Festive Greetings
A little late for Christmas this year but in time for 2016, all the best everyone.
This appropriately wintery scene, taken 14th January 1985, is a nice archive shot of what Ladybridge Lane bridge in Bolton used to be like and ties in nicely with the previous uploads of the bridges demise.
Only days from withdrawal, and indeed close to the end of the 40s, period, 40079, also carrying her immediate pre-tops number 279 at this end, and proudly displaying the Royal Train disc headcode too! heads for Horwich Loco Works with a very thoughtfully arranged selection of LWB tube and pig-iron 4-wheelers which dont obscure the bridge behind.
How this scene has changed over the years. The quadruple tracks are reduced to three by this time and would further be reduced to two. The standard wooden railway fencing of the period in the foreground has long since gone, replaced by steel wire fencing, the much more substantial and longer-lasting sleeper-built fencing behind the train has just been replaced by a concrete post chain link fence, (witness the old sleepers scattered on the embankment) which itself has been recently been replaced on the Bolton side of the bridge by the horrible pallisade fencing, presumably the Preston side will follow in due course. The undergrowth, mainly nettles and brambles, and tree growth has advanced to such an extent that such a photo is hardly possible even if one could get close to the fence. But the hardest part to swallow is the demolition of the two closest arches and replacement by a single steel span as part of the encroaching electrifiation. Not immediately obvious is the fact that the original bridge was extended when the line was quadrupled. So sympathetically and tastefully was the extension executed that it was nigh on impossible to tell what was old or new without really close expert scrutiny. How Network Rail can be allowed to completely destroy such a unique and historical and nigh on 200 year-old bridge in such an idyllic location beside a nature trail and replace it with what they have done beggars belief. Those who are familiar really need to return and take a look.
Sorry for the poor quality of this one, Ive had several attempts at scanning and as for that stretch mark on the negative.....I may get this one professionally done and reupload it. Kodak 35mm film taken on my old Praktica camera, maybe the neg is not up to it. However, enjoy.
Festive Greetings
A little late for Christmas this year but in time for 2016, all the best everyone.
This appropriately wintery scene, taken 14th January 1985, is a nice archive shot of what Ladybridge Lane bridge in Bolton used to be like and ties in nicely with the previous uploads of the bridges demise.
Only days from withdrawal, and indeed close to the end of the 40s, period, 40079, also carrying her immediate pre-tops number 279 at this end, and proudly displaying the Royal Train disc headcode too! heads for Horwich Loco Works with a very thoughtfully arranged selection of LWB tube and pig-iron 4-wheelers which dont obscure the bridge behind.
How this scene has changed over the years. The quadruple tracks are reduced to three by this time and would further be reduced to two. The standard wooden railway fencing of the period in the foreground has long since gone, replaced by steel wire fencing, the much more substantial and longer-lasting sleeper-built fencing behind the train has just been replaced by a concrete post chain link fence, (witness the old sleepers scattered on the embankment) which itself has been recently been replaced on the Bolton side of the bridge by the horrible pallisade fencing, presumably the Preston side will follow in due course. The undergrowth, mainly nettles and brambles, and tree growth has advanced to such an extent that such a photo is hardly possible even if one could get close to the fence. But the hardest part to swallow is the demolition of the two closest arches and replacement by a single steel span as part of the encroaching electrifiation. Not immediately obvious is the fact that the original bridge was extended when the line was quadrupled. So sympathetically and tastefully was the extension executed that it was nigh on impossible to tell what was old or new without really close expert scrutiny. How Network Rail can be allowed to completely destroy such a unique and historical and nigh on 200 year-old bridge in such an idyllic location beside a nature trail and replace it with what they have done beggars belief. Those who are familiar really need to return and take a look.
Sorry for the poor quality of this one, Ive had several attempts at scanning and as for that stretch mark on the negative.....I may get this one professionally done and reupload it. Kodak 35mm film taken on my old Praktica camera, maybe the neg is not up to it. However, enjoy.