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Farington Junction
All photographs of this location in date order.
![This photograph was taken looking back from a Glasgow to London train as it passed Farington Junction in June 1976. Waiting to join the WCML southbound on the curve from Lostock Hall Junction is a Class 40 and a dead electric locomotive on a freight train. Today the area to the left and right of the Class 40 is covered with housing.<br><br>[John McIntyre /06/1976]](/images/26000/26965.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Brush Type 4 47280 brings a freight off the East Lancashire line onto the Up WCML at Farington Junction in May 1980. The former D1982 continued in service for a another 19 years until withdrawal from Bescot, and then languished in storage for a further eight until scrapped at EMR Kingsbury in December 2007. The shiny track in the foreground led to the two loco exchange sidings where electric locos would wait for southbound freights but they later fell into disuse. In 2012 however they were used again on consecutive February Saturdays to hold 86259 <I>Les Ross</I> waiting to take over from steam on the returning <I>'Cumbrian Mountain Express'</I>. [See image 38393] <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 02/05/1980]](/images/37000/37813.jpg "Farington Junction")
![A location that has hardly changed since the 1972 WCML electrification, but which made the national headlines in December 2011 when a large fire on the business park seen here closed the line completely for several hours. In August 1980 40030 (formerly <I>Scythia</I>) snakes across from the Down Slow to take a northbound freight onto the East Lancashire line to Blackburn, from where it will probably head for the S&C via Hellifield. 40030 lasted in service until withdrawn from Longsight in April 1983 being cut up one year later at Crewe Works.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 29/08/1980]](/images/37000/37061.jpg "Farington Junction")
![White tyres, white buffers and a shiny new paint job. Newly named 86254 <I>William Webb Ellis</I> speeds a passenger service north past the loco exchange sidings at Farington Junction. The bridge is still a popular vantage point for local enthusiasts. 86254 continued in service for a further 22 years being withdrawn in 2002 and cut up at Booths, Rotherham two years later. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 10/10/1980]](/images/21000/21594.jpg "Farington Junction")
![One of the last freights to enter the Leyland Motors complex, a train of oil tankers, seen around 1981. The Class 47 is running round while the resident industrial Fowler diesel shunter lurks in the background. Although not used for thirty years the sidings are still in place and the Fowler was only removed a few years ago (into preservation on the proposed Poulton to Fleetwood line). View north towards Preston with the WCML to the right. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett //1981]](/images/41000/41085.jpg "Farington Junction")
![47445 passes the Leyland Trucks factory near Farington Junction with a Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria <I>Club Train</I> in the early 1980s. The siding serving the works was disused for many years but in 2016 became the location for a temporary DMU servicing point during the Blackpool line electrification works. The former D1561 was withdrawn in 1991 and scrapped by Booth Roe in Rotherham three years later. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett //1981]](/images/57000/57425.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Regional Railways 3 car 150 with 150149 and a carriage from a 150/2 in the middle, heads along the down slow line towards Preston just north of Farington Junction in the early 1990s.<br><br>[John McIntyre 11/04/1992]](/images/50000/50175.jpg "Farington Junction")
![185122 heading south from Preston on the up slow line at Farington Junction on 6 July with a service to Manchester Airport.<br><br>[John McIntyre 06/07/2007]](/images/16000/16522.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Looking south along the WCML towards Leyland from Fowler Lane bridge, a Liverpool bound Super Sprinter snakes its way from the Up Fast, across the Down Fast to the Up Slow. The Leyland Trucks factory is on the right and there is still a connection off the Down Slow into a small yard which is now in the Leyland Enterprise Park. The actual Farington Junction is behind the camera on the left with a line heading to Lostock Hall Junction on the East Lancs line.<br><br>[John McIntyre 25/05/2009]](/images/23000/23839.jpg "Farington Junction")
