{"id":1798,"date":"2025-12-18T11:18:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T11:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/?p=1798"},"modified":"2025-12-19T16:57:31","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T16:57:31","slug":"northern-salvo-329","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/northern-salvo-329","title":{"rendered":"Northern Salvo 329"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Northern Christmas Salvo<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Incorporating \u00a0Weekly Notices, Sectional Appendices, and Northern Weekly Salvo <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Published at Station House, Kents Bank, Lancashire-North-of-the-Sands, LA11 7BB <\/strong>email: paul.salveson@myphone.coop<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

No. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 329\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 December 2025\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Salveson\u2019s half-nakedly political digest of railways, tripe and secessionist nonsense from Up North<\/p>\n

Season\u2019s Greetings from Kents Bank<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Warmest greetings for Christmas and the New Year from Kents Bank! We\u2019ve had some very good news recently regarding awards \u2013 the Library has won the \u2018Lancastrians\u2019 award for its work, and we\u2019ve been shortlisted in two categories for the national Community Rail Awards, being held in Derby next March (see below). Our Christmas Fair on December 13th<\/sup> went very well with the gallery, library and station<\/p>\n

\"\"
We’re very inclusive in our collection – even a book on Ernie Marples!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

friends getting a lot of interest (and sales).<\/p>\n

We’ve had some very welcome donations of books recently, including the final installment of the late Chris Gore\u2019s library \u2013 a very big thank you to his widow, Debbie. We now have an extensive collection of books on overseas railways in our \u2018browse and borrow\u2019 section. The Library and Beach Hut Gallery will be closed from December 22nd<\/sup> until January 3rd<\/sup>. Have a great Christmas and New Year and hope to see you in 2026.<\/p>\n

We’re looking for volunteers to help specifically with the library – it involves nothing more than a welcoming face for visitors, managing book sales, a bit of shelving and cataloguing and really just being there. If you’re interested, one day a month is fine, please het in touch.<\/p>\n

Why no trains in Cumbria?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Severe weather was forecast on Sunday December 14th<\/sup> and Monday December 15th<\/sup>, with \u2018amber\u2019 warnings across Cumbria. As a result no Northern services ran on the Cumbrian Coast (Carlisle \u2013 Carnforth via Barrow), Oxenholme \u2013 Windermere, Lancaster \u2013 Skipton (Bentham Line) and Skipton \u2013 Carlisle (via Settle). However, West Coast Main<\/p>\n

\"\"
Ellie had a long wait for trains at Kents Bank<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Line services (Avanti and TransPennine Express) did run from Preston to Glasgow via Shap. Presumably it was a decision taken with Network Rail, but if so, why permit trains to run via Shap but not via the S&C or Cumbrian Coast? Trains were running through Oxenholme but the Windermere branch was closed.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not the only person to question the decision of Northern to run no trains in Cumbria, even though it won\u2019t make me popular in some quarters for saying it. Sometimes you have to speak truth to power. I value having a good relationship with all the train companies, Northern above all as it\u2019s \u2018my\u2019 operator having worked for it, used it and supported it through thick and thin over many years. Similarly with Network Rail. But blanket withdrawal of services on the basis of forecast bad weather (and not even a \u2018red\u2019 warning) isn\u2019t something I can sit back and condone and \u2018say nowt\u2019. As it turned out, the rain was far less severe than forecast, though some areas e.g. Keswick and Ambleside, got a drenching.<\/p>\n

The harm done to people\u2019s daily lives was immense, to say nothing of the safety risk of people being forced to use their cars instead of the train. No immediate damage was done to railway infrastructure on Sunday and Monday though on Wednesday there was a landslip on the Cumbrian Coast Line, resulting in withdrawal of services north of Millom. However, this doesn\u2019t justify the original decision \u2013 quite the opposite in fact. Selective speed restrictions (which appear to have been the case on the WCML for those two days) would have been a more sensible response combined with checks on locations known for problems. I don\u2019t claim to be an expert on these things but generally, common sense would suggest that heavy rain has a less immediate effect on railways than on the highway network, with a more cumulative effect on railway embankments and cuttings, as shown by the recent events near Drigg.<\/p>\n

A friend made the comment that \u201cit shows how they shouldn’t rely on weather forecasts to cancel train services. There were no problems south of Corkickle when they stopped services for two days. Today (Wednesday), when all services were running, an actual landslide between Seascale and Drigg has stopped them! Far worse rain fell today than Sunday or Monday.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure the decision of Northern and Network Rail management was taken in good faith by conscientious railway people whom I respect. But we can\u2019t get into a situation when every time bad weather is forecast trains should stop running. It needs a measured response which balances the need to run a railway – with all the obvious benefits it brings – with safety. As things stand, the balance is far too much on being completely risk averse. There are always risks in running trains. The safest way to run a railway is not to run any trains at all. But the wider risks to society far outweigh those considerations. Sorry guys, it was the wrong decision.<\/p>\n

