Great Sankey, Burtonwood Airbase, 47597 (10.52 Liverpool Lime Street - Newcastle) November 29th 1989.
The view from the then new Cromwell Avenue bridge at Sankey Old Hall. 47597 speeds towards the Warrington stop on the former Cheshire Lines Liverpool - Manchester route with the 10.52 Liverpool - Newcastle. Behind me is the Junction for access into Burtonwood Airbase and the perimeter fence can be seen on the right, November 29th 1989.
* RAF Burtonwood was opened during WWII in 1940 but transferred to the USA in 1942. At one time 18,000 service men and women were on site and it became the largest airfield in Europe. The base was returned to the RAF after the war had ended.
The U.S. Department of Defence returned to Burtonwood in 1966 when France withdrew its military support for NATO. Burtonwood was used as a receiving depot for USAF and United States Army equipment and supplies being withdrawn from their former French NATO facilities. Afterwards, the US Army took over the base and renamed it Burtonwood Army Depot.
The Army developed Burtonwood into a storage and forward supply depot operated by the 47th Support Group. The main warehouse was described as the largest building under a single roof in Europe. The idea was that in the event of an emergency, U.S. troops in the USA that were earmarked for NATO service in Europe would fly over and pick up their kit from Burtonwood before going on to the battle front. It was never tested for this eventuality, although the base provided service functions for the 1991 Gulf War.
When the Cold War ended, Burtonwood Army Depot was declared excess to NATO requirements and was closed in June 1994.
* The new Warrington West station is located beyond where the second bridge is in the distance.
Great Sankey, Burtonwood Airbase, 47597 (10.52 Liverpool Lime Street - Newcastle) November 29th 1989.
The view from the then new Cromwell Avenue bridge at Sankey Old Hall. 47597 speeds towards the Warrington stop on the former Cheshire Lines Liverpool - Manchester route with the 10.52 Liverpool - Newcastle. Behind me is the Junction for access into Burtonwood Airbase and the perimeter fence can be seen on the right, November 29th 1989.
* RAF Burtonwood was opened during WWII in 1940 but transferred to the USA in 1942. At one time 18,000 service men and women were on site and it became the largest airfield in Europe. The base was returned to the RAF after the war had ended.
The U.S. Department of Defence returned to Burtonwood in 1966 when France withdrew its military support for NATO. Burtonwood was used as a receiving depot for USAF and United States Army equipment and supplies being withdrawn from their former French NATO facilities. Afterwards, the US Army took over the base and renamed it Burtonwood Army Depot.
The Army developed Burtonwood into a storage and forward supply depot operated by the 47th Support Group. The main warehouse was described as the largest building under a single roof in Europe. The idea was that in the event of an emergency, U.S. troops in the USA that were earmarked for NATO service in Europe would fly over and pick up their kit from Burtonwood before going on to the battle front. It was never tested for this eventuality, although the base provided service functions for the 1991 Gulf War.
When the Cold War ended, Burtonwood Army Depot was declared excess to NATO requirements and was closed in June 1994.
* The new Warrington West station is located beyond where the second bridge is in the distance.