Route to/from Blackpool North

[jackharrison707]

My appologies if I missed any relevent discussion or news on this topic, but can anyone tell me if there are plans to create the line between Blackpool North (& South), and Preston. (Possibly even including the old Wyre Dock branch to Fleetwood. Given the importance of this line for various historical and other reasons, I feel it would be a great project to undertake and would be popular, again for various reasons, to a range of player's interests.
Many may know of the historical use of Fleetwood, as part of the original London to Glasgow route. And the old connection between London Euston and the Nth Euston Hotel in Fleetwood; and the use of a steamer to Ardrossen to complete the original route.

I was a Relief Signalman on that area between 1978-1988, and I worked all of the Signalboxes and crossings, from Blackpool No 1, to Weeton. (There was more mice there than Signalmen and water had to come from the nearby churchyard, or dropped off by passing Locos). LOL.
My Rosters included the Wyre an Blackpool Sth branches.

I would be more than willing to share my knowlwdge and experience in producing such a Route Product. Finally- I kept a personal record of Locomotives that passed whichever Signalbox that I worked each day, especially between 1980 to 82. I can well remember recording the dear old 40-145 which I hanled many times. I have many unusual yet true stories about those years and have often thought of writing a book.
Some Saturday nights, I never knew what time I woul get away, because of the large number of Illuminations Specials, and related light engines.
PLEASE- can someone help with this subject?

Jack D. Harrison.

[jackharrison707]

PS_ Whilst working Poulton No 3 Box, I was visited by various train crew and others, to watch the weekday Target Shunt 6L79. They told me they came to watch, as it was "...an interesting shunt"; usually made up of Caustic Soda tanks and coal for Blackpool Nth. As well as the regular Oil, parafine Wax, and Chlorine trains.
Jack.

[LtBligh]

Hi there! Yes there is a route in development including the Blackpool-Preston also Preston-Blackburn via Lostock Hall http://www.trainsimdev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=367&hilit=blackpool+preston The builder is a tram driver at Blackpool. I'm sure he would appreciate you getting intouch with him.

[jackharrison707]

Sorry it's late but thanks mate. I did follow it up. His project look fantastic. and very accurate - as I remember it.

[Dodgydruid]

My old dad was a SR relief man until E grade and they nailed him down to Wimbledon A, then F grade to London Bridge, he loved relief work and occasionally he would still do it from Wimbledon to boxes he was still passed out on like Effingham Jnc, Guildford, Reading, after being forced to take early retirement he became Swanage's top paid signally bloke there and worked until they connected back to Wareham then ill health, mainly emphysaemia from coal smoke made him finally give in and he passed on last year.

Are you a tea drinker like most the chaps I knew in the business? At London Bridge they had a tea lady during the day and evening who literally wandered round the two panels with a tea urn etc on a trolley and by the time she'd finished on the central panel she would have to start afresh on the SE panel and the average tea drunk was like 22 cups an hour or more O.o

[jackharrison707]

Hey and thanks very much for that, Very interesting about your Dad. One of my uncles ended up as Assistant Stn Manager at Manchester Picc/li, another was also a Signalman, whilst a third was a Guard.. Were there other Railwaymen or women in your family?
As for tea- I have to say I can't stand the stuff. But I AM a coffee bean, Instead of giving blood samples, the GP just connects me to their coffee machine hehehe. I usually drank it black and like engine oil - I still do.
Jack

[Dodgydruid]

Had 2 drivers and a guard in the family but me dad was the only sniggleman, he did start off on the footplate but changed to box boy as there was a surplus of drivers apparently at the time and he didn't fancy firemanning for ever as the juniors went on the steam and the higher grades got the posh new electrics and diesels.

