Wcml Preston To Crewe Discussion

Haydock Branch?? Surely that's the line that runs through past the racecourse just south of Ashton in Makerfield?

 

Yeah, until around 1983 it was still in use for petrochemicals though by 86 was cut back to the Lowton Metals scrap yard behind Ashton, a "new" flow of bitumen began though and ran until 2005. It's been cut back further since but the "Kelbits" aggregate branch is still in use (requires a double reversal to get in/out now though instead of just running across from St Helens).

Bitumen traffic 1991
https://flic.kr/p/2iKUXJ9

Bitumen traffic 1994
https://flic.kr/p/2pD16gM

The funny thing with the Bitumen, which would make for an interesting working in the game is that they couldn't run-round, instead they would have to propel the train back to Springs Branch, being waved on by the guard in a brake van. By the 90s though they'd just propel it back onto the WCML and head south to Parkside and across Chat Moss as the route had changed.

 

Yeah it is, we've included it as there's a few trains which use the branch.