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Oubeck Loops
All photographs of this location in date order.
![A <I>Dutch</I> liveried Class 31 hauls a rake of engineers' wagons, as they were called before the days of infrastructure trains, along the Up WCML just south of Oubeck Loops, which can just be seen behind the train. The signal controls the access to the Down loop.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett //1990]](/images/26000/26497.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Track renewal at Oubeck Loops, on the West Coast Main Line south of Lancaster, during the weekend closure on 17 May. 60096 stands on the down line. View is south towards Galgate. Map ref SD 480574<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 17/05/2008]](/images/19000/19065.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![66193 supports track relaying operations at Oubeck Loops on the WCML south of Lancaster on 17 May. The signal PN211 controls access to the down loop. (Map ref SD 480564). <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 17/05/2008]](/images/19000/19067.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Awaiting the call to move into the working area, 66248 sits in the WCML cutting north of the Oubeck loops with an infrastructure train during a relaying possession. The signal to the right of the locomotive normally controls access into the Up Loop. Map Ref SD 490575<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 17/05/2008]](/images/20000/20402.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![DRS 66418, on a W H Malcolm container train, is held in the Up Loop at Oubeck to allow passenger trains to overtake. In the foreground is the Ou Beck from which the loops get their name. A very rural setting, only two miles south of Lancaster City Centre, alongside the A6 main road. Map Ref SD 481568<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 02/03/2009]](/images/22000/22688.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Having been held in the down loop at Oubeck to allow a Pendolino, a TPE 185 and a Voyager to pass, Freightliner 66595 eases its infrastructure train back onto the main line and continues its journey northwards.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 11/03/2009]](/images/22000/22813.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Transpennine Express 185145, heading north, passes Freightliner 66595 and an infrastructure train in the down loop at Oubeck, just south of Lancaster. The stones on the cutting side mark the site of a previous landslip. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 11/03/2009]](/images/22000/22815.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Four wheeled coal hopper wagons are now a rare sight on the WCML but in 2009 train 6S13, Warrington to New Cumnock coal empties, ran MWF passing through Preston at 0725. Here the train is seen at Oubeck loops, powered by EWS Class 66 No. 66060, accelerating away from a signal check. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 01/07/2009]](/images/24000/24382.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![The rather plain looking 66612 <I>Forth Raider</I>, which has no bodyside Freightliner logo, gets a train of yellow Network Rail <I>mega boxes</I> under way again after a short stop in the Up Gds Loop at Oubeck to allow a passenger service to overtake. This was once a completely rural location but the University of Lancaster campus has steadily expanded and can now be seen in the background. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 04/08/2009]](/images/24000/24930.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![The University of Lancaster campus (and the hill known as Clougha Pike) form a backdrop to the Oubeck Loops as a Virgin Voyager takes a Birmingham New Street service towards Preston. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 03/11/2009]](/images/26000/26145.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![A Colas track machine has climbed the bank heading south out of Lancaster and is slowly approaching Oubeck where it is signalled into the Up Loop. The street lamps mark the line of the A6 main road, which follows the WCML for several miles south from here to beyond Galgate. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 01/03/2010]](/images/28000/28045.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![A southbound Pendolino rushes through Oubeck on its way from Lancaster to Preston on 4 March 2010 passing a Colas track machine in the loop awaiting a path south.<br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 04/03/2010]](/images/27000/27994.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Early morning mist hangs over the WCML at Oubeck on 7 April as Freightliner 66621 waits in the Up Loop with an infrastructure train.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 07/04/2010]](/images/28000/28400.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![<I>'James the Engine'</I> aka DRS no 66414, in 'Stobart Rail' livery, hauls a southbound container train through the Oubeck loops south of Lancaster on 22 May 2010.<br><br>[John McIntyre 22/05/2010]](/images/37000/37309.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![<I>The Fellsman</I> excursions can be hauled by any one of a pool of four Carnforth based steam locomotives and the first of the 2010 summer trains was taken by 5690 <I>Leander</I>. It is seen here on the first leg of its journey at Oubeck, just south of Lancaster. Perhaps because of recent failures of other steam locomotives Brush Type 4 no 47760 was tagged on the rear - something not seen on any of the 2009 trains. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 28/07/2010]](/images/29000/29994.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![A new face puts in an appearance on <I>The Fellsman</I>. LMS 5MT 4-6-0 45231 took a turn on the penultimate <I>Fellsman</I> from Lancaster on 7 September 2011. 24 hours previously the area was suffering from torrential downpours and flooding but things were a little improved on this particular morning. Here the Black 5 gets into its stride after climbing the bank out of Lancaster and heads south for Preston approaching Oubeck Loops. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 07/09/2011]](/images/35000/35547.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![The 'Statesman Railtours' 2 day trip to Edinburgh and Stirling returning to Bristol on 18 August 2012. The train is passing Oubeck loops on the WCML south of Lancaster.<br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 18/08/2012]](/images/40000/40018.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Having taken on water at Carnforth on 18 August, <I>Union of South Africa</I> makes good progress towards the next stop at Preston with the 'Cumbrian Mountain Express'. The train has just passed Oubeck loops on its way south.<br><br>[John McIntyre 18/08/2012]](/images/40000/40029.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![The morning Crewe to Sellafield flask train rounds the reverse curves at Oubeck Loops on 9 October. 