Coffee eh? I remember my dads old work bag, in it was an old tin mug tannine plated brown on the inside, a can of Marvel instant milk and a tin full of BR issued teabags and his lookoutman's detonators, flags, torch etc, got into a lot of trouble with nicking one of the dets as me and my brother stuck it armed under a neighbours tyre and it blew the thing off when he reversed out his drive O.o We were going to slip it under a Routemaster tyre and just as well we didn't as kids we thought they were like loud caps and not the mini bombs they really were ^^ Needless to say our botties were as red as his stop flag :(

Miss the old sod tho, had little time for much in life but railways... he knew so much about 'em.

[jackharrison707]

LOL thanks Dodgy. The older guys used to stick one in the signalbox chimney or fireplace to clear the soot I believe. And yes my coffee mug was like that too. My favourite one still is now. I forgot my milk one day and just carried on with black ever more. The most important job on early turn was to put cooker on for a big cooked breakfast. Otherwise [some days] the nearest I got to eat was a butty in one hand and the Block Instrumant or leaver in the other. ;o) Jack.

[Dodgydruid]

Blimey, posh signal boxes with cookers? Most of his ones were kettle and lead and electric heaters but he always had a little primus set for the winter months or if the leccy went down as can't interrupt the flow of hot drinks ^^

Got to admit BR were pretty good in them days, when he drew the short straw to take London Bridge on Xmas BR not only arranged a hotel to cook and deliver us a Xmas dinner but gave us all pressies and probably the only time any booze was seen in a box but he couldn't drink it, his mate Johnny Woods over at Victoria didn't get as much as that on the same day, just some pre-cooked dinner that had to be heated on the microwave and a box of chocs for his missus :) (Gatwick Express was running on Xmas day probably explains it whilst LB was totally shut down apart from the "big earner" engineering train or two which was paying like eight times daily, nicknamed Santa's tool wagons if memory serves me right.

Haven't been to Blackpool myself since they cut the Euston link some years back, used my PT to go here and there and liked Blackpool, it was all so different with the DMU's almost everywhere and the trams were fun too. Went all the way to Oban and Wick/Thurso on the old PT £1 kids ticket trainspotting when I was an older teenager, down to Cornish ends of lines and all over Wales too.

[Railhead]

I would very much like to see the route to Blackpool North. It could be part of a wider local lines of the North West, to include Manchester to Blackpool North, the branch to Blackpool South , Preston to Blackburn and Blackburn to Manchester, and possibly Manchester to Southport as well. Although it sounds a lot, the route would be no longer than many already available.

[jackharrison707]

Thanks Dodgy. It's certainly interesting how Railwayman and women were treated over the years. From Taff Vale Dispute when a Guar was ordered to work 24 hrs with a trainee to keep him awake. When he complained, Management said he can surrender his uniform an clear off.

The Unions did a LOT of good aside from isolated stories in hostile Press. I think my period 1978-1988, seem to be a Golden Age sort of. Then into the 90s things slipped again. I once had two bosses in my box at Pouton-le-Fylde, arguing hotly over points of the Rule Book- really. I held the phone so the other Boxes could hear and the other Signalman shouted throw tham out.
I said naw they're entertainment in a quiet period. LOL. Nother Boss once called me a RED whilst I was on duty. because I woke him up at the other end of an Engineers Possession.

He never did it again, nor was I disciplined at all. Management were becoming very Political in some areas.

Breturning to pure Railway matters, I loved every minute on the Railway and some things happened which no writer could imagine. Again, I often thought of writing a book.

[jackharrison707]

Hi Railhead, and how are you?
Yes it WOULD be really great to see. I have been made aware this week that someone is working on such a project. fantastic news. I wish he could include the Fleetwood branch, because although it was small, it had a wide range of Freight traffic up and down to the old ICI works. (See me original Post), and an unusual shunt too. There were times during the week, when I have had six seperate trains in my hands.
Two each side on the Main line;
One in the carriage siding also used for mixed freight waiting;
And one going to/from the Wyre Branch.

