Preston Station : Past & Present
Our sister website carries regular news relating to railways in the Preston area. There is also a regularly updated “Gen” page which lists all known loco-hauled tours and moves through station. Tours which miss the station, but pass Lostock Hall are also listed.

The Waiting Room

Timetable

UKSteam.info

www.uksteam.info is widely regarded as the “bible” for steam-workings throughout the UK.

Meetings held at the BAE Systems Lightning Club in Warton – details of 2012 Programme will be announced in due course

FRIENDS OF HELLIFIELD STATION, PRESENT THE 2011/12 PROGRAMME OF SLIDE AND FILM SHOWS STARTING AT 7.30PM

Friday 7th October 2011.
We welcome back once again Ted Parker from the north east. Ted will present the preserved steam scene of 2010/2011. With supporting videos from around the country.

Friday 4th November 2011
Bob Swallow presents his “Leeds-Settle-Carlisle, folklore and future” vintage recordings, slides and reproduced photographs, that capture the men and women who lived and worked around the railway. The second half tells how the line was reprieved.

Friday 2nd December 2011
A new slide show by Barry Atkinson, depicting the railway photography of Peter Fitton of Lytham, from 1959 to the end of steam. Mainly in the north west. Including Hellifield, S&C, Little North Western and WCML.

Friday 6th January 2012
A digital image presentation by Vic Drake. Featuring the railway photography of Howard Malham, in colour. Howard travels on BR in the 1960s around the regions.

Friday 3rd February 2012
Another slide show by Barry Atkinson. Featuring the steam photography of Alan Heyes, Michael Feather and Tim Parker of Settle. Alans pictures depict the line between Hellifield and Blackburn including the last days of shunting with steam at Clitheroe. While Michael’s pictures show steam in the 1950s in Ireland and the Isle of Man, and Tim shows us the railway around Skipton in the sixties.

Friday 16th March 2012
Once again we welcome back Robin Lush, who will present a digital show out and about with British Railways in the early 1960s. Colour and black and white.

All shows commence at 7-30 pm. At Hellifield Station Café admission £3.50 including tea and biscuits
Further details 01282 842505 (Barry Atkinson) or
07837 919935 (Hellifield Station)

Held at Irwell Vale Village Church, Irwell Vale, Rossendale, off the B6257 Haslingden - Edenfield road, signposted to Irwell Vale (7.00 p.m. for 7.30 p.m. start)

Saturday 12 November 2011: "Steam and Diesel in View" - by Mike Taylor.
Our opening show this season will be a medium format slide show showing steam and diesel in varying conditions of light from 1989 to 2005 featuring steam on the main line, preserved and abroad.

Saturday 10 December 2011: "Monochrome slides from the Peter Fitton collection" - by Barry Atkinson.
Featuring British Railways steam in the period 1959 to 1967 featuring the Settle - Carlisle line, the Little North Western line, Carlisle to Preston and excursions on the Fylde coast between Preston and Blackpool.

Saturday 14 January 2012: "BR Steam – 40 years apart" - by Steve Fort.
Featuring images taken in two decades, the 1960’s & 2000 onwards, covering the decline of steam in the UK through the 1960’s. Some of the same engines are viewed again in more modern times from 2000 onwards as we look at recent views of the preserved scene and main line.

Saturday 11 February 2012: ”Kenneth Oldham’s 16mm steam in 1960’s on DVD” - by Barry Atkinson.
Scenes from Shrewsbury, Carnforth, York, Todmorden, the Southern Region and railtours ‘The Scottish Lowlander’ and ‘Solway Ranger’. The second part continues with scenes at Kings Cross, Perth and early preservation scenes. All from Kenneth Oldham’s original 16mm cine films with his own sound and commentary, professionally remastered into video and now on DVD.

Saturday 10 March 2012: "Cornwall to Cumbria" – by Robin Lush.
A digital monochrome image show showing a personal journey with Robin’s camera through British Railways in the early 1960’s showing scenes we have never seen in Robin’s previous shows.

West Lancashire's Premier Narrow Gauge Steam Railway at Hesketh Bank, Lancashire

The West Lancashire Light Railway

Station Road

Hesketh Bank

Near Preston

Lancashire

PR4 6SS

United Kingdom

Tel: 01772 815881

For recorded information and special events details 'phone: 01772 815881

Details of Autumn 2011 / 2012 Programme will be added when this becomes available

Group Events 2010-2011:

North West Group Meetings are held on Friday at St. Hilda's Clubroom, Slater St., Latchford, Warrington at 19:30 and all are welcome.

