Age-old rivalries between "Lanky" and "Wessy" men finally appeared to have been laid to rest, as countless tales were exchanged, some consisting of pretty hair-raising exploits on the footplate that could never previously have been told.

Master-of-Ceremonies for the evening was former 10D fireman, Tom Jones, a role that he otherwise assumes on a regular basis at the Club … even when not crammed full of ex-railwaymen!  A raffle, conducted by Tom and another former 10D fireman and organiser, Paul Tuson, was held during the event, the proceeds of which totalled £210.00 and this was later presented by Ernie Heyes and event organiser, Bob Gregson, to Dr Graham Barkby of the nearby St. Catherine's Hospice, in Lostock Hall.

During the evening, a colour-slide show of steam in the Preston area during the final month of steam was presented by the well-known Fylde steam photographer, Peter Fitton, many of which brought back happy memories.

The event concluded with the inevitable 'group shot' and when the call went out for all ex-Lostock Hall men to assemble by the stage, well over 50 people got up from their seats!

Many of these long-retired men still reside in Lostock Hall, but others, like their fans, had journeyed considerable distances just to be present.  Former 10D fireman, Norm Callaghan, for example, (extreme right) had journeyed all the way from Kalgoorlie, Western Australia (where he was, at the time, a diesel driver working freight trains across the Nullarbor Plain) for the event!  

Front row (second from left) can be seen Ernie Heyes, driver of Black Five No 45318 who worked the last regular steam passenger train on BR, the 21.25 Preston-Liverpool Exchange, on 3rd August 1968.

Immediately behind Ernie can be seen John "Fingers" Fletcher, a fireman active on the final steam specials of 4th August 1968, and who still fires steam locomotives on the main line today, albeit now in the employ of the West Coast Railway Company.

Unfortunately that’s all we have in this section for now, so before you continue on to the next page, please do consider the following.

What you have just been reading is, of course, only a small part of the story of Lostock Hall MPD ….  all of it having been gratefully received from a mere handful of contributors who have so generously assisted us to-date.  

There are obviously many more stories out there just waiting to be told … only these haven’t as yet been passed on to us!  Therefore, in order to start filling-in many missing pieces in this, still very incomplete, jigsaw, please do now consider making a contribution of your own.

Items of information and scanned photographs would be most welcomed. Alternatively, you might wish to share your footplate experiences by meeting up for a pint and a natter in the pub, or, failing that, through merely participating in our “Discussion Forum” (as many already have done). Regardless of how you make contact and irrespective of whatever manner you feel you may be able to assist, please DO get in touch!

NOTE: All information contained within these pages is original material - prepared specifically for the Lostock Hall MPD Website (www.LostockHallMPD.org.uk) and which remains strictly the express COPYRIGHT of the website administrators. Likewise, all photographs used remain the COPYRIGHT of the photographers identified. No item must be reproduced, or quoted from (in whole or even in part), in the absence of express prior permission being granted.  (Please refer to the “Get In Touch” page in order to obtain the contact addresses of the administrative team.)