The Weekend of 6th and 7th September 2025 was a combined Gala Day and a 25th Anniversary Celebration. With 5 locos in steam and the buffet on every train.
Category: Rail
Trains, trams and the like related to the region around Preston.
The Ribble Steam Railway – Saturday 24th March 2024
A short visit to the Ribble Steam Railway on Saturday 24th March 2024. Furness Railway No. 20 being the star of the show. Refurbishment of this was completed at the Furness Railway in their workshop at Preston. Before that work was done at BAE Systems at Barrow.
Photos of the train at the Ribble Steam Railway depot and crossing the swing bridge at the Preston Dock. Also photos inside the RSR Museum.
The Mayor of Preston Visits The Ribble Steam Railway 25th March 2023
On Saturday 25th March 2023 the Mayor of Preston, Councillor Neil Darby visited the Ribble Steam Railway on Preston Docks. Furness Railway Trust Loco No 20 was operating. A triumphant piece of work by the Trust to restore a fine looking locomotive and the oldest working standard gauge loco in Britain, 1863.
Team Members relax before the next trip:
The Mayor Departs, as they say in the Red Arrows, ‘smoke on’.
The Mayor of Preston, Neil Darby departs on board Furness Trust loco 20. The oldest working standard gauge loco in Britain. At the Ribble Steam Railway on 25th March 2023.
Young loco ‘Linda’ sidles up to double head with Furness Trust 20.
The Mayor and Consort return and generously pose for a photo.
Thirsty work hauling carriages both locos line up for water.
It’s goodbye to Furness Loco 20 as it moves to Didcot for a spell shortly.
Find out more at
A walk in Preston Centre 21st March 2023
Another walk in the centre of Preston.
A photo of the The Old Bull on Church Street. It was once Preston’s top inn and called the Bull & Royal. There is a well known painting in the Harris Museum & Art Gallery titled ‘The Preston By-Election of 1862’ which shows a large crowd standing outside the inn with Sir Thomas Hesketh standing on the balcony having won the seat. Well worth having a look when the Harris re-opens.
This part of Church Street had 2 cinemas. The Gaumont and The Ritz. They gradually changed, declined and rotted.
Crystal House, the site of the previous Town Hall, destroyed by fire in 1947. On March 17th, which is almost exactly 76 years ago.
The Obelisk on Preston Flag Market. Positioned in 1782 but removed in 1853 and placed in the grounds of a house in the village of Woodplumpton to the north of Preston. In 1979 Queen Elizabeth II unveiled it after it was returned on May 10th, 800yrs after Preston received a Royal Charter. 
Market Street as viewed from the Flag Market. Leading to the 2 impressive Victorian Covered Markets. On the corner of Market Street is the former Barclays Bank which was Martin’s Bank. 
The former Public Hall or Corn Exchange on Lune Street. 
Lune Street.
Re-cladding of The Premier Inn, all around this nicely present house round the corner from the former Public Hall.
Two food stops outside the Premier Inn.
This wooden building has been there a long time. Preston City Mission, Corporation Street. 
The entrance to the car park behind the railway station. An interesting route beneath the shops. 
Across Corporation Street. That section hasn’t changed much for decades. 
Fishergate from near the station
Preston Railway Station Butler Street entrance, looking towards the main central entrance and ticket office.
Preston Station main platforms, 3 and 4, for the West Coast Main Line between London and Glasgow. Birmingham and Edinburgh too.
Trains in Preston: A time of change December 2019
On December 9th First Trenitalia, to be known as Aventi, take over the West Coast Main Line services from Virgin. Express services between London Euston, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh via Preston are effected.
Also in December new trains, Class 397, are being introduced by First Trans-Pennine Express on the Manchester to Glasgow and Edinburgh, Liverpool to Glasgow and Edinburgh all via Preston. These replace the Class 350 which appear more like suburban trains.
This gives First a monopoly of services to Glasgow and Edinburgh from Preston.
Virgin have run the West Coast Main Line successfully since March 1997 and most people are sorry to see them go. However the government decided their bid was non-compliant over a dispute about pension liabilities.
Also Northern has introduced its Class 195 Diesels and 331 Electric version of the new ‘Civity’ trains. These run on diesel between Manchester Airport and Barrow. The electric versions run from Manchester to Blackpool and Liverpool to Blackpool.