Friday 24 September   Lost Stations of St. Helens   Alan Moore

Friday 29 October   Steam Locos in Industry   Barrie Rushton

Friday 26 November   Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway   Noel Coates

Details of Autumn 2011 / 2012 Programme will be added when this becomes available

WINTER 2011 – SPRING  2012 INDOOR MEETINGS PROGRAMME

Wednesday  2nd November 2011
“A 21st Century Miscellany” … by Peter Borkus

Wednesday  7th December 2011
“Some Aspects of Railway Signalling” … by Trevor Moseley

Wednesday  4th January 2012
“L&Y Locos at Work … Part One” … by Paul Shackcloth

Wednesday  1st February
“Just To See a Train” … Steam, diesels & electrics 1989-1999 by Lee Stanford

Wednesday  7th March 2012
“Welsh Narrow-Gauge” … by Phil Taylor

Wednesday  4th April 2012
“Steam in the Sixties” … by Brian Woodward

Wednesday  2nd May 2012
“Preserved Standard-Gauge Steam in Scandinavia” … by John Owen

Wednesday  6th June 2012
Society AGM … followed by Members’ Night - Bring along your own slides, etc.  (Free admission & refreshments)

Meetings are open to members and non-members and are held from 7-30pm on the FIRST WEDNESDAY of each month – September to June – in the BLOSSOMS HOTEL, STOCKPORT, which is situated on the main A6 road approx 1 mile south of Stockport Town Centre at the Wellington Road South, Buxton Road, Bramhall Lane and Higher Hillgate cross-roads.  (Key in SK2 6NU on Sat-Nav.)

Admittance, which includes refreshments, is usually £3.

For further details, including how to apply for free annual membership, contact Membership Secretary, Dave Lockwood, on 01457-76429

The Preston Branch of the Lakeside Railway Society is one of two local groups that meet regularly during the winter months to provide a social focus away from the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. The LRS has its roots in Lancashire in the 1960s. A core of active members still lives in the area around Preston, Blackburn and Chorley. This branch is for them, but all the events are open to all, including non-members.

The talks are held at the Bitter Suite pub on Fylde Road, Preston. All meetings start at 8pm. The Bitter Suite has excellent real ales, and is near the University of Central Lancashire buildings.

Details of Autumn 2011 / 2012 Programme will be added when this becomes available

Slides and digital image showings on Tuesdays from 7-30pm  at: The Red Lion, 9, Ash Brow Newburgh.  On the A5209 between M6 Junction 27 (Standish) and Burscough  (Sat Nav WN8 7NF)

2011  
11th Oct  1st Nov  22nd Nov  13th Dec 
2012
10th Jan  31st Jan  21st Feb  6th Mar  27th Mar  17th Apr  8th May

Meetings with speakers on Thursdays from 7-30pm  at: The Pied Bull Hotel, 54, High Street
Newton-le-Willows. (Sat Nav WA12 9SH)

2011
20th Oct  "Standard Gauge Preservation in Denmark, Norway & Sweden" … by John Owen
17th Nov "Kodachrome Days" … by Alan Hart
15th Dec 2011 "Vulcan Foundry" … by Keith Naylor
2012
19th Jan  "35 years as a Railway Civil Engineer" … by Tony Icke
16th Feb  “A BR Steam Show” … by Mike Taylor
15th Mar  "Pakistan and India" … by Geoff Monks
19th Apr  “SNCF Steam” … by Hugh Ballantyne
17th May  “AGM and Bring Your Own Slides, etc”

See Locomotive Club of Great Britain

(1) Lancashire & North West Branch

Preston Indoor Meetings

2011
24th November   Preston Branch AGM, followed by a members and visitors slide night.
5th January  “British Railways 1970s-2006” … by Graham Roose
A slide show covering a thirty year period from the late 1970s to 2006 with modern traction and main-line steam. 

2012
26th January  “Preston 45 year wander with camera” … by David Walker
A slide show featuring lines the length and breadth of the UK
23rd February  “The development of Railways around Preston” … A digital show by Mike Norris
29th March  “Waterloo to Exeter 1939 to 1993” … slide show by Russell Moorhouse

Preston meetings are held on Thursdays at the Claremont Hotel, Blackpool Road, Preston (Sat Nav PR2 1HY), commencing at 19.30
Car parking facilities are available at the hotel and Preston bus service No. 27 from the city-centre stops close to the hotel.

Both Society members and non-members are very welcome to attend  meetings. A donation of £1.00 members / £2.00 non-members is requested.

