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STORM Memories of ‘End of Steam’ 50 years ago

It is 50 years ago that scheduled steam hauled trains ended on British Railways. To mark this STORM wants memories, and up to 5 photos (your own), of the 1960s on the Oldham, Rochdale and Manchester lines.

Below is the first by STORM member Martin Riley of Shaw.

Among my memories of the Oldham loop during the 1960s are seeing Royal Scot 46101 Royal Scots Grey pass under the footbridge at Dunwood Park, Shaw in 1960, and at the same spot seeing a southern green buffet car in a holiday special train of maroon coaches. Unrebuilt Patriot 45500 in Oldham Mumps Station and 45501 St Dunstans at Oldham Central, which was my local station at the time[1961]. While using Oldham Central daily in 1964/5 to go to work in Manchester, I recall the local trains reverting back to steam with Stanier/Fairburn 2-6-4 tanks for a short period, does anyone else remember this? Martin Riley, Shaw Oldham

Photographs for this article are:-

The Caprotti 5's at Walkden in March 1963 would be the last days of the fast lines being in use on that line. I don't have the loco numbers or exactly what the trains were, I imagine they would be heading to Liverpool or Southport.

The Jubilee 45698 MARS at Rochdale in about 1961 would be the last days of steam on express workings in the Calder Valley.
46485 shunting at Clegg Street, viewed from the Rhodes Bank to Glodwick bridge which is still there today.
The two standards at Rochdale in the early 1960's 75049 & 78043 have 27A Bank Hall shed plates so I think they would be on Rochdale to Liverpool trains.
The DMU is heading towards Rochdale, viewed from the footbridge near Dunwood Park, Shaw, the Milnrow Road bridge is in the background.

Contact Information

STORM

Meeting Place: Woolworths Social Club
Gipsy Lane
Castleton
Rochdale
OL11 3HA

Meeting times

2pm

2nd Tuesday in Feb, April, June, August, Oct and December,in The Blue Pits Inn, 842 Manchester Road, Castleton, Rochdale, OL11 2SP