Railway Improvements – New trains and electrification Northern Rail
Northern Rail are obtaining 101 brand new diesel and electric trains from CAF of Spain. Many of these will be assembled in Newport, Wales. There are also 243 ex-ScotRail diesel trains, class 158, and ex-Thameslink electric trains, class 319, being refurbished for use by Northern.
The Class 195 started operating in July 2019 and will be introduced as they are delivered through to 2020. The Class 319 began operating in April 2018. This will release the old class 142 Pacer trains which are very old.
Electrification through Bolton is complete enabling electric services from Preston to Manchester along that route since 11th February 2019 several years later than originally planned due to difficulties with the line.
Class 195 diesel train at Preston.
Class 319 electric train at Preston.
A visit to The Ribble Steam Railway and Museum
Saturday 27th April 2019 parked in the large car park and bought a ticket to ride and visit the Ribble Steam Railway museum and workshop on Preston Docks. Starting in the cafe and then taking a ride before going through the museum and asking if I could see the Furness Railway Workshop next door. They have a couple of very interesting engines in work although one of them was well dismantled. After that went round the RSR Workshop which has been tidied up quite a bit since my last visit. If you walk inside and turn left there are locos in storage and being worked on.
Here’s a video of the day:
Wires to Bolton
Work continues on the Preston to Bolton and Manchester electrification programme. December 2018 was set as a new target after problems with ground conditions such as old mining works and drifts of soft sand. Pylons for the electric cabling needed to be mounted in metal containers due to soft ground.
Diesels continue to be operated on this section which should be replaced by electric trains when it is complete. It should be noted that train allocation isn’t that simple, trains are exchanged between operators.
As yet Network Rail are still talking about it being complete in December 2018. Although Northern Rail agreed to take handover immediately on the Blackpool upgrade when in reality they needed time to train drivers. Quite likely it won’t make much difference to passenger as a new Winter timetable is about to be issued without knowing if the line will be electrified.
Railway Anniversary Month and Strand Road closure
August 1968 was the month of the last steam services. Preston was involved in these services. Also in August 2018 Alstom officially closed the Strand Road West Works were trams, trains and motors had been built for over a 100 years.
Below is an extract from our website, read the whole page on the link below.
http://www.madeinpreston.co.uk/Rail/railwayhist.html
‘In 1968 two trains left Preston on the last standard steam hauled services in the UK. The Lancashire Evening Post of 2nd August 2008 has an article about a book called ‘Steam – The Last Finale’ by Alan Castle. The article relates to the 8.50pm Preston to Blackpool hauled by 45212, and the 9.25pm Preston to Liverpool Exchange hauled by 45318. The latter gaining 80mph across the flat terrain of West Lancashire. Drivers of both trains came from Lostock Hall shed – Bob Barker and fireman Roy Duckworth on 45212 and Ernie Heyes and fireman Tony Smith on 45318. The following day August 4th plenty of special steam hauled trains were run on farewell trips.
The following weekend on August 11th 1968 45110 ran from Liverpool to Manchester and was then replaced by 70013 Oliver Cromwell from Manchester to Carlisle via Bolton, Blackburn and the Settle to Carlisle route. This was the last BR passenger train called the ‘fifteen guinea special’. The return journey was double headed by 44781 and 44871, with 45110 hauling from Manchester back to Liverpool according to Wikipedia. 70013 is said to have returned to its base in Norwich under its own steam.’
A second piece of history this month is the closure of the Alstom factory on Strand Road which was formerly English Electric Traction, Strand Road West Works, Dick Kerrs, where diesel locomotives including the Deltic Prototype were built. It also has a history of building diesel shunters, trams and electric motors.
Fair Do to Northern Rail?
Northern are getting a lot of stick for delays to trains in the North West but is it fair? Since the new timetable came in on 20th May with the newly electrified track and new upgraded trains the system seems to be out of control. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester, seems to be making the most noise, or at least getting the most publicity.
On the face of it trains are being cancelled at a moments notice due to lack of drivers. Yet behind the scenes is a web of organisations scurrying about hiding behind customer facing Northern.
For weeks we heard the 20th May timetable was being agreed by Network Rail far too late. Normally there are months to plan driver rostering and training. But the delay to the Blackpool line, being announced only a week before due date meant there was no time to train drivers on the new route.
