By the beginning of 1968, the steam locomotive was becoming an
endangered species, though the surviving examples were still very much concentrated
in our neck of the woods, in north west England.
Given that we knew that they were on the way out, we didn’t
really bust a gut to see those that remained or try to create meaningful photo
records before they all disappeared. Most named engines had already gone and I
had seen previously just about all of the steam locomotives that were still
around by the turn of the year, 67-68.
While we took our eye off the ball, die-hard enthusiasts
were tracking every movement of the surviving steam rosters and photographing
anything that moved. Some even volunteered for engine cleaning duties at sheds
that still held steam, especially prior to the running of the various special
trains.
We knew that there was still the odd steam-hauled passenger
train heading for Preston out of Liverpool Exchange and we made an effort, just
once, to go and photograph one. We caught up with Stanier Black Five No. 45411
heading north near Ormskirk, on 16/3/68.
We also found live steam on Carnforth sheds later that day,
in the form of Black Five No. 44897, seen here emerging from the coaling stage,
and Standard Class 9F No. 92077, which sauntered into view from behind the lines
of withdrawn engines.
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