![185102 heads north on the Down Fast line towards Preston with a First Trans Pennine Express service to Blackpool North. Just beyond the unit is Fowler Lane overbridge and beyond that Farington Junction with a line diverging to the right leading to the East Lancs line at Lostock Hall Junction.<br><br>[John McIntyre 25/05/2009]](/images/23000/23840.jpg "Farington Junction")
![156452 heads south on the Up Slow lines at Farington Junction with a <br>
service for Manachester Victoria on 25 May 2009. A close examination of the front gangway door suggests someone has been taking pot shots at it!<br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 25/05/2009]](/images/31000/31912.jpg "Farington Junction")
![With the closure of the slow lines between Preston and Farington Junction for track renewals on the evening of 13 Jun 2009, services between Blackpool North and York could not access the East Lancashire lines at Farington Curve Junction. These services were diverted via Farington Junction (where a reversal was required) and Lostock Hall Junction. At 2131 hrs 158752 is seen bound for York leaving the WCML at Farington Junction, having already reversed. A Birmingham bound Virgin Voyager is held at the signal on the Up Fast line in the left background. The red earthing straps can be seen on the OHLE for the Slow lines on the left of the picture.<br><br>[John McIntyre 13/06/2009]](/images/24000/24106.jpg "Farington Junction")
![A southbound Pendolino catches the morning sun as it speeds by the extensive truck factory site on the west side of the WCML south of Farington Junction on 29 August 2009.<br><br>[John McIntyre 29/08/2009]](/images/25000/25250.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Colas Rail 66841 heads south on the WCML Up Fast line at Farington <br>
Junction on 25 August 2010 with the Carlisle - Chirk log train. In the distance on the left is another Class 66 heading south on the Up Slow. To the right of the log train are the tracks from Lostock Hall Junction and the East Lancashire lines.<br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 25/08/2010]](/images/30000/30453.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Units racing along the WCML south of Farington Junction towards Leyland on 2 May. On the up fast line in the background is a TPE unit heading for Manchester Airport (next stop Chorley), whilst in the foreground on the up slow line is a Northern service to <br>
Manchester Victoria (next stop Leyland).<br><br>[John McIntyre 02/05/2011]](/images/33000/33971.jpg "Farington Junction")
![The London Euston to Helensburgh Upper 1Z47 <I>Northern Belle</I> <br>
charter crosses from the Down Slow to Down Fast at Farington Junction on 2 July 2011. The locomotives at this stage of the journey were DRS class 47s nos 47501 and 47818.<br><br>[John McIntyre 02/07/2011]](/images/34000/34735.jpg "Farington Junction")
![DRS Class 47 no 47790 in 'Northern Belle' livery heads south from <br>
Preston on the WCML at Farington with the Glasgow Central to Southampton Docks cruise liner charter on 8 July 2011. On previous runs the train has been double headed but this time it was top and tailed with a Class 37 on the rear.<br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 08/07/2011]](/images/34000/34790.jpg "Farington Junction")
![66744 of GBRF at Farington Junction on 4 August 2011, still sporting the Colas Rail livery which it wore as 66843. To add to the confusion, the service is the Chirk to Ribblehead empty log bogies which is operated by... you've guessed it - Colas Rail. CR is currently leasing back its former locomotive while awaiting an allocation of additional class 66s.<br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 04/08/2011]](/images/35000/35316.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Engineering possession on the fast lines at Farington Junction on 13 November 2011 as a southbound Class 185 to Manchester Airport passes on the up slow. For a similar daylight view from 2007 [see image 16522].<br><br>[John McIntyre 13/11/2011]](/images/36000/36441.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Looking south along the WCML with Farington Junction immediately behind the camera. The crossover between the up and down fast has been severed as a result of the track replacement on the down fast on the first Sunday of engineering work, 13 November 2011. To the right are the slow lines which remained open throughout. For a daylight shot from the same position a few years ago [see image 23839]. <br><br>[John McIntyre 13/11/2011]](/images/36000/36454.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Freightliner 66557 stands on the up fast just south of Farington Junction on 27 November 2011 with switch and crossing carriers, some in the 'transit' position and some at the rear which are still horizontal awaiting the Kirow cranes to come and collect the panels. The activity was associated with the relaying of Farington Junction. To the left of the railway is the Lancashire Enterprises Business Park, part of which was engulfed in flames on 21 December 2011, resulting in closure of the WCML.<br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 27/11/2011]](/images/36000/36952.jpg "Farington Junction")
