Excursions From Closed Stations

[Andy873]

The problem is that the NE would be trying to fill all the seats in order to maximise the amount of money it gets in its

Thanks, I wasn't aware each region was trying to balance the books like that - you learn something everyday.

If you can get hold of a copy of "The Railways of Colne, Lancashire" by Stuart Taylor (Foxline Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1870119355)

Thanks also, I will have a look to see if I can find these books for sale somewhere, they would make good reading for me.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

If you can get hold of a copy of "The Railways of Colne, Lancashire" by Stuart Taylor (Foxline Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1870119355), it will give you a huge amount of information about the operation of such excursions, as well as lots of photographs.

Also by Stuart Taylor - in the same series - are "Journeys by Excursion Train from East Lancashire - Part 1: Colne, Nelson, Burnley, Accrington and Blackburn to Blackpool and Fleetwood via Poulton", which I believe includes the Great Harwood Loop and "Journeys by Excursion Train from East Lancashire - Part 2: Southport via the West Lancashire Line and Morecambe via Preston and Lancaster"....both of which are essential reading if you are interested in this subject.

Thanks also, I will have a look to see if I can find these books for sale somewhere, they would make good reading for me.

Still seem to still be readily available. Quite a few in the series, it would seem. (Four?) Try www.bookfinder.com

 

[Gloster]

Thanks, I wasn't aware each region was trying to balance the books like that - you learn something everyday.

Accounting was still very much on a regional basis. It would be possible for the NE to send the LM a bill related to the costs of providing the coaches, but there would be all sorts of difficulties.

There would also be the old ‘not made here’ attitude. There was still the attitude that the LM had the sole right to organise special trains on its territory and they didn’t want ‘furriners’ moving in on it. It would also add to the complexity of organising things: almost all communications would have to be done via the two regional HQ.

 

[Rover]

An interesting piece by Peter Hall here about excursions from Bolsover Castle station which closed to passengers in 1930.

 

[Magdalia]

Accounting was still very much on a regional basis. It would be possible for the NE to send the LM a bill related to the costs of providing the coaches, but there would be all sorts of difficulties.

There would also be the old ‘not made here’ attitude. There was still the attitude that the LM had the sole right to organise special trains on its territory and they didn’t want ‘furriners’ moving in on it. It would also add to the complexity of organising things: almost all communications would have to be done via the two regional HQ.

Until the British Transport Commission was abolished in 1962, the regions were very independent.

I'd expect that any excursions on your branch, if not starting there, would be starting nearby at, for example, Burnley or Colne.

 

[Andy873]

Until the British Transport Commission was abolished in 1962, the regions were very independent.

I guess that's some sort of hang over from the big four days, but if the regions mainly "looked after themselves" then that's the way it was.

I have all three books but, after a couple of house moves, they're stuck in a box somewhere

If you are ever able to find part 1 at some point please let me know.

Still seem to still be readily available. Quite a few in the series, it would seem. (Four?) Try www.bookfinder.com

Thanks for that, there are some still around, as I've said, I may buy a copy but can't just right now.

Grassington and Threshfield station in Yorkshire was used for excursion trains for decades after being closed to regular passenger traffic in 1930 - the last excursion ran in 1969! See http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/g/grassington_threshfield/index.shtml for the details.

From another related topic, John posted the above link. In it you can see posters for excursions to Grassington mentioning where to obtain tickets from i.e. certain open stations and railway ticket agents - that's how you got your ticket.

I'd expect that any excursions on your branch, if not starting there, would be starting nearby at, for example, Burnley or Colne.

It certainly looks that way now from what you've all told me and any excursion trains using the old loop line (from other regions) simply passed by rather than stopping.

I also found railway ticket agents circulars on eBay.

BR seemed to have produced a blizzard of paper!

Thanks,
Andy.

 

[Gloster]

BR seemed to have produced a blizzard of paper!

How else was the news going to get out? There was no internet or the various messaging services, and effectively no local TV or radio. Other than the cinema (which might not be very effective in this are) or the local paper, you just had flyers, handbills and posters to sell your offers. Other than that it was word of mouth, but that has to be started off somehow.

 

[Andy873]

How else was the news going to get out? There was no internet or the various messaging services, and effectively no local TV or radio. Other than the cinema (which might not be very effective in this are) or the local paper, you just had flyers, handbills and posters to sell your offers. Other than that it was word of mouth, but that has to be started off somehow.

I quite agree!

Luckily for us, this is the era before computers and the Internet took off. If all these had been digital at the time I wonder just how little of it would have survived until now.

The legacy is we have things we can actually look at and research and glimpse into the past.

Thanks,
Andy.

 

[D6130]

Ramblers' excursions to Grassington & Threshfield have been mentioned above. In another part of the Yorkshire Dales a similar situation existed with the ex-NER Harrogate-Pateley Bridge branch in Nidderdale. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1951, but the branch continued to host DMU-operated ramblers' specials until final closure to goods traffic in 1964. As a seven year-old girl, my wife clearly remembers being taken to Hampsthwaite station from the village school to see the 'last' train pass through - a railtour hauled by Holbeck Fowler class 4MT 2-6-4T no. 42419 on a Saturday....although I believe there was a final DMU ramblers' special from Leeds the following day. However, both Grassington and Pateley Bridge were both cases of excursion destinations, rather than starting points.