37609 and 37419 had four flask wagons heading for the Cumbrian Coast. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 09/10/2013]](/images/44000/44925.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Two different DRS liveries (both now being replaced as locos are overhauled), lit by an early morning autumn sun at Oubeck Loops on 30 October as the Crewe to Sellafield flasks head north behind 37038 and 37602.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 30/10/2013]](/images/45000/45196.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![A single flask heads north from Crewe to Sellafield at the Oubeck Loops behind 57009 and 37218. The Type 3 sports the new <I>Class 68</I> livery. It seems this view from beside the Ou Beck is to disappear as the rows of newly planted saplings in the foreground grow. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 10/07/2014]](/images/47000/47981.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![A single flask on the morning train from Crewe to Sellafield was an easy task for DRS EE Type 3s 37610 and 37402 on 1st August 2014. The train is approaching the Oubeck loops south of Lancaster, the trickle of water in the foreground being the Ou Beck from which the location gets its name. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 01/08/2014]](/images/48000/48268.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Dusk at Oubeck and, only two miles from its Lancaster destination, 8F 48151 and the returning <I>Fellsman</I> has been <I>looped</I>. This northbound Pendolino was one of four trains that overtook the steam hauled special before it got underway again.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 06/08/2014]](/images/48000/48271.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![A rare outing for West Coast Railway inspection saloon 999506 [See image 32716] on 24th September when it worked Carnforth - Carlisle - Crewe behind maroon liveried 57313. The short train is heading south approaching Oubeck loops. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 24/09/2014]](/images/48000/48801.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Although running as the Dollands Moor to Irvine china clay service rather than a light engine movement, DBS liveried 92031 has no payload as it passes the Oubeck Loops on 24th September 2014. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 24/09/2014]](/images/48000/48890.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Ex-Thameslink 319366 was in regular use by Northern Rail between January and May 2015, shuttling between Preston and Carnforth on driver training duties. Northern refurbished the 319s taken into passenger service but 319366 was in <I>as cascaded</I> condition on these duties. The EMU is seen here at Oubeck on 31st March 2015.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 31/03/2015]](/images/50000/50823.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Running alongside the Ou Beck on 31 March, past the loops of the same name, is Colas Rail 66849 with a loaded log train from Carlisle to Chirk.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 31/03/2015]](/images/50000/50908.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Winding through the reverse curves at the Oubeck Loops are DRS 66425 and 66301, double heading the <I>Tesco Express</I> to Mossend on 13th January 2016<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/01/2016]](/images/53000/53922.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![With the downturn in power station traffic the coal wagons are being used for other loads. DBS 66034 takes a rake of hopper empties from Warrington Arpley to Shap Quarry passing Oubeck Loops on 22nd April 2016. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 22/04/2016]](/images/54000/54932.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Freightliner 66528 <I>Madge Elliott MBE</I> hauls the late running Coatbridge Daventry service towards the Oubeck Loops on 23rd May 2016. The container train is just about to cross the Burrow Beck. This rural scene is set to change as the land on this side of the railway is earmarked for a retail development. [See image 51530] <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 23/05/2016]](/images/55000/55270.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Sporting promotional vinyls for <I>Festival No.6</I> at Portmeirion, Voyager 221106 speeds south through the loops at Oubeck with a Euston (via Birmingham) service on 23rd May 2016. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 23/05/2016]](/images/55000/55417.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![With a muted throb from the Mirrlees Blackstone engine, Colas 60026 gets the twenty wagons of the Carlisle to Chirk log train moving again after a stop in the Up Loop at Oubeck. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 01/06/2016]](/images/55000/55376.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![A shiny 66140, still in original EWS livery, hauls a grubby rake of Castle Cement tanks south through the loops at Oubeck on 3rd October 2016. The train is the thrice weekly Mossend to Clitheroe (Horrocksford), which will return to running via the S&C when the Armathwaite landslip has been repaired.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 03/10/2016]](/images/56000/56845.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Grab shot (from the top deck of a Stagecoach bus) of 45690 <I>Leander</I> waiting in the Up Loop at Oubeck on 11th March 2017. The Jubilee was working tender first to Preston with its support coach to pick up a train to Carlisle. It should have been in Preston at this time so a very fortunate encounter. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 11/03/2017]](/images/58000/58465.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![90045 and 90043, both in the modern Freightliner livery, head north on the WCML on 2nd May 2017. The container train, running from Daventry to Coatbridge, is approaching the Oubeck Loops.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 02/05/2017]](/images/59000/59318.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![A broadside view of 88003 <I>Genesis</I>, heading north at the Oubeck Loops on 12th June 2017. This was the first Class 88 electro-diesel to haul the <I>Tesco Express</I> and these single locos are replacing double headed diesels. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 12/06/2017]](/images/59000/59653.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![Still operating in Freightliner Grey livery, 90044 leads 90046 and a Coatbridge to Daventry liner train south through the Oubeck Loops on 4th October 2017. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 04/10/2017]](/images/61000/61231.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
![DBS 90024 & 90018 head south through the Oubeck Loops with a Mossend to Daventry container service on 4th October 2017.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 04/10/2017]](/images/62000/62032.jpg "Oubeck Loops")