(2) Furness, Lakes & Lune Branch

Carnforth Indoor Meetings

2011
4th November  “The British Railways Map” … by Stuart Baker
2nd December  Annual General Meeting, followed by a Quiz on a variety of subjects set by John Broughton.
2012
6th January  “The Lancaster & Carlisle Railway” … by Peter Robinson
3rd February  “Challenges of Timetable Planning” … by David Langton (train diagram planner, TPE)
2nd March  “The Stainmore Line” … by David Tyreman
13th April  “British Transport Police” … by Sgt David Grant
4th May  “East Lancashire Railway” … by David Wright (ELR)

Carnforth meetings are held on Fridays at the County Hotel, Lancaster Road, Carnforth commencing at 19.30  (Sat Nav LA5 9LD)

Both Society members and non-members are very welcome to attend  meeting

MANCHESTER

Meetings held on Saturdays at 1400 in The Friends’ Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS.
Further information from the Meetings Secretary:  Mike Blease, 11 Crescent Rd., Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 9NB. Tel: 0161-928 2461 or by e-mail: blease@mighty-micro.co.uk


November 5                       Mike Crabtree, I.Eng., M.I.E.T.              
The Great Orme Tramway, Llandudno – a History of the Line   
An illustrated talk describing the history of the line and a description of how the line has been rejuvenated to meet the challenges of operating in the 21st century.

December 3         Malcolm Dickin                                   
THE CHAIRMAN’S CHRISTMAS QUIZ      

2012      
January 21           Area A G M followed by: 
Professor Colin Divall
Down the American Road? Industrial Research on the LMS,
1923-1947 
The Big Four are often criticised for an over-reliance on traditional forms of engineering. However by the late 1930s the LMS had developed a sizeable Research Department dealing with a wide range of technical problems. This talk examines the Department's origins and activities, and asks how successful it was

February 18           Bob Barnard                                
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway – Then & Now
From 1898 this well-equipped 2 foot gauge line climbed into the foothills of Exmoor, intitially independent but later under the Southern Railway, until its sudden closure in 1935.  Since 2004, trains have run on a section again.  Bob Barnard, a local L&B enthusiast and North West group organiser, will tell the line's story in pictures old and new.

March 17                Ken Grainger                                               
Rhapsody in Blue – The Great Northern Railway of Ireland
A whistle-stop tour, in colour, of the Great Northern network, mainly by steam but also including not unattractive diesel railcars and delightful half-cab railbuses, as well as the Hill of Howth open-top electric trams and not forgetting the immortal horse-drawn Fintona tram.

SOUTH LAKELAND

Meetings are held on Thursdays (unless otherwise shown) at 7.15 pm for 7.30 pm at the St. John Ambulance Centre, Sandes Avenue, Kendal.  Further information from the Centre Secretary, Eric Bartlett, 4, Empsom Road, Kendal LA9 5PS  Tel: 01539 720706 or e-mail: ericjbartlett@btinternet.com

2011               
November 3         P Thickett               
Episodes from my career on the railway

December 1         D Alison               
Recent railway rambles

2012      
January  5              G Biddle               
Sir William Tite and the Lancaster & Carlisle Railway

February  2               
MEMBERS’ EVENING

March 1                T Heaviside               
On narrow gauge tracks

April 12  A Hart    
Local steam at its peak

May 12 SATURDAY                         
Outdoor visit
_____________________________________

VISITORS WELCOME AT ALL MEETINGS

VISIT THE SLS WEBSITE: www.stephensonloco.org.uk

Informal monthly gatherings of rail, road & maritime enthusiasts

..… in which all are invited to participate

….. and don't forget to bring along any colour-slides that you may have

….. of any subject however remotely connected with transport !

( SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH  FROM 8-00PM )

The Buffet Bar,   Platform 1,   Stalybridge Railway Station

NO ADMISSION CHARGE  …  ALL  ARE WELCOME !

Thursday 27th October
"50 Years of Railways Around the UK and the World" - Gavin Morrison

Thursday 24th November

"Crewe to Carlisle - a 50 year Journey" - Steve Fort

Thursday 8th December
A look at mainline steam excursions in broadcast quality video - PSOV

Thursday 26th January
"A Spotter's Travels in the 60s" - Graham Wrigglesworth

Thursday 23rd February

"Preston and south 1965 - 1968" part 1 - Mike Taylor

Thursday 29th March

"1964 Engine sheds, Railtours and Accidents" - Robin Lush

TIM GRIMSHAW

TEL.  01254 883614

EMAIL:   tgrimshaw2@btinternet.com

Details of Autumn 2011 / 2012 Programme will be added when this becomes available

WINTER LECTURE SERIES 2011-2012

Friday 11th November 2011
LANCASHIRE & YORKSHIRE RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES PART 1 …
Colour-slide presentation by Paul Shackcloth (Photographic Officer, Manchester Loco. Society)