![The scene looking south from Farington Junction towards Leyland at around 9 pm on 21 December 2011 with a serious fire in the business park to the west of the railway. The WCML was completely closed all evening due to the risk posed from a nearby gas main and a large number of exploding beer barrels <br><br>[John McIntyre 21/12/2011]](/images/2000/2749.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Boxing Day view south at Farington Junction and a pall of smoke still drifts across the line from the fire that started five days previously in the nearby business park. This caused the temporary closure of the WCML at the time [See image 2749]<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 26/12/2011]](/images/36000/36954.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Having just drawn forward from the 'Cumbrian Mountain Express', 34067 <I>Tangmere</I> waits in the exchange siding at Farington Junction on 12 April 2012. The railtour was taken over by 86259 <I>Les Ross</I> (standing round the curve to the right) for the return trip to Euston. After the train had set off south, 34067 reversed back to Lostock Hall Junction before heading for Carnforth via Preston.<br><br>[John McIntyre 12/04/2012]](/images/38000/38393.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Colas Rail 47739 hauls Merseyrail emu 507012, sandwiched between two Arlington Fleet Services barrier vehicles, on the 5Z08 move to Kilmarnock from Birkenhead on 16 May. The train is seen heading north on the WCML near Farington Junction. For a similar stock move, a little further south, almost 31 years earlier, [See image 19617]<br><br>[John McIntyre 16/05/2012]](/images/38000/38875.jpg "Farington Junction")
![The southbound Lowland Sleeper with 90036 in charge photographed passing Farington Junction just before 7am on 21 July 2012. The train was running more than 2 hours behind schedule at this point.<br><br>[John McIntyre 21/07/2012]](/images/39000/39684.jpg "Farington Junction")
![A4 no 60009 <I>Union of South Africa</I>, which had appeared earlier on 23 July with the Compass Tours 'Mersey Moorlander', seen running past Farington Junction with support coach on its way back to Crewe. <br><br>[John McIntyre 23/07/2012]](/images/39000/39725.jpg "Farington Junction")
![The two HNRC Class 20s (20311 and 20314) now outshopped in HNRC Orange worked from Washwood Heath to Kilmarnock as 5Z20 on 21 August 2012 with two barrier coaches. They were seen passing Farington Junction at 1817 hrs some 80 minutes late after a minor hiccup earlier in their journey.<br><br>[John McIntyre 21/08/2012]](/images/40000/40039.jpg "Farington Junction")
![One of a few Class 56s that have been put into service in Colas Railfreight livery is 56094, seen here on the Carlisle to Chirk loaded log train on 27 October 2012 heading south along the WCML at Farington Junction.<br><br>[John McIntyre 27/10/2012]](/images/41000/41114.jpg "Farington Junction")
![After signifcant amounts of snow had fallen (and drifted) elsewhere in the north of England, the area around Farington Junction on the WCML had few problems on 23 March. The services passing through the area were however subject to knock-on delays from elsewhere, including this late running southbound Virgin Voyager.<br><br>[John McIntyre 23/03/2013]](/images/42000/42564.jpg "Farington Junction")
![A Northern Class 142 heads south at Farington Junction on a Blackpool to Manchester Victoria service on a cold 23 March 2013. On the left is the Leyland Trucks factory.<br><br>[John McIntyre 23/03/2013]](/images/42000/42570.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Having swapped places with <I>Duchess of Sutherland</I> minutes earlier, E3137/86259 joins the WCML at Farington Junction with the return leg of the <I>Cumbrian Mountain Express</I> bound for Euston.<br><br>[John McIntyre 22/05/2013]](/images/43000/43185.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Having changed locos at Farington Junction on 20 June, the return <I>Cumbrian Mountain Express</I> snakes out onto the WCML behind 86259 <I>Les Ross</I> on its way back to Euston. On the right is 46115 <I>Scots Guardsman</I> which had hauled the train from Carlisle and was waiting to return home to Carnforth.<br><br>[John McIntyre 20/06/2013]](/images/43000/43613.jpg "Farington Junction")
