Blackburn and Preston Railway

Introduction

This railway is open. The line was opened from Farington, on the North Union Railway south of Preston, to Blackburn in 1846. The line was bought by the East Lancashire Railway two months after opening. In 1850 an independent approach to Preston from the south was opened from a triangular junction, this was needed after the opening of the Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway (East Lancashire Railway) in 1849. The connection to the former North Union Railway has been altered to Farington Curve Junction.




Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

DRS 88009 'Diana' on the 4Z43 Daventry to Mossend Tesco train is seen heading north at Farington and about to pass under Coote Lane bridge. This was ...
John McIntyre 01/10/2022
LSL at Crewe have had Class 47 D1944 Craftsman out on what is believed to have been route learning on 22nd June 2020. The loco had come from Crewe to ...
John McIntyre 22/06/2020
Colas 70810 crosses the WCML with the 6E32 Preston Docks to Lindsey Oil Refinery empty bitumen tank wagons on 30 April 2021. The train is travelling ...
John McIntyre 30/04/2021
A Colas Class 56 (56105) is seen at Farington on the WCML with a Sinfin to Grangemouth empty aviation fuel wagons in June 2014. The service still runs ...
John McIntyre 07/06/2014
4 of 24 images. more


The Blackburn and Preston Railway opened through here in 1846, running from a junction with the North Union Railway at Farington to Blackburn. This became part of the East Lancashire Railway in the same year.
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More details
GBRf 66725 travels between Lostock Hall Junction and Farington Junction with a loaded stone train from Ribblehead Virtual Quarry to Tuebrook on 17 ...
John McIntyre 17/10/2022
A Colne to Preston service passes under Todd Lane South road bridge at Lostock Hall Junction on 10 December 2020. For a long time these units only ...
John McIntyre 10/12/2020
Ex LMS Royal Scot class 4-6-0, 46100 'Royal Scot' heads the outbound leg of 'The Fellsman' railtour from Crewe to Carlisle at Lostock Hall Junction on ...
John McIntyre 26/08/2020
MPV DR98905/DR 98955 is seen at Lostock Hall Junction while working from Teeside to Wigan on 3 August 2021. The MPV has left the East Lancs line (in ...
John McIntyre 03/08/2021
4 of 19 images. more


The early afternoon Blackpool South to Colne service passes the CE sidings at Bamber Bridge on 14 March 2010 in the hands of 142051. The former direct ...
John McIntyre 14/03/2010
142028 on a Colne to Blackpool South service departs westwards from Bamber Bridge towards Lostock Hall on 23 May 2009. The train is approaching the ...
John McIntyre 23/05/2009
View west from the platform at Bamber Bridge station towards the former Bamber Bridge Junction on 18 March 2008 as 158 758 approaches on a Blackpool ...
John McIntyre 18/03/2008
3 of 3 images.


Colas 70810 heads east at Bamber Bridge with the empty bitumen tank wagons from Preston Docks to Lindsey Refinery on 18 May 2021. In the background, ...
John McIntyre 18/05/2021
Ex LMS Royal Scot 4-6-0 46115 'Scots Guardsman' passes Bamber Bridge on 17 July 2021 heading to Carlisle with the RTC 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' ...
John McIntyre 17/07/2021
150275 re-starts from Bamber Bridge in March 2008 with a Colne to Blackpool South service. ...
John McIntyre 18/03/2008
A version of the summer Staycation Express is scheduled for some days at the end of the October 2021. The Rail Charter Services HST set, with power ...
John McIntyre 14/10/2021
4 of 56 images. more


45699 'Galatea' is back out again this year running as 45562 'Alberta'. The Jubilee is seen to the east of Hospital Inn crossing (between Bank Head ...
John McIntyre 25/05/2021
Tail Gunner for A4 'Sir Nigel Gresley' on the run from Crewe to Carlisle on 21 May 2022 was 47614 aka 47853. The train is approaching Hospital Inn ...
John McIntyre 21/05/2022
A4 pacific 4498 'Sir Nigel Gresley' approaches Hospital Inn LC on 21 May 2022 working from Crewe to Carlisle via the S&C with a private charter for ...
John McIntyre 21/05/2022
Hospital Crossing, lies one mile east of, and is visible from, Bamber Bridge station in a suburb of the town. There was never a station here but a ...
Mark Bartlett 16/08/2008
4 of 5 images. more