Great British Railways: need for creative thinking in the regions<\/strong><\/h5>\n

It\u2019s an interesting time in railway politics. The establishment of the new state-owned entity\u00a0 \u2013 Great British Railways (GBR)\u2013 is gathering momentum, but don\u2019t expect it to happen before 2027. However, several train operators have already gone into the state sector, now part of \u2018Department for Transport Operations\u2019 (DFTO). More will\u00a0 enter the state sector next year. The infrastructure body which owns and manages the rail network, Network Rail, has been publicly-owned<\/p>\n

\"\"
Alfred Aslett, General Manager of the Furness Railway 1895 – 1923<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

for several years. GBR will bring infrastructure and operations together, though the detail of how that will happen is still unclear.<\/p>\n

The establishment of \u2018Great British Railways\u2019 should be an opportunity for some creative thinking within Labour and the progressive left about how a state-owned rail operator should work. Instead of thinking \u201cjob done, it\u2019s all back in state ownership\u201d it should be an opportunity to learn a few lessons from the last thirty years – and there are some \u2013 for how a truly publicly-owned railway could operate. Some operators, for example Merseyrail and Chiltern, have developed strong regional identities and become a part of the fabric of their communities.<\/p>\n

It goes back, in part, to the classic quandary of how big should a rail operator be? Switzerland is a brilliant example of a state operator (SBB) working together with over fifty smaller regional operators, mostly owned by their local authorities. I remember chatting to the manager of a regional operator in Bern many years ago. He said \u201csmall is beautiful, but too small can be ugly\u201d. He had a point. He might have added that \u201ctoo big\u201d can be ugly as well and that could be a risk that GBR runs if it doesn\u2019t allow a degree of regional autonomy. That is already working with Merseyrail and the West Midlands and Greater Manchester are moving in a similar direction. There is scope for more developments in the established mayor authorities, such as West and South Yorkshire and the North-East.<\/p>\n

However, there is scope for a more creative approach in areas not currently covered by the existing strategic mayoral authorities which learns some lessons from the community rail movement which has promoted a strong degree of local involvement combined with effective marketing. Cumbria (and North Lancs) offers an opportunity to try out a fresh approach which could work well within the umbrella of GBR. The Furness Railway was an example of Victorian regional enterprise, developing a network around what is perhaps best described as \u2018The South Lakes\u2019 today. It was admired by forward-thinking socialists like Bram Longstaffe, Labour mayor of Barrow, who regretted its merger into the giant LMSR in 1923, with consequent loss of local input. Longstaffe was a good friend of the general manager of the Furness from 1895, Alfred Aslett, who was a radical Liberal.<\/p>\n

A modern-day Furness and Lakes Railway, serving the regional lines north of Lancaster to Morecambe, Barrow, Windermere and round the coast to Whitehaven, Workington and Carlisle, would be big enough to work in operational terms but small enough to be close to a large market for both tourists and local people. It could be a test bed for a unified<\/p>\n

\"\"
During last year’s snow, trains kept running on the Furness Line<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

regional operation, with operations and infrastructure coming under a single manager, part of GBR but with substantial devolved responsibilities. It could have a strong regional brand identity and build strong links with the local business community \u2013 particularly tourism \u2013 but also major employers such as Sellafield and BaE in Barrow. By being ultimately part of the national GBR structure it could pull in major resources for infrastructure repair and development whilst focusing on the day-to-day infrastructure management.<\/p>\n

This \u2018Furness and Lakes Railway\u2019 could have a management board involving the local authorities, trades unions and community\/business interests bringing real local control to the railway. As the railway expanded its business It would bring good quality jobs to an area which offers few opportunities apart from Sellafield and BaE. The proposed establishment of a mayoral authority for Cumbria would offer further potential and long-term scope to promote re-openings and new stations. The new Cumbria authority is likely to have responsibilities for the bus network, offering scope for improved integration between rail and bus \u2013 not just in the \u2018honeypots\u2019 like Windermere, Penrith and Carlisle but also at places such as Barrow, Workington, Maryport and Whitehaven. A \u2018Furness and Lakes Railway\u2019 would have strong incentives to work as part of a wider integrated transport network across the area it covers.<\/p>\n