On the other hand, Saturdays during the Illuminations season were busy with lots of additional Ex's, and their related Locos nipping to Springs Branch nr Wigan for fuel; and of course then returning for their return workings. And this brought lots of rare visitors from unusual places.

During this period, I kept the personal record of Locos as they passed whichever Box I worked.
Included were their Depots and names etc. A Historical record for Loco and other enthusiasts. And me. 40-145 (As in TS), passed through my hands often.

Sorry mate I'm ranting LOL
Jack.

[akunst]

Hi, is there any news about this route? I saw Tomhas2 has been working on it since 2014, but can't see if he finished it or whether it's still work in progress. grateful for any info!

[IC125]

Originally posted by akunst:

Hi, is there any news about this route? I saw Tomhas2 has been working on it since 2014, but can't see if he finished it or whether it's still work in progress. grateful for any info!

https://www.vulcanproductions.co.uk/northern-lines-blackpool---preston.html
There are a lot of requirements!
Here are some nice freeware Blackpool trams:
http://www.uktrainsim.com/filelib-directory.php?form_start=0&form_hide=on&form_country=998&form_sim=12&form_path=ty=29,cls=1207

[michellescales28]

Originally posted by jackharrison707:

My appologies if I missed any relevent discussion or news on this topic, but can anyone tell me if there are plans to create the line between Blackpool North (& South), and Preston. (Possibly even including the old Wyre Dock branch to Fleetwood. Given the importance of this line for various historical and other reasons, I feel it would be a great project to undertake and would be popular, again for various reasons, to a range of player's interests.
Many may know of the historical use of Fleetwood, as part of the original London to Glasgow route. And the old connection between London Euston and the Nth Euston Hotel in Fleetwood; and the use of a steamer to Ardrossen to complete the original route.

I was a Relief Signalman on that area between 1978-1988, and I worked all of the Signalboxes and crossings, from Blackpool No 1, to Weeton. (There was more mice there than Signalmen and water had to come from the nearby churchyard, or dropped off by passing Locos). LOL.
My Rosters included the Wyre an Blackpool Sth branches.

I would be more than willing to share my knowlwdge and experience in producing such a Route Product. Finally- I kept a personal record of Locomotives that passed whichever Signalbox that I worked each day, especially between 1980 to 82. I can well remember recording the dear old 40-145 which I hanled many times. I have many unusual yet true stories about those years and have often thought of writing a book.
Some Saturday nights, I never knew what time I woul get away, because of the large number of Illuminations Specials, and related light engines.
PLEASE- can someone help with this subject?

Jack D. Harrison.

[michellescales28]

Originally posted by jackharrison707:

My appologies if I missed any relevent discussion or news on this topic, but can anyone tell me if there are plans to create the line between Blackpool North (& South), and Preston. (Possibly even including the old Wyre Dock branch to Fleetwood. Given the importance of this line for various historical and other reasons, I feel it would be a great project to undertake and would be popular, again for various reasons, to a range of player's interests.
Many may know of the historical use of Fleetwood, as part of the original London to Glasgow route. And the old connection between London Euston and the Nth Euston Hotel in Fleetwood; and the use of a steamer to Ardrossen to complete the original route.

I was a Relief Signalman on that area between 1978-1988, and I worked all of the Signalboxes and crossings, from Blackpool No 1, to Weeton. (There was more mice there than Signalmen and water had to come from the nearby churchyard, or dropped off by passing Locos). LOL.
My Rosters included the Wyre an Blackpool Sth branches.

I would be more than willing to share my knowlwdge and experience in producing such a Route Product. Finally- I kept a personal record of Locomotives that passed whichever Signalbox that I worked each day, especially between 1980 to 82. I can well remember recording the dear old 40-145 which I hanled many times. I have many unusual yet true stories about those years and have often thought of writing a book.
Some Saturday nights, I never knew what time I woul get away, because of the large number of Illuminations Specials, and related light engines.
PLEASE- can someone help with this subject?

Jack D. Harrison.