Bidston Dock - Shotton Ore trains

[The Crab]

A very long shot (or two). Any idea when the last O4 working ran - I think I saw one around 1956? Other than O4, 8F and 9F what other engines have turned up on these workings? I seem to remember a Standard 5 (of all things) reported.

 

[Bevan Price]

A very long shot (or two). Any idea when the last O4 working ran - I think I saw one around 1956? Other than O4, 8F and 9F what other engines have turned up on these workings? I seem to remember a Standard 5 (of all things) reported.

The RCTS Hisory of LNER locos (Part 6b) reports that two O4s were seen on one of the Bidston Dock / Shotton iron ore trains in September 1954, soon after the bogie hoppers were introduced, but it was thought to be only a trial. Most of the workings were by Stanier 8F 2-8-0s until the arrival of BR Class 9F 2-10-0s (in 1962). Gorton-based Class O4s worked on other CLC freight services until they were withdrawn (by 1962), and none appear to have ever been allocated to Bidston (6F) shed.

 

[The Crab]

The RCTS Hisory of LNER locos (Part 6b) reports that two O4s were seen on one of the Bidston Dock / Shotton iron ore trains in September 1954, soon after the bogie hoppers were introduced, but it was thought to be only a trial. Most of the workings were by Stanier 8F 2-8-0s until the arrival of BR Class 9F 2-10-0s (in 1962). Gorton-based Class O4s worked on other CLC freight services until they were withdrawn (by 1962), and none appear to have ever been allocated to Bidston (6F) shed.

Thank you for that. However 92045/6/7 arrived at Bidston in 1956. 8Fs were common up to 1965 (I think) but then Birkenhead received a huge influx of 9Fs, many from the GC. Even then 8F still turned up occasionally but I don't recall any in 1967. As an aside, a WD 2-10-0 was allocated to Bidston in late 1959 but, surprisingly, I never saw it despite seeing the ore trains every day.

 

[Taunton]

We regularly visited the Wirral from 1962, always by train, and lived there from 1965. Bidston shed was still open at first, and I never recall any steam loco other than 9Fs on the Summers trains. The 9F turns were later mixed in with the surprising numbers that were indeed sent to Birkenhead towards the end. It was actually an awkward move from that shed to where the ore trains started at Bidston dock, including I think some non-BR trackage threading through the dock estate - certainly the roadside tracks were unfenced.

Despite being modern build the bogie hoppers were unbraked, so the five driven axles of a 9F would be key for braking control on the descent from Heswall Hills down to the steelworks. When dieselised they started with 2 x Class 24, later moving on to Class 47.

 

[Bevan Price]

Thank you for that. However 92045/6/7 arrived at Bidston in 1956. 8Fs were common up to 1965 (I think) but then Birkenhead received a huge influx of 9Fs, many from the GC. Even then 8F still turned up occasionally but I don't recall any in 1967. As an aside, a WD 2-10-0 was allocated to Bidston in late 1959 but, surprisingly, I never saw it despite seeing the ore trains every day.

Thanks for the correction - I forgot about 92045-47; I just spotted the trainsfer of 92165//66/67 in 1962.

 

[The Crab]

We regularly visited the Wirral from 1962, always by train, and lived there from 1965. Bidston shed was still open at first, and I never recall any steam loco other than 9Fs on the Summers trains. The 9F turns were later mixed in with the surprising numbers that were indeed sent to Birkenhead towards the end. It was actually an awkward move from that shed to where the ore trains started at Bidston dock, including I think some non-BR trackage threading through the dock estate - certainly the roadside tracks were unfenced.

Despite being modern build the bogie hoppers were unbraked, so the five driven axles of a 9F would be key for braking control on the descent from Heswall Hills down to the steelworks. When dieselised they started with 2 x Class 24, later moving on to Class 47.

The working through the docks was awkward. One Sunday I noted a 9F set off from Birkenhead shed for a ore working but it returned fairly quickly with a bent footstep. A quick chat with the crew revealed that the 9F had an argument with a car. I imagine that the car came off worse but the arrival of officialdom prevented further enquiries.

 

[gc4946]

92203, now preserved and named Black Prince, worked the last steam-hauled Bidston-Shotton ore train on 6th November 1967 https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/92203-black-prince/

 

[The Crab]

92203, now preserved and named Black Prince, worked the last steam-hauled Bidston-Shotton ore train on 6th November 1967 https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/92203-black-prince/

The last three engines on Birkenhead shed were 92203 cleaned up for the last ore train, 92167, dirty as standby and 44913 which I think was unmovable. I had watched many engines being removed over the weekend (and the previous weekend) but I was still stunned to round the shed front and see just three engines. The withdrawn engines, including about 30 9Fs ended up at Speke Junction (8C) for disposal.