Friday 9th December 2011
CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS ON METROLINK … colour-slide presentation by Tony Williams (Manchester Area Officer, LRTA)

Friday 13th January 2012
STEAM ACROSS JAVA IN 1980 … colour-slide presentation by John Sloane

Friday 10th February 2012
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY LINES IN SOUTH AND MID-WALES … colour-slide presentation by Tony Icke

Friday 9th March 2012
THE RAILWAYS OF THE PEAK DISTRICT … colour-slide presentation by Les Nixon

Friday 13th April 2012
NORTH WEST FILM ARCHIVE EVENING … featuring historic footage of buses, aircraft, trains and trams across the North West

Each lecture is held at Altrincham Methodist Church Hall, Barrington Road, Altrincham, Cheshire,
(Sat Nav WA14 1HF). Car park Springfield Road or short walk from Altrincham Bus/Rail/Metrolink Interchange.

Talks commence at 7.30 p.m.. Refreshments (coffee/tea and biscuits) are provided inclusive of the admission price.

Admission costs £3.00 - Free for AERPS members (Show membership card)

The Society has two full-day meetings each year at venues within Cumbria.

The Spring Meeting incorporates the Association's Annual General Meeting and moves from site to site. It is usually held on the third Saturday in March.

The Autumn Meeting is usually held at the Burnside Hotel, Windermere on the second Saturday in November.
For further details contact The Membership Secretary: Alan Crawford. 95 Harrington Road, Workington, CA14 2UE

Friday 18 November  2011
And Across the Channel (English) Again
Colin Ellis

Friday 27 January 2012
From the Slums to the Sidings
D. Armstrong

Friday 24 February 2012
Group Annual Meeting, followed by Members' Quiz

Societies based in a particular locale, often with regular meetings and get-togethers.

Information on this page has been obtained from the UK Model Shop Directory http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/  Please mention that site when making enquiries.

24A Model Railway Group    

Contact Details: Exhibition Co-ordinator, Mr P Burgess,      01254 386377  

Meeting Venue: Conservative Club, Rishton   

Meeting Day: Wednesday and Thursday   Meeting Times: 7.30pm

Layed-Back Model Railway Society, we have two very large layouts "Marsden" and "Todmorden" we meet every Wednesday and Thursday @ 7:30 at the Conservative Club.

Blackburn and East Lancs Model Railway Society        

Contact Details: Hon. Secretary, Mr J J Baldwin,      

Meeting Venue: Clubrooms, Tontine Street, Blackburn   

Meeting Day: Tuesday and Thursday    

The society meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in our Blackburn town centre clubroom, where we have layouts in N, OO9, 00 and 0 gauges. Membership is open to all and visitors are very welcome, just contact our secretary to make arrangements.  

Bolton & District Model Railway Club          

Contact Details: Webmaster, Mr J Ireland, Bolton   

Meeting Venue: Gilnow Mill, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4SF  

Meeting Day: Tuesdays and Thursdays   Meeting Times: 7:30pm - 10pm

The only model railway club in the Bolton area that caters for modellers of all scales and abilities, holds the annual 'Bolton Model Railway Show' on the 1st weekend of November.  

Heywood Model Railway Group          

Contact Details: Secretary, Roger Bottomley, Rochdale   

Meeting Venue: Champness Hall, Drake Street, Rochdale   

Meeting Day: Monday   Meeting Times: 7pm to 10 pm

Heywood Model Railway Group meets on Monday evenings between 19:00 to 22:00. We model in all scales from N to O. Annual exhibition in March. See website for membership and further details.  

Lancashire & Yorkshire DCC MRG          

Contact Details: Chairman/exhibition Manager, David Warner,      07763347579  

Meeting Venue: Calder Road, Rawtenstall BB4 8HW  

Meeting Day: Wednesday   Meeting Times: 6.30pm till 9.30pm

A model railway group that aims to promote the use of DCC, and helps others get to grips with new equipment.  

Leyland Model Railway Club          

Contact Details: Secretary, Fred W Stableford, 27 Balshaw Road, Leyland, Preston, Lancashire     01772 462687  

Meeting Venue: Knoll Lane, Little Hoole   

Meeting Day: Mondays & Wednesday Nights   Meeting Times: 7.00pm to 10.00pm

We are a small club of about 30 members and we do work in N, OO gauge 1 and other sizes.  

