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30th August 1979
A Class 108 two-car DMU with DMBS M50944 leading, accelerates away from Midge Hall with an Ormskirk to Preston service on August 30th 1979. The brick structure visible to the right of the DMU is the gable-end of the former Goods Shed at the long-closed Midge Hall station. The station closed in 1960 and there have been long-running campaigns to have the station re-opened as the Western fringe of a developed Leyland has almost reached this location. In 1979 the former Up Line along here was still in use, single track commencing just South of the level crossing seen in the far-distance, where a VW Camper is passing over the line. Martyn Hilbert.
20th May 1983
Former Manchester/Blackpool 'White Line' Class 104, minus its centre trailer car with Motor Brake Second M53475 leading, passes Cocker Bar Farm as it runs between Midge Hall and Croston with a Preston to Ormskirk service on May 20th 1983. The Midge Hall distant signal for Northbound services is located adjacent to the farm access bridge. Martyn Hilbert.
29th October 1983
With the former Goods Shed as a backdrop, A 2-Car Class 108 with Motor Brake Second M53964 leading, passes through the disused platforms of Midge Hall station whilst working a Preston to Ormskirk service on October 29th 1983. The former Up line from Farington Curve Junction on the West Coast Main Line had been taken out of use earlier in 1983. In the immediate foreground is the site of the original signal box, replaced in 1972 with a BR Type 15 structure on the Ormskirk side of the level crossing. Martyn Hilbert.
16th March 1985
A two-car Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53478 & M53530 was passing through snowy West Lancashire farmland, passing Narrow Lane Crossing at Midge Hall with a Preston to Ormskirk service on March 16th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.
27th May 1985
On a dull, overcast Bank Holiday Monday May 27th 1985, Swindon Cross Country Class 120 M51580 leads an Ormskirk to Windermere excursion through Midge Hall. The working was formed of a 3-Car Class 120 and a 2-Car Class 108. The disused platforms of Midge Hall Station, closed in October 1961 are clearly visible. When the Ormskirk line was rationalised in 1970, double track was retained from Farington Curve Junction on the WCML to Midge Hall. The former up line needed renewal by the early 1980s and was taken out of use in 1983. As a consequence, Signal MH14 at Midge Hall was relocated from the end of the old Up platform onto the middle of what had been the Up line. Martyn Hilbert.
29th May 1985
Complete with its West Yorkshire PTE Metrotrain branding, a 2-Car Class 111/101 Met-Camm formed of E53136 & E54076 was working a tea-time out and back Preston to Ormskirk service on May 29th 1985, accelerating away from the single line token exchange at Midge Hall. The unit had worked a Preston to Leeds service and was utilised on the Ormskirk line as a fill-in turn before working back across the Pennines. This was the period when three different DMU sets appeared on Ormskirk services in the early evening in the days when the passing loop at Rufford was utilised to give an intensive service. Martyn Hilbert.
30th May 1985
A Class 108 Derby Lightweight 2-Car DMU with M51909 leading, has just passed over the level crossing at Midge Hall with the 11.39 Preston to Ormskirk service on May 30th 1985. The end of the disused former Up line out of use since 1983 is visible on the right. The pointwork had been removed and plain track inserted in its place. Following rationalisation of the route in 1970, double track was retained from Farington Curve Junction to Midge Hall. Martyn Hilbert.
25th June 1985
Weary commuters are carried home on the 17.19 Preston to Ormskirk service, formed of a 2-Car Class 104, with MBS M53482 leading on June 25th 1985. It has just passed Midge Hall and the driver will have collected the single line token for the section to Rufford. During this period the former main line saw three different DMU sets working evening peak-time services along the line, in the days when the passing loop was fully utilised at Rufford. This vehicle met its demise following a serious collision with Class 47 47111 at Preston on January 18th 1986 while returning from Carlisle to Accrington with a football special, when brake failure caused the unit to run through a red signal and into the path of the 47 was stood at the South side of Preston Station. The 47 was subsequently scrapped, whilst the badly damaged M53482 was taken to Dock Street Sidings at Preston. The DMU car spent a considerable time there, sheeted over, before it was scrapped on site. Martyn Hilbert.
25th June 1985
Passing the only semaphore signal remaining in the Preston area, a Class 101 Metro-Cammell 2-Car DMU with Driving Trailer M54348 leading, has just passed Midge Hall with a Preston to Ormskirk service on the evening of June 25th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.
