Oakenshaw North Junction by John Wraitmell & Keith Long
I was surfing the web this week when I came across the top picture by John Wraitmell, exactly the same view as mine taken from what was then Oakenshaw North Junction signal-box showing a Class 45 hauling the southbound "Devonian" over the Up Main in about 1965.
The lower view was taken by myself on 28th September 1982 when I was a signalman at the box which was now called just Oakenshaw and shows 56023 with 6K84 1114 Eggborough to Grimethorpe, the train is running on the Crofton East Jct to Oakenshaw North Jct line connecting the L&Y Pontefract to Wakefield line to the Midland Derby to Leeds line.
By the time my picture was taken the Midland main line to Normanton has been reduced to two tracks, the junction had been moved to Oakenshaw South and the only piece of railway infrastructure common to both pictures was the gradient board, though slewed into a different place probably some of the rail on the main line was the same but the branch had been relayed with welded flat bottom. Today the site has changed even more dramatically as the box and all the tracks but one have now been removed.
I have received permission to use the photograph and here is a link to the site it came from
www.derbysulzers.com/holbeckeight.html
an excellent site with some cracking pictures in it, especially if you explore it fully by visiting the pages of Classes 24,25,44,45 and 46.
Oakenshaw North Junction by John Wraitmell & Keith Long
I was surfing the web this week when I came across the top picture by John Wraitmell, exactly the same view as mine taken from what was then Oakenshaw North Junction signal-box showing a Class 45 hauling the southbound "Devonian" over the Up Main in about 1965.
The lower view was taken by myself on 28th September 1982 when I was a signalman at the box which was now called just Oakenshaw and shows 56023 with 6K84 1114 Eggborough to Grimethorpe, the train is running on the Crofton East Jct to Oakenshaw North Jct line connecting the L&Y Pontefract to Wakefield line to the Midland Derby to Leeds line.
By the time my picture was taken the Midland main line to Normanton has been reduced to two tracks, the junction had been moved to Oakenshaw South and the only piece of railway infrastructure common to both pictures was the gradient board, though slewed into a different place probably some of the rail on the main line was the same but the branch had been relayed with welded flat bottom. Today the site has changed even more dramatically as the box and all the tracks but one have now been removed.
I have received permission to use the photograph and here is a link to the site it came from
www.derbysulzers.com/holbeckeight.html
an excellent site with some cracking pictures in it, especially if you explore it fully by visiting the pages of Classes 24,25,44,45 and 46.