Also the electrification of the Bolton section of the route has been delayed until December. This means the electric trains can’t be used on the Blackpool, Manchester routes via Bolton and diesels are needed. Yet those diesels were meant to be used on other services.
Couple that to delays to Scottish Rail train deliveries. Northern were due to take trains from Scotland but these are being delayed because Scottish are receiving their new trains late.
There has been an industrial dispute at Northern about the use of guards that will have affected services, but that has been rumbling on for over a year. Overall most of the problems have been caused by other people and not Northern, so give them a fair do.
Rail Electrification Next Step: April 16th
The electrified line between Blackpool and Manchester is slowly re-opening. Driver training is underway and limited rail services to Blackpool are being introduced as described below. Also Bolton station will be closed on certain weekends as below.
On Monday 16th April diesel services will start between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport, these trains are hourly. Other services will be operated using buses from Blackpool to Preston for the week 16th to 20th April.
From Saturday 21st April a full service will be run although the line through Bolton is closed at weekend except on the 21/22 April and 19/20 May.
On May 20th the summer timetable will begin and electric trains should operate from Blackpool North to Manchester, Liverpool and London. Services to Leeds via Blackburn will remain diesel operated. As is the service to Blackpool South.
The Preston to Blackpool Timetable for the weekdays 16th to 20th April is linked below
It’s recommended you check the time of your train if going to Blackpool or via Bolton as the timetable changes, often at short notice.
Delay to Rail Electrification to Manchester
Network Rail announced that electric services on the route from Preston to Manchester have been delayed to December 2018 from May 2018, 7 months. Diesel services will continue but the line will be closed at weekends until September. Weekend Rail Replacement Bus timetables will be provided and services to Manchester Airport will go via Wigan.
Network Rail blamed poor ground conditions and that the electric cable supports had needed to be re-mounted on 3 out of 10 installations. The work had a number of previous delays near Bolton such as running sand at Farnworth Tunnel and flooding at Moses Gate bridge.
Photo of installing the electric cable support pylons Courtesy Great Northern Rail Project on Twitter @GNRP
This must effect the Blackpool electric service to Manchester although electric trains could operate via Wigan. There is also expected to be an increase in Virgin Trains from Blackpool to London when the new timetable is announced in May.
Another step on the Preston Tramlink
Preston’s tram line took another step forward this week when Eric Wright Civil Engineering Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding to participate in the route. There will be a sod cutting ceremony for the tram test line in Deepdale on Tuesday 9th January 2018. The test roue will be a 1250 metre track in Deepdale which received planning permission in November 2016.
The full Guild Tram route proposed will have 16 stops from Red Scar Business Park via Bluebell Way Park and Ride (currently closed), Deepdale Retail Park and Deepdale football ground, Fishergate and for some of the way uses the former Longridge to Preston railway line.
Seems a good scheme and using Bluebell Way P+R is a good route into Preston. Not sure if it’s a single or double track route, passing and fitting on Fishergate won’t be ideal. Otherwise trams are clean, fairly quiet and comfortable and can carry a lot of people.
Electrification Upgrade of Rail between Preston and Manchester 2017 to May 2018
Preston to Blackpool Rail Closure 11 Nov 2017 to 25 Mar 2018
As written on the Network Rail and Northern Rail websites:
Better rail journeys across the north of England are coming – we’re upgrading this key route, paving the way for more reliable journeys with more space for passengers
The improvement work requires the closure of the lines between Blackpool North / South and Preston between 11 November 2017 – 25 March 2018
11 November 2017 – 28 January 2018: Preston to Blackpool North and South closed.
29 January 2018 – 25 March 2018: Route to Blackpool South reopens – Preston to Blackpool North remains closed.
Buses will replace trains so please check before you travel and allow extra time for your journey. For further information visit National Rail Enquiries.
Replacement Bus Service timetables are available here:
Big Transport Upgrades Around Preston
Transport matters have heated up around Preston with both road and rail having big upgrades.
On the train the electrification to Manchester and Blackpool is going into its final phase in November with the closure of the line to Blackpool until November while Blackpool North Station is remodelled. The track to Manchester has had big works at Farnworth Tunnel, Bolton and Chorley. The completion of electrification is due in March and new, refurbished anyway, trains will be running on the summer timetable from May. This complements the electrification already completed between Wigan and Liverpool and Wigan to Manchester.