The southbound Cumbrian Mountain Express, with 45699 'Galatea' running as 45562 'Alberta', passing under the A675 road bridge and approaching Hoghton ...
John McIntyre 10/10/2020
60103 'Flying Scotsman' approaching Hoghton on 15 May 2021 whilst out on the Carnforth-Hellifield-Blackburn test circuit. It had been thought that ...
John McIntyre 15/05/2021
A view west from the A674 road bridge towards Hoghton AHBC-X (level crossing) on 5 June 2021 with a Colne to Preston service operated by 150135 ...
John McIntyre 05/06/2021
The rear of a Northern service from York to Blackpool North with 195116 is seen on the final hundred yards to the top of Hoghton Summit, viewed from ...
John McIntyre 17/08/2021
4 of 35 images. more


Recently transferred from East Midland Trains, 156403 still has smart new vinyls and paintwork as it climbs to the summit at Hoghton with a Colne to ...
Mark Bartlett 14/08/2023
1 of 1 images.


45627 'Sierra Leone' or is it 45562 'Alberta' or is it really 45699 'Galatea'? The smoke box and nameplates suggest 45627, the cabside numbers show it ...
John McIntyre 10/08/2021
Ex LMS Jubilee no.45690 Leander passes Pleasington nearly an hour late with the return Cumbrian Mountain Express on 15 July 2017. The train was ...
John McIntyre 15/07/2017
A Northern Rail York to Blackpool service approaches Pleasington in the early evening of 10 June 2015. ...
John McIntyre 10/06/2015
Looking west from Pleasington station on 29 July 2010 as 142055 approaches on a Blackpool South - Colne service. ...
John McIntyre 29/07/2010
4 of 14 images. more


3-car 158756 comes out of the shadows as the front catches the evening sun at Cherry Tree in July 2015 with a York to Blackpool North service. ...
John McIntyre 29/07/2015
Northern 142044 arrives at Cherry Tree in July 2015 whilst on a Colne to Blackpool South service. This particular Pacer made its last revenue earning ...
John McIntyre 29/07/2015
The first Fellsman of 2022 ran on 18th May behind rebuilt West Country pacific 34046 Braunton, seen approaching Cherry Tree with the outward run. This ...
John McIntyre 18/05/2022
A Blackpool South to Colne service, operated by 150138, passes under the A674 road bridge as it enters Cherry Tree station in July 2015. To the right ...
John McIntyre 29/07/2015
4 of 12 images. more


A Colne to Blackpool South service calls at Mill Hill on 03 June 2017. Although the train has 4 carriages (a Class 150 and 142) the rear unit is ...
John McIntyre 03/06/2017
The line beyond Blackburn, and over Copy Pit, was closed for bridge works during February 2020. 195008 was shuttling between Blackpool and Blackburn, ...
Mark Bartlett 18/02/2020
The rather plain entrance to Mill Hill station in February 2020. Prior to being destaffed in the late 1960s there was a street level booking office ...
Mark Bartlett 18/02/2020
156459 calls at Mill Hill, working a stopping service from Blackburn, on 18th February 2020. Since my last visit in 2009 26706 the surviving L&YR ...
Mark Bartlett 18/02/2020
4 of 5 images. more








67008 runs east through platform 4 at Blackburn on 18 August 2014 during a run-round move of some empty stock out of sight to the right. On the left ...
John McIntyre 18/08/2014
Northern 195112 on a Blackpool to York service arrives at Platform 2, Blackburn on 17 August 2022. On the right in the west end bay platform is WCRC ...
John McIntyre 17/08/2022
150137 and 150136 depart eastwards from Blackburn at the start of their circuitous route to Kirkby via Todmorden, Manchester Victoria and Wigan ...
John McIntyre 14/12/2021
Bulleid Battle of Britain pacific 34067 'Tangmere' arrives at Blackburn with a Northern Belle charter from Carlisle on 17 August 2022. The train was ...
John McIntyre 17/08/2022
4 of 57 images. more