![A Northern Class 150 heads past the Leyland Trucks site approaching Farington Junction on 6 July 2013 with a service to Blackpool.<br><br>[John McIntyre 06/07/2013]](/images/43000/43734.jpg "Farington Junction")
![DRS 37607+37608 head south at Farington Junction with two 4 wheel flat wagons on 27 July 2013 on a Sellafield to Crewe working.<br><br>[John McIntyre 27/07/2013]](/images/43000/43981.jpg "Farington Junction")
![DRS 47805 heads north at Farington Junction on 27 July with a Compass railtours special from Hereford to Blackpool. On the rear of the train are 37603 and 20312 which later operated a mini tour around Lancashire and West Yorkshire.<br><br>[John McIntyre 27/07/2013]](/images/43000/43987.jpg "Farington Junction")
![The <I>Northern Belle</I> railtour on the second circuit of a tour from Manchester via Bolton, Preston and Crewe passing Farington Junction on 21 September 2014. The leading locomotive is 57302 with 47790 on the rear.<br><br>[John McIntyre 21/09/2014]](/images/48000/48870.jpg "Farington Junction")
![DRS 57304 approaching Farington Junction on 11 December running light engine from Crewe to Preston.<br><br>[John McIntyre 11/12/2014]](/images/49000/49761.jpg "Farington Junction")
![A Northern Class 150 DMU heads south on the Up Slow between Farington Jct and Leyland on 14 May 2016. On the left is the former Leyland Trucks site and the sidings which are presently the subject of a planning application for a temporary servicing and refuelling point while electrification work prevents the use of the existing facility at Blackpool North.<br><br>[John McIntyre 14/05/2016]](/images/55000/55237.jpg "Farington Junction")
![With planning approval received, work has started in creating a temporary servicing facility for Northern DMUs beside the WCML near to Farington Jct when the electrification work at Blackpool North prevents the units going there each night. The view is north with the WCML on the right. An early arrival was a new set of buffers at the end of the headshunt but all the track in the sidings appears to have been lifted and is being replaced.<br><br>[John McIntyre 22/06/2016]](/images/55000/55569.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Ex LMS 4-6-0 no. 46115 Scots Guardsman with support coach head north on the WCML to Preston after completing a reversal which had taken them via Lostock Hall Jct. The loco was being positioned in readiness to take over the CME railtour to Carlisle.<br><br>[John McIntyre 20/08/2016]](/images/56000/56287.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Freightliner 66605 takes a long rake of bright green open wagons along the Up Slow line at Farington Junction on 6th September 2016. This was a working from Hardendale Quarry at Shap to Guide Bridge CE sidings. The deviation of the fast lines behind the train marks the site of Farington station, closed in 1960. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 06/09/2016]](/images/56000/56493.jpg "Farington Junction")
![The temporary servicing point for Northern DMUs that is being constructed in the sidings next to the WCML at Farington Jct is taking shape. The new track is in place with 3 sidings. On the approach from the main line there is a carriage washing plant. It was recently reported locally that a 'test run' on each road with some units has been completed<br><br>[John McIntyre 11/09/2016]](/images/56000/56504.jpg "Farington Junction")
![88002 with the Northern Belle charter stock, heads north approaching Farington Jct with a London to Carlisle VIP special on 09 May 2017.<br><br>[John McIntyre 09/05/2017]](/images/59000/59158.jpg "Farington Junction")
![A1 class pacific no.60163 'Tornado' heads north at Farington Jct on 16 September 2017 whilst working 'The Border Raider' tour from Tame Bridge Parkway to Carlisle.<br><br>[John McIntyre 16/09/2017]](/images/61000/61001.jpg "Farington Junction")
![Colas Rail Freight 56105 is in the 'naughty' siding at Farington Jct after failing whilst working with another Class 56 on the Carlisle to Chirk log train on 02 November 2017. The loco was detached from the train and pushed into the siding by the other Class 56. That then continued south with the train but there is another story around that which will take too long to tell here!<br><br>[John McIntyre 04/11/2017]](/images/61000/61691.jpg "Farington Junction")
