Gallery 7

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Updated 18/03/2008

Webmaster: Nigel Kirby

Excursions

Freight

Special Traffic

On the Ribble Valley Line

Virgin Diversions

Unusual Vehicles

An immaculately clean Duchess of Sutherland, No.6233, arrives at Blackburn on 29th June 2003,

Photo: C. Carr

45407, heads the St. James' Day Tripper on Langho Bank near Billington Cutting

Photo: B. Haworth

On 13th March 1999. Deltic class D9000, Royal Scots Grey, powers up the 1 in 82 bank just south of Langho station, Pendle Hill in the background, with the diverted 1O38 Glasgow - Bournemouth.

Photo: E. Buckley

Gresley Pacific 4472, Sir Nigel Gresley, heads over Entwistle Viaduct with a southbound excursion in the mid 1980s.

Photo: E. Buckley

Early Morning Steam. At approximately 08:15 on a bright, sunny morning, Ian Riley’s steam locos 76079 and 45407 head northwards down the bank towards Langho with a special from Manchester Vic. to Carlisle on Saturday 26th March 2005.

Photo: E. Buckley

47709, passes Clitheroe with a northbound Cumbrian Mountain Express on 19th July 2003.

Photo: C. Carr

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A rare visitor to RVR metals, Class 52 Western Hydraulic, No. 1015, Western Champion, cuts a fine sight rolling down Langho Bank in what was an experimental livery “Golden Ochre” on 3rd September 2005.

For historians, this locomotive hauled the empty stock working of Pullmans, which formed Sir Winston Churchill’s Funeral Train in 1965.

Photo: B. Haworth

On 21st January 2006, Class 67, 67005, in Royal Train Livery, pilots classmate 67027 across Whalley Arches on a Bristol - Carlisle enthusiasts special.

 

Photo: E. Buckley

John Deere Gator, in rail mode and acting as a personnel carrier, approaches the former Wilpshire Station en-route to Wilpshire Tunnel during the blockade of January 2007.

Photo: N. Kirby

A special excursion, hauled by a Class 40, passes through Clitheroe Interchange

Photo: G. Dudley

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Above: Cement Train prepares to leave Horrocksford Junction in early sixties. Traffic is expected to return to this siding November 2007 thereby considerably easing road congestion.


Note: Presflow Cement Wagons and Old Gasometer on the skyline

Photo: K. Roberts

Left: 46203, ‘Princess Margaret Rose’ , digs in to the climb up to Gisburn, just North of Rimington, with a north-bound ‘Cumbrian Mountain Express’ on Saturday, 13th August 1994. Pendle Hill broods darkly in the background.

Photo: E. Buckley

Below left: Class 60 60094 pilots 47793 on a Northbound diverted West Coast Main Line service crossing Swanside Viaduct on 24th April 1993

Photo: K. Roberts

Below: Class 60 60029 stands adjacent to Castle Cement Engine Shed awaiting its naming ceremony on 4th July 1998. (The loco was named “CLITHEROE CASTLE”)

Photo: B. Haworth

   

Above photo: W. A. Camwell

For many, the concept of coal traffic conjures up images of wagons loaded with lumps and cobs of coal, the reality of the modern fuel for power stations is a pulverised commodity, which can be clearly seen in transit as 6M45, a diverted MGR service, slogs up Langho bank on 11th May 2003 with class 66, 66225, in charge.

Photo: B. Haworth

Blackburn to Darwen trams - dates unknown

Tram photos from the collection of RVR member, Geoffrey Hilditch, OBE

Click here for further information about Blackburn Trams,

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Stanier 8F 2-8-0, no. 48125, passes Duckworth Mill at Roe Lee in 1962 with a northbound freight (probably Coton Hill - Carlisle)

Photo: M. Chapman

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Christmas 1988 Class 47, No. 47532, tackling ‘Newsholme Bank' with 1T14 Ramsbottom–Carlisle charter with a perfectly lit Pendle Hill as the backdrop.

Photo: J. Matthews

Loadhaul DMS unit, No. 55012, runs into the Horrocksford Branch on 25th October 1996 after having arrived from Healy Mills on a route-learning special 5Z45.

Photo: J. Matthews

The unit reposes in the sylvan setting of the Horrocksford Branch prior to the coal traffic returning.

Photo: J. Matthews

Class 60, No. 60050, crosses Whalley Viaduct with a northbound freight.

Photo: J. Matthews

 

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On Saturday 26th April 2003, LMS Pacific 6201, Princess Elizabeth, worked a south-bound charter over the S&C and B&H.

She had a scheduled water stop at Blackburn at Gilbraith’s yard, just west of Blackburn Station. Framed by the Blackburn skyline, she is seen being coaled as well, there having been no more than two shovels-full left on arrival at Blackburn.

Photo: E. Buckley

Resembling a garden shed on wheels, a PW Trolley heads south down Cemetery Hill towards Blackburn during 1959

Photo: K. Roberts

A more modern Maintenance Vehicle MPV 98909 / 98959 approaches Clitheroe on a Wigan TMD / Carlisle Weedkilling Train during May 2002

Photo: C. Carr

 

To celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the formation of Ribble Valley Rail on Sunday, 9th September 2007, Northern Rail provided some of their much-admired special-liveried 156s for the final DalesRail 2007 services to Carlisle

Photo: E. Buckley

Above left, the 4-car formation on arrival at Carlisle in platform one, and above, the same set reposes in the sidings before forming the final DalesRail 2007 service back to Blackpool North.

Photo: E. Buckley

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RAIL TRAFFIC

 

 

 

 

returned to the Horrocksford Branch on 18 March 2008 for a trial run prior to the introduction of a regular service.

Photos: S. Clarke

37401 passing Horrocksford box prior to carrying out the shunt manoeuvre to gain access to the branch
Close up of the newly manufactured Polish tanks

37401 as it passes during the shunt move

37401 drawing the 15 empty tanks on to the branch at Horrocksford

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