Time Capsules
B1 class steam locomotive at Preston station
Photo of B1 class Steam Locomotive 61115 under power alongside a platform at Preston Railway Station, Lancashire, England.
Preston is a major railway station on the West Coast Main Line with well over 3 million passengers using it every year. It currently has 8 platforms and still has a lot of its Victorian grandeur.
The 4-6-0 steam loc 61115 was designed by Edward Thompson and was built in 1947 by North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow. The B1 class spanned 410 locomotives of which two seemed to have survived.
However, the 61115 was not so lucky. It was withdrawn from service and disposed of in 1967.
Photo © The Step Back Through Time Collection
Picture added on 08 November 2008
This picture is in the following groups
Step back through Time, trains and stations
Step back through Time, trains and stations
The survivors are 61264 and 61306, the latter carrying the name "Mayflower" which it never had in service, being instead carried by the now scrapped 61379.
Added by Peter John Langsdale on 08 November 2008
Preston, a main station on the West Coast Main Line, seems an unusual location for a B1, a London & North Eastern Railway locomotive. However, the headboard, 1X36, suggests that this is a special and the carriages beyond the leading British Rail-built example appear to be of LNER origin. Also, might this shot date from 1960 rather than 1950: the platform lighting on the tall concrete pole on the right looks a little modern for 1950
Added by Martin Bodman on 22 December 2009
Preston. There was another aspect to this impressive site. Until 1968 what had been Lancashire & Yorkshire rails to Blackburn existed to the east of the main station - see this shot taken in 1959 by Ben Brooksbank: www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2039787
Added by Martin Bodman on 08 September 2010
The leading coach is a BR Mark 1 so the photo has to be late 50s at the earliest
Added by David prescott on 07 November 2011
61115 was withdrawn from Wakefield (25A) in 1967. But I think it has a different shed code on the smokebox
Added by Martin Bodman on 07 November 2011
Might I suggest that the train is a summer special, returning holidaymakers from Blackpool to the West Riding on a Saturday.
Martin, Wakefield was code 56A by 1967, and I think I can just make out a "6" in what would be the correct place. Perhaps Marcel can see more clearly on the original.
Martin, Wakefield was code 56A by 1967, and I think I can just make out a "6" in what would be the correct place. Perhaps Marcel can see more clearly on the original.
Added by Mike Caird on 07 November 2011
Sorry Mike, my this batch of pics (posted 3 years ago) is in storage at the moment, about 300 miles away :(
Added by Marcel Gommers on 07 November 2011
I reckon you are right about a returning special Mike, but may I suggest a Sunday morning? The station looks pretty deserted.
Added by Bill Brown on 08 November 2011
Eerily so, Bill.
The time on the station clock appears to be either 20 to 12 or 5 to 8. Given the lack of obvious sideways shadows from the loco and platforms, despite the brightness, I would say that 20 to 12 is more likely. There does appear to be a slight shadow in front of the loco. In that case, it could be travelling northwards, towards the coast from the West Riding. My (lack of) knowledge of the topography of Preston station precludes me from making a decision. Has anyone elso got any thoughts please?
The time on the station clock appears to be either 20 to 12 or 5 to 8. Given the lack of obvious sideways shadows from the loco and platforms, despite the brightness, I would say that 20 to 12 is more likely. There does appear to be a slight shadow in front of the loco. In that case, it could be travelling northwards, towards the coast from the West Riding. My (lack of) knowledge of the topography of Preston station precludes me from making a decision. Has anyone elso got any thoughts please?
Added by Mike Caird on 08 November 2011
Yes,Mike it would be heading North going by the sunlight. As the Main platforms seem to be to the right I would say your guess is correct and Blackpool or Morcambe a likely destination. I would say the time is 10.40 or 20 to eleven. Seems a funny day to be heading to the coast though!
Added by Bill Brown on 09 November 2011
England