On the road the Broughton by-pass opened in October from the M55 junction to north of Broughton. Plans for another link from the M55 to the Blackpool Road junction of Riversway via Bartle are being finalised and a major stretch of new housing along the route is already well underway. Plans are also finalised for the Penwortham by-pass to the A59 west of Penwortham. All that’s needed now is a western crossing of the Ribble to create a circle around Preston.
Ribble Steam Railway trains at Easter
Ribble Steam Railway on Preston Docks will be running steam-diesel trains on Good Friday, Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday from 11am. Trains every 45 minutes or thereabouts.
Museum and Workshop, Shop and Cafe to enjoy as well.
Transport Improvements all around Preston
Trams, trains, roads are in the news.
Trampower, the company who have been promoting a light rail system in Preston, are pushing to be allowed to run a one mile test track in Deepdale. This will use the old Longridge line. PWA Planning are providing consultancy and Pre-Metro Solutions will operate the system. Pre-Metro Solutions operate the Stourbridge Light Railway which links Stourbridge town centre with the national rail system at Stourbridge Junction every 10 minutes on a one mile track using bus type diesel railcars. There are big ambitions for the tram route. Preston has quite a bit of old rail track hardly used and it could save digging up the roads. Although Manchester is increasingly ambitious with its light rail and the city centre roads seem to have been semi-closed for years with expansion after expansion. Blackpool is to expand its tram route to North Station which will dig up a stretch of road in the town centre, daring stuff.
Electrification of the line to Manchester is now restarted, after a new contractor was selected, with overhead wire supports being installed near Bolton. In April the Northern Rail franchise was taken over by Arriva Rail North and the Trans-Pennine Express franchise remained with First. A new livery has been applied to Trans-Pennine trains and orders have been placed for new trains that will see the end of the old Northern Pacer bus-style trains.
Preston station is to have improvements as part of Virgin Rail’s £20m station improvement plan. The Preston element includes changes to the Ticket Area and new Ticket Vending Machines and a new entrance at Butler Street by platform 7 to improve customer flow. Retail opportunities are to be offered.
On the roads discussions are advanced on the Preston Western Distributor linking the M55 and Riversway and in Broughton the by-pass is being built. The completion of the dual carriageway from the M65 to the A59 east and west of Penwortham will make the missing link more obvious – the western Ribble crossing. Regular closures on the M6 due to road accidents is showing an increasing need for a relief road. Although it could be argued that the better roads become the further people will commute. Also the government insistence on building new homes regardless of apparent job opportunities is also adding to transport needs.
As this is written the M6 has been closed in both directions at Junction 31, which appears to have been started by a diesel spillage, and the West Coast Main Line is closed between Preston and Carlisle until midday. How much time for delays do you add in to your journeys?
New Roads, New Houses in and around Preston
As part of the City Deal, Preston will get new homes in the centre at Avenham and Winckley Square, plus new homes at the north west corner.
New roads including a Broughton by-pass and western link road from the M55 and potentially a Penwortham by-pass and later a new western bridge over the Ribble.
Couple that with the electrification of the railway and nearly 300 new trains on order, change is going to come.
What’s my train franchise, announcement for North of England
The new rail franchises for the north of England effecting most Preston services, except Virgin, were announced this week and beginning 1st April 2016 the train operators will be:
Arriva / Rail North to operate the Northern Rail Services until March 2025.
First Trans-Pennine Express, no change until March 2023.
Arriva have offered to increase services, improve stations, improve ticketing, operate 281 new carriages. The old 142 type, Pacer, locos which are like buses on rails are to be replaced by December 2019.
First Trans Pennine are to receive new trains and increase services between Liverpool and Manchester to Scotland and more services all round. The routes cover Newcastle, Leeds and York who will also get improved services.
Preston station is operated by Virgin although the smaller stations around about tend to be operated by Northern.
Services from Preston to Manchester, Liverpool, East Lancs, Blackpool are operated by Northern. While services to Manchester Airport, some Scotland and some Manchester are operated by First Trans-Pennine. Virgin operate the London, Midlands to Scotland trains.
As part of devolution to the north the Arriva services will be jointly managed by DfT and Rail North representing 29 local authorities. A big objective is to move the services from needing a subsidy to providing the government with a premium.