None of this involves huge investment \u2013 but it does involve a leap in thinking. The concept isn\u2019t only applicable to Cumbria; it could work in many parts of England outside the main conurbations. Your thoughts welcome, dear reader!<\/p>\n

(PS: The recent goings-on in Cumbria – see above – may have had a different response from the proposed structure)<\/em><\/p>\n

A Children\u2019s story for Christmas \u2013 suitable for adults as well<\/strong><\/h5>\n

This is a slightly edited version of a story which appeared in The Loco Vanishes. It was written for my grandchildren, who seemed to like it. It was suggested that it\u2019s far too gloomy for Christmas, but I\u2019ll leave you to be the judge. If you like it, try reading it to your kids or grandchildren (and let me know what they think of it).See if you can get your tongue round the dialect!<\/em><\/p>\n

The Old Engine\u2019s Last Journey<\/strong><\/h5>\n

This is a story from a long time ago – 1960. It happened to a boy called Peter and a girl, Peter\u2019s sister, called Mary. Peter was 11 and Mary was 8.<\/p>\n

They lived in a town called Bolton. Back then it was still a very smoky, factory town that had lots of cotton mills. There were engineering factories too, and – not so far away – coal mines. Can you imagine that men used to dig underground for coal<\/em>? They did, and it was a dangerous job.<\/p>\n

The railways were very busy moving all sorts of things including cotton but much more. Next to the station at Bolton there was a huge warehouse where all the goods that had been made in Bolton were sorted and despatched all over the country \u2013 and beyond.<\/p>\n

Sixty years ago most trains were hauled by steam locomotives, like the ones you see at Bury, on the East Lancashire Railway. But they weren\u2019t lovingly polished with gleaming brass and copper. They looked a bit shabby and neglected. A few years later, in 1968, the last steam locomotives went to the scrapyard, replaced by diesels or electrics.<\/p>\n

Peter and Mary lived in a small terraced house in a part of Bolton<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lucy, grandad and 5596<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

called Great Lever, on Eustace Street- number 72. The house was like thousands more in Bolton and other Lancashire towns. Yes, Bolton was in Lancashire and people were very proud of that. Its symbol was a bright red rose. Probably more typical of towns like Bolton were the cobbled streets rather than roses, though some of the people who lived on Peter and Mary\u2019s street were proud of their little gardens.<\/p>\n

Their house had a small front garden and a yard at the back which used to have the outside toilet. The bath was an old metal tub that their mum brought out for bath time. The shed \u00a0was where Peter and Mary\u2019s dad used to mend things \u2013 he was very practical and loved nothing more than repairing old bikes and tools. He was what they called a tackler \u2013 a sort of engineer \u2013 and worked in Bee Hive Mill, just down at the bottom of the street. Mum, Joan, worked there as well, as a cotton spinner on the \u2018ring frames\u2019 that replaced the old spinning machines \u2013<\/p>\n

\"\"
Cotton town Lancashire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

called \u2018mules\u2019 – \u00a0which only men were allowed to operate! Most of the grown-ups on Eustace Street worked in the mills, though a few were railwaymen. Some women worked at the hospital as cleaners, or sometimes as nurses.<\/p>\n

The street was surrounded by cotton mills, but the two Bee Hive mills were the biggest. They were six storeys high and towered over everything; you could see the towers, with their fancy red brick, for miles. Next to them was the engine shed, on Crescent Road. It was home to over seventy locomotives \u2013 large and small, but mostly for goods traffic, shunting and local passenger trains.<\/p>\n

Peter and Mary loved going on little adventures around the area they lived in. As well as brother and sister they were really good friends and didn\u2019t often fall out.<\/p>\n

Their Uncle Jack was a driver at the engine sheds; he\u2019d started as young cleaner at the sheds in 1920 and became a driver just before the war started in 1939. Sometimes he\u2019d give them both a ride up and down the sidings in the sheds, which was the most fabulous treat. \u201cDon\u2019t let anyone see you,\u201d said Uncle Jack, \u201cespecially that miserable old foreman, Fred Horrocks – he\u2019d have my guts for garters!\u201d<\/p>\n

Peter didn\u2019t really know what he meant, except it was bad. Visitors weren\u2019t welcome at the sheds. At the entrance was a large sign saying \u2018Trespassers will be prosecuted\u2019. Peter wasn\u2019t sure what a \u2018trespasser\u2019 was either but the message seemed to be \u2018Keep out\u2019.<\/p>\n

He knew a prayer they said at his school – St Williams – that said something about \u2018forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us\u2019 but wasn\u2019t sure how that had anything to do with engine sheds.<\/p>\n