4th July 1985
Having just collected the single line token from the signal box at Midge Hall, a 2-Car Class 110 Calder Valley DMU with car 51835 leading, accelerates past the only remaining semaphore signal in the Preston area with a tea-time Preston to Ormskirk service on July 4th 1985. This particular working was a fill-in turn for a unit that had worked over the Pennines from Leeds to Preston, and brought an Eastern Region DMU set for one return trip over the Ormskirk line before heading back to Yorkshire. Martyn Hilbert.
23rd July 1985
Getting ready to collect the single line token, a Class 108 'Derby Lightweight' two-car DMU formed of cars M51901 & M52059 was approaching Midge Hall with a Preston to Ormskirk service on July 23rd 1985. The unit is passing through the abandoned Down platform of Midge Hall station that closed in October 1961. To the right of the 108 is the disused former Up line that was kept in-situ from Farington Curve Junction on the WCML until August 1983, when renewal was necessary and the cost of replacement could not be justified on this former main line. Until the 1980's, Midge Hall and its level crossing was in a rural location, but the expansion of the town Leyland at its Western extremity is seeing new housing being built nearby, and would be a perfect opportunity to reopen Midge Hall station again. An image recorded from the level crossing. Martyn Hilbert.
23rd July 1985
Having just collected the single line token (the hoop & pouch visible in the cab window), Class 108 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M51941 was accelerating away from Midge Hall with a Preston to Ormskirk service on July 23rd 1985. The home signal that protects the level crossing in the Down direction, is the last remaining semaphore in the Preston area. Until 1983, the section between Farington Curve Junction on the WCML and Midge Hall was double track, and the pointwork where the former Up line became single track is located between the two cars of the unit. Martyn Hilbert.
25th July 1985
Having handed over the single-line token the signalman returns to the box at Midge Hall, as Class 108 M51901 accelerates onwards with the 13.09 Preston to Ormskirk service on July 25th 1985. To the right is the severed former up line, taken out of use between Midge Hall and Farington Curve Junction in 1983. Martyn Hilbert.
3rd September 1985
A Class 104 three-car DMU, with Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M53464 leading, was passing Narrow Lane Crossing at Midge Hall with a Preston to Ormskirk service on September 3rd 1985. A blue/grey centre trailer car (TSL) had been added to the set. Martyn Hilbert.
11th September 1985
In hazy evening sunlight, a BRCW two-car Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53518 & M53448 was passing the orchard at Narrow Lane Crossing, just to the West of Midge Hall whilst working a Preston to Ormskirk service on September 11th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.
17th September 1985
A two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU approaching Midge Hall with the 11.39 Preston to Ormskirk service on September 17th 1985. The disused former Up line is visible to the right of the 104. Taken out of use in 1983, the track remained in-situ for many years. The signal protecting the level crossing at Midge Hall had been removed from the overgrown Up platform, and 'planted' in the formation of the disused track. The former goods warehouse dominates the scene here, at what is still a rural location. The station at Midge Hall was closed in 1961. Martyn Hilbert.
17th September 1985
A leaning power line mast, as a BRCW 2-Car DMU formed of cars M53499 & M53470 was passing Globe Mill whilst accelerating away from the token exchange at Midge Hall with a Preston to Ormskirk service on September 17th 1985. The home signal (MH 2) in the Down direction at Midge Hall, was (and still is) the only surviving working semaphore on the national network in the Preston area. Martyn Hilbert.
17th September 1985
A two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53494 & M53468 was passing the orchard trees, as it approached Narrow Lane farm crossing with a Preston to Ormskirk service on September 17th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.
29th September 1985
A two-car Class 101/108 DMU with Driving Trailer Second Lavatory (DTSL) M54052 leading, presumably with 51910, was accelerating away from the single line token exchange at Midge Hall, whilst working a Preston to Ormskirk service on September 29th 1985. The home signal on the Down Line, controlled from the 'box at Midge Hall, is the only semaphore still extant in the Preston area. Martyn Hilbert.
26th November 1985
With Globe Mill at Midge Hall dominating the background, A two-car Derby built Class 108 DMU formed of cars 54273 & 53940 had returned to its old stamping ground as it approached Narrow Lane occupation crossing (Midge Hall), whilst working a Preston to Ormskirk service on November 26th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.
Page 1 of 2, displaying 1-20 of 29 images › »