBL Type 2 at Fraserburgh in 1965

Next, a Cl.24 on the Perth-Aberdeen passenger and parcels at Glasterlaw on the Strathmore route then a Scottish Region special with A4 haulage at Stirling en route to Aberdeen on that final day of steam working.  This was followed by sleeping cars at Stirling’s station platform.

Next to appear was 44703 of Ferryhill depot, plus 60532 Blue Peter on Ferryhill shed with a Cl.40 in the background, Owen Glendower at Aberdeen (having arrived from Perth), then derelict 60004 William Whitelaw back at Ferryhill shed.  An ex-NBR carriage was the breakdown train runner at Ferryhill shed.

Unloading of coal at Aberdeen power station was viewed, the wagons traversing the rails from Guild Street depot.  August 1966 recorded the final freight from Ballater powered, unusually, by a Clayton Cl.17 at Kittybrewster yard.  November 1966 saw V2 60826 at Ferryhill ahead of the final V2 trip under Sc.R auspices.  Kittybrewster shed contained stored NB Type 2s in February 1967, then Falkirk Grahamston with a Derby Lightweight on the Grangemouth shuttle, a vintage inspection saloon at Waverley and a double arrow NBL Type 2 at Perth.

Across the Border, September 1966 at Chester provided 73127 on a North Wales service, Black Fives at Shrewsbury and a neglected 76049 at Gobowen.  Manchester Exchange was visited, then Shotton High Level with a Chester Northgate to Bidston service; Bidston later

provided a Crab with the daily freight from Cadbury’s depot at Moreton, Wirral.  The DMU service to Gateacre still ran from Liverpool Central, Cheadle Heath witnessed Cl.25-hauled freight and a Fairburn tank hauling three LMS corridor coachess.

Wigan Wallgate provided a Southport to Leeds Central service, Manchester Piccadilly a BRCW 3-Car set for Buxton, then Hayfield, Derbyshire, featuring a mixed Met/Cam Derby set.  A Manchester South Junction and Altrincham electric service was entering Manchester Oxford Road, then 76079 passed Turner & Newall’s Widnes asbestos complex.  Other notable stations viewed include Birkenhead Woodside, Hooton, Warrington Bank Quay, Warrington Central, Guide Bridge, Rainhill and Carmarthen.

Colour images included High Shields station and NCB electrics, seen in September 1969, Blackpool trams during summer 1967.  Northern Ireland over Easter 1969 was when we viewed Belfast York Road shed, with newly overhauled GNR(I) 4-4-0 171 Slieve Gullion, a Railcar set at Londonderry Waterside, Greenisland with a 2-6-4 tank and ballast train, NCC somersault signals on the Larne line and a re-engined Class A within Dublin Connolly.

This very detailed and comprehensive presentation was very much appreciated by the large number of attendees.