Peter and Mary\u2019s other playground was round the back of the Bee Hive mills \u2013 the mill lodge. It was a big reservoir full of water that used to feed the steam boilers that powered the mill engines \u2013 which drove the spinning mules. The old mill engines had been scrapped years ago but<\/p>\n

\"\"
Mill lodge (Heywood)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

the mill lodges carried on \u2013 nobody knew what to do with them and some of the local fishermen (most worked in the mill) got permission to fish in them. You\u2019d get all sorts \u2013 carp, bream and lots more. Like the engine sheds, it was strictly out of bounds.<\/p>\n

Peter and Mary\u2019s mum used to say \u201cDurnt be goin\u2019 near that mill lodge \u2013 it\u2019s deep, ah durnt want either of yo\u2019 drownin\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n

Like most children in the area, they ignored their mum\u2019s advice and used to do a bit of fishing of their own, though they\u2019d often get shouted at by the old gaffer in the mills.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw\u2019ll tell thi mother tha\u2019s been playn\u2019 bi th\u2019lodge an\u2019 tha\u2019ll cop it!\u201d he said in his broad Lancashire accent. \u201cAh know where tha lives y\u2019know.\u201d Mr Tatlock lived at number 84 on Eustace Street, so he would do.<\/p>\n

Peter and Mary ran off and climbed over the mill wall to escape his wrath.<\/p>\n

They carried on playing – and even caught a fish, sometimes.<\/p>\n

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….<\/p>\n

As Peter got a bit older he became more adventurous and realised you could sneak in to the back of the engine sheds through a hole in the fence. After a couple of forays he asked Mary if she\u2019d like to come as well. To tell you the truth Mary was probably more daring than her brother and didn\u2019t need any persuasion. All you had to do was squeeze through the hole and then jump down to the ground, a couple of feet \u2013 and you were in! It was a very special, secret place.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think we\u2019ll be alright Peter?\u201d Mary asked as they picked themselves up from the ground after jumping down from the fence.\u201dYou don\u2019t think we\u2019ll get prosecuted?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t think so -,\u201d said Peter, \u201cnobody ever comes round the back of the sheds, we\u2019ll be safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Near to the fence \u2013 and the hole in it \u2013 there was a siding which was used for storing old engines which were waiting to go to the scrapyard, at Horwich Loco Works, just a few miles away.<\/p>\n

They\u2019d seen an old engine dumped at the end of the siding for a few months but it took them a while to get the courage to explore it<\/p>\n

\"\"
Made in Horwich<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

properly. It had a number on its side \u2013 50647 \u2013 and you could make out the name \u2018British Railways\u2019 on the locomotive\u2019s tank.<\/p>\n

The engine was very old \u2013 it had been built at Horwich in 1890 and had been at Bolton shed for most of its life, working passenger trains to Rochdale and Wigan and \u2013 in its old age \u2013 shunting wagons and vans at Bolton station. The railwaymen called it \u2018A Radial Tank\u2019 and were very fond of it. Everyone was sad when it was finally put on the scrap line.<\/p>\n

…………………………………………………………………….<\/p>\n

It was Mary who suggested they should climb into the cab. It was a Sunday afternoon and nobody was about.<\/p>\n

Once they were in the cab they were both very excited.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s play drivers and firemen!\u201d said Peter. \u201cI\u2019ll be the driver, you be the fireman.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy can\u2019t I be the driver?\u201d asked Mary.<\/p>\n

\u201cDrivers are only boys \u2013 or men, and even firemen are men so you\u2019re very lucky to be asked…and besides, I\u2019m older than you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell it\u2019s not very fair,\u201d sulked Mary. \u201cBut let\u2019s get on with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peter sat on the driver\u2019s seat and opened the regulator, a large handle which controlled the steam entering the cylinders. He\u2019d seen his Uncle Jack do this, when he gave him a ride in the cab, up and down the shed yard.<\/p>\n

Mary found an old shovel that had been thrown away in some weeds, near the buffer stops at the end of the sidings. It was heavy to carry, but she managed to lift it into the cab.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you ready Mary?\u201d Peter shouted across the cab. \u201cGet shovelling, we\u2019re going to London on the afternoon express and we\u2019ve got to keep time!\u201d<\/p>\n

Peter opened the regulator as far as it would go and Mary pretended to shovel coal into the old engine\u2019s firebox. He pulled the cord which made the whistle peep \u2013 if there was any steam in the boiler!<\/p>\n

They started coming every Sunday playing on the old engine, pretending they were on an express to London, Cornwall or Scotland.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen am I going to drive?\u201d said Mary.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re old enough,\u201d said Peter. \u201cUncle Jack said you have to be a fireman for thirty years before you can be a proper driver, so you\u2019ve a long time to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

