Along Other Lines (9) - Eccles and Red Bank

The three pics attached to this post are from the previous post contributors Glenn Oakley, Dave Harris and Alan Rigby.


We all remember the aborted Cotton Mill Express of February 13th (see earlier posts) when class 6, 4-6-0, 46115 Scots Guardsman suffered inside cylinder damage on Chat Moss. The train limped to Eccles where the locomotive was examined and Glenn Oakley was on hand to take the pic. The stricken locomotive is being observed by some bewildered staff. Better news currently for supporters of the locomotive - the damage to the inside motion will not keep the locomotive out of action for too long.

The 'Help for Heroes' 'Special' on 27th March is still considered a possibility. Scots Guardsman is due to double-head the 'Special' with class 7, 4-6-2, 70013 Oliver Cromwell from Lancaster to York via Manchester Victoria, and return. Times are as follows: Wigan, NW 08.57 - 08.59hrs; Eccles, 09.25-10.10hrs and Manchester Victoria, 10.24-10.29hrs. To check these times refer to the UK Steam Info link to the right of the blog.


The next two pics were both taken at different points at Red Bank. The first is from Dave Harris and features class 86, 86259 Les Ross hauling a rake of chocolate and cream carriages on a Birmingham-Ravenglass run on 3rd May, 2009.





The final pic is from Alan Rigby and shows class 87, 87028 on the tail of southbound Royal Mail class 325, Shieldmuir - Willesden, postal units. The pic was taken at Red bank on 5th June, 2008.