 

[Irascible]

I quite agree!

Luckily for us, this is the era before computers and the Internet took off. If all these had been digital at the time I wonder just how little of it would have survived until now.

The legacy is we have things we can actually look at and research and glimpse into the past.

Thanks,
Andy.

Sadly, paperwork has a habit of disappearing - I'd say nowadays there's *more* chance of records surviving - how much have we lost to fires/floods over the years?

 

[sluf]

I seem to remember hearing the old Preston Fishergate station was pressed into service for a couple of times to handle preston guild excursions (every 20 years). Think it was on a line from Southport and it was situated halfway down the hill between the present station and the river Ribble.

 

[Western 52]

Aberdare and Mountain Ash stations were used for excursions following closure of the original stations about 1964. I think there were some rugby trains from them. There may have been some other excursions too.

 

[Matey]

Did not excursions operate from Torrington and possibly Bideford stations until freight closure?

Also wasn't Okehampton also used for the odd outbound excursion until it was officially reopened last November?

The last three excursions from Okehampton were ticketed online. They were organised by OkeRail. GwR provided an excellent service with these trains and on two of them included a Pullman dining car.

 

[rototunablack5]

Most of the excursions from the East Lancashire mill towns would have been either day trips to the seaside - usually on Sundays, when the mills would have been closed - or one-way reliefs at the beginning and end of the appropriate town's 'Wakes Week'.

If you can get hold of a copy of "The Railways of Colne, Lancashire" by Stuart Taylor (Foxline Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1870119355), it will give you a huge amount of information about the operation of such excursions, as well as lots of photographs. Also by Stuart Taylor - in the same series - are "Journeys by Excursion Train from East Lancashire - Part 1: Colne, Nelson, Burnley, Accrington and Blackburn to Blackpool and Fleetwood via Poulton", which I believe includes the Great Harwood Loop and "Journeys by Excursion Train from East Lancashire - Part 2: Southport via the West Lancashire Line and Morecambe via Preston and Lancaster"....both of which are essential reading if you are interested in this subject. I have all three books but, after a couple of house moves, they're stuck in a box somewhere and I can't place my hands on them at the moment. They should be available from Amazon or on E-Bay though.

The book “Railways of Colne” is definitely worth picking up if you can. Lots of info about excursions from Colne and NE Lancs to the Lancashire seaside resorts, North Wales, Bournemouth via the S&D and Saltburn

 

[Grumpy]

Went on a day excursion from Morley Top to Skegness. Was around 1969 approx 8 years after closure.
This was a special train organised for Church St. working men's club annual outing. I recall it being hauled by a Brush type 4

 

[Magdalia]

The book “Railways of Colne” is definitely worth picking up if you can. Lots of info about excursions from Colne and NE Lancs to the Lancashire seaside resorts, North Wales, Bournemouth via the S&D and Saltburn

Lancashire, North Wales and Saltburn could all be day excursions. But Bournemouth would be Wakes Week holiday reliefs not day trips. I'm aware of these running between Bournemouth and Accrington, after the summer Saturday traffic was moved off the S+D at the end of the 1962 summer, but I don't know which route they took north of Oxford.

One oddity from this period was a 23xx Manchester Victoria-Yarmouth on summer Friday nights. On the face of it Victoria would appear to be the wrong Manchester starting station, but what happened in practice was that the train started from a different town north of Manchester each week, depending on the Wakes Weeks calendar. I can't remember if it ever started from Accrington.

 

[Andy873]

One oddity from this period was a 23xx Manchester Victoria-Yarmouth on summer Friday nights. On the face of it Victoria would appear to be the wrong Manchester starting station, but what happened in practice was that the train started from a different town north of Manchester each week, depending on the Wakes Weeks calendar. I can't remember if it ever started from Accrington.

I'm sure you're correct on this, although it probably would have been for the more affluent people of East Lancashire, most could only afford to go to places like Blackpool.

Manchester Victoria was well connected with East Lancashire with two lines, one to Blackburn via Bolton, the other Accrington via Bury. So yes very possible.

Lancashire, North Wales and Saltburn could all be day excursions. But Bournemouth would be Wakes Week holiday reliefs not day trips. I'm aware of these running between Bournemouth and Accrington, after the summer Saturday traffic was moved off the S+D at the end of the 1962 summer, but I don't know which route they took north of Oxford.

As for the route North of Oxford, I simply don't know.

 

[D6130]

Manchester Victoria was well connected with East Lancashire with two lines, one to Blackburn via Bolton, the other Accrington via Bury. So yes very possible.

Effectively three routes if you count Manchester to Burnley via Todmorden.

 

[DanNCL]

Charters continued to visit Consett, often with the opportunity to board and alight there, into the 1980s. The station closed in 1955.

 

[D6130]

Charters continued to visit Consett, often with the opportunity to board and alight there, into the 1980s. The station closed in 1955.

....and also Redmire and Stanhope, IIRC. Consett closed completely in 1980.

 

[Andy873]

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who have participated on this topic.
You've certainly answered all my initial questions and thanks again for all the book ideas.

Please feel free to carry on if there's something you might want to add!

Thanks,
Andy.