Morecambe and Heysham Model Railway Club          

Contact Details: Treasurer, Mick Brown, Morecambe   

Meeting Venue: The Works (Between 40 and 41), Scholar Green Lane, Morecambe LA4 5QS  

Meeting Day: Tues/Thurs/Sun   Meeting Times: Tues/Thurs 7pm-9.30pm, Sun 1pm-4.30pm

Layouts being built in O, On30, OO and N scales, O-gauge and On30 running now, N very soon! Wide range of interests - pre-grouping (especially L&Y), Big Four (especially LMS and LNER), Modern Image and American. Kitchen, toilet, wheelchair access from street. New members very welcome.  

North Fylde Model Railway Club          

Contact Details: Secretary, Mr.I.Donkin, Tel: 01253 823951  

Meeting Venue: Blackpool   

Local model railway club  

North Turton Gauge 'O' Group          

Contact Details: Web Site Administrator, Mr D Gammack, Edgworth   

Meeting Venue: Barlow Institute, Edgworth   

Meeting Day: Thursday   Meeting Times: 20:00 till 22:00

A small group who meet on Thursday night at the Barlow Institute on the top floor. We have two layouts, a 4 road test track, and a shed layout (Hollowbeck Shed)  

North Western Model Railway Clubs Association          

Contact Details: Chairman, Terry Tracey, 69 Ampleforth Drive, Lostock Hall, Preston, Lancashire   PR5 5TD   

The North Western Model Railway Clubs Association is an association of over 40 clubs in Northern England. It is a very loose area covering North Wales, Staffordshire, Yorkshire and up to the Scottish Border.  

Preston 'O' Gauge Group    

Contact Details: Bob Whitby 01772 687259 rauwhitby@btinternet.com, Dave Taylor 01254 852133 davidgwrtaylor@hotmail.com, Jeff Nicholls 01925 764234 swindon3440@yahoo.co.uk

The Preston O Gauge Group has been in existence for over ten years now, originally being an offshoot of the Preston Model Railway Society. Built as a permanent layout in a large room above a car workshop, a change of venue was enforced in 2003 when the original premises were scheduled for demolition. A new, and much better, home was found in palatial surroundings in what is known as ‘The Old Brewery’ because, presumably, that’s what it once was. There is plenty of space for a good gathering of modellers, an all-important toilet, and a café/refreshment area complete with kettle, microwave and sink.

The clubrooms are open to members on Monday evenings, with a working party also 'in residence' on Wednesdays from about 11 o'clock onwards.

Preston and District Model Railway Society          

Contact Details: Vice President, Mr N Davies,      +44 (0) 1772 727734   www.prestonanddistrictmrs.org.uk

Meeting Venue: Unit 12, Aqueduct Mill, Aqueduct Street, Preston   

Meeting Day: *Wed. **Mon & Fri.   Meeting Times: 1400 -1600* / 1900 -2200**

The Society's aim is to further all aspects of the model railway hobby. Layouts in 00, 009, and N. Annual exhibition each January  

Ramsbottom Model Railway Club          

Contact Details: Member, Danny Jones,      

Meeting Venue: Bury New Road, Ramsbottom, Bury   

Meeting Day: Tuesdays and Thursdays   Meeting Times: 7.30-11pm

Model is based on the 1950s-1960's Ramsbottom BR era. Currently have 7 members but always on the lookout for more.  

West Lancashire O Gauge Group       

Contact Details: Hon Sec, Dennis Morley, 73 Moorside Road, Great Crosby, Crosby, Lancashire   L23 2RT   01519312346  

Meeting Venue: 73 Moorside Road, Great Crosby, Liverpool L23 2RT  

Meeting Day: every Wednesday; most Fridays   Meeting Times: 8 pm

We are now on the top floor of a former primary school which has become St. Monica's social club. We have two layouts, and end-To-End exhibition layout, Dunball wharf, which we will extend and improve and a four-Track test track, which will form the basis of a new layout.

Wigan Finescale Railway Modellers          

Contact Details: Hon Secretary & Exhibition Manager, Stephen Roberts, 114 Cherrycroft, Holland Moor, Skelmersdale, Lancashire     01695726626  

Meeting Venue: Wigan   

Wigan Finescale Railway Modellers are a group of like-minded individuals who enjoy researching a wide variety of railway interests and applying this knowledge in order to create realistic models and layouts. We operate a number of layouts, owned by the club and individual members and built to exhibition standards, principally in 4mm (OO / EM) scales. Layouts are exhibited at model railway exhibitions, not only in the North West but across the country. Additionally we are responsible for organising and staging the long established Annual Wigan Model Railway Exhibition, the largest and best of its kind in the North West, attracting over 4500 visitors each year with quality layouts and excellent trade support.  

Please contact us with any alterations or additions.