………………………………………………………………………..<\/p>\n

One day Peter had an idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur engine really needs a bit of a clean. It\u2019s covered in dirt and rust. Let\u2019s get some old rags and give it a polish.\u201d<\/p>\n

So they found some old rags in their dad\u2019s shed and some oil as well that could clean off some of the filth on 50647.<\/p>\n

\"\"After a few attempts old 50647 was starting to look quite smart. Peter found some white paint and painted the number on the front of the engine, the smokebox door, and the shedplate \u2013 \u201826C\u2019, the code for Bolton.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s better,\u201d said Peter. \u201cIt looks like a proper express engine now, ready to go to London!\u201d<\/p>\n

…………………………………………………………………………<\/p>\n

A few months later it was Christmas. The mills had closed down and most of the engines had been put into the shed, ready to start work again after the holiday.<\/p>\n

It was bitterly cold and all the mill lodges had frozen over.<\/p>\n

Peter and Mary were looking forward to their Christmas Day dinner, with turkey and Christmas pudding.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go down to the lodge first and do a bit of skating! The gaffer\u2019ll be off work and nobody\u2019ll see us.\u201d<\/p>\n

They skated all round the lodge, and nobody shouted at them to stop. They went faster, and faster, and faster. Both of them felt dizzy but couldn\u2019t stop. Someone shouted out \u201cbe careful, the ice has melted by the boiler house.\u201d Mary got a bit frightened and called to Peter \u201cCan we stop now?\u201d but they carried on, almost in a dream.<\/p>\n

Peter said \u201ccome on Mary, let\u2019s go and see our engine and wish her merry Christmas!\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a secret way in to the back of the engine shed from the mill, used by engine drivers taking a short cut to and from work.<\/p>\n

They got to where \u2018their\u2019 engine was standing. It seemed to have gone dark very early but they didn\u2019t worry about their Christmas dinner \u2013 this was more exciting.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeter, look! There\u2019s steam coming from her!\u201d<\/p>\n

And sure enough, the steam valves of old 50647 were sizzling<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get on, come on Mary,\u201d Peter urged.<\/p>\n

Once they got into the cab they couldn\u2019t believe their luck. There was a fire blazing away in the firebox and steam pressure was showing 150 lbs. per square inch, enough to get moving.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet some more coal on Mary,\u201d we\u2019re going for a run! London here we come!\u201d<\/p>\n

Peter put the reversing lever into the \u2018forward\u2019 position and eased off the brake. She moved easily. Peter pulled open the regulator and the engine puffed along the siding, towards the points at the top of the shed yard, controlling access onto the main line.<\/p>\n

He blew on the whistle as he approached the points.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs the signal clear for us, Mary?\u201d Peter shouted across the cab to his fireman.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, the signal\u2019s off, we\u2019re right away for the main line!\u201d Mary had picked up enough railway talk from Peter and Uncle Jack to know the proper language…<\/p>\n

The engine veered out onto the main line, heading northwards towards Bolton station.<\/p>\n

It was completely dark by now and they couldn\u2019t see anyone in the signalbox at Burnden Junction, or at the next one, Bolton East Junction. It was as though everyone had gone to sleep.<\/p>\n

They steamed through the station but again, there was nobody on the platform \u2013 no passengers, no porters nor anyone.<\/p>\n

The signal was clear for them to proceed, over the junction and on<\/p>\n

\"\"
Entwistle Viaduct<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

towards Blackburn. Up the long steep climb to Entwistle, high up on the moors – and into the long murky Sough Tunnel before Darwen.<\/p>\n

They went over the long viaduct across the River Croal and the canal and past the gasworks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is great, isn\u2019t it Mary! I\u2019ve always wanted to do this \u2013 always, always, always…and I\u2019ve got the best fireman \u2013 or firegirl \u2013 in the world!\u201d<\/p>\n

The engine picked up speed and went past Astley Bridge Junction Signal box, high up on the Tonge Viaduct. No sign of anyone in the box but the signals were all clear for them. They looked out from the cab and saw rows of houses, just like Eustace Street. Further away they could see the cotton mills, but none of the chimneys were smoking. And further away still, the clock of the town hall and the parish church.<\/p>\n

It was a bright, moonlit Christmas night and they puffed along at increasing speed, Peter pulling back the reversing lever \u2013 a bit like the<\/p>\n

\"\"
From the cab<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

gears on a bike \u2013 as they accelerated. They steamed past the little station and signalbox at Bromley Cross and there was snow on the ground. The station lights made a shadow of the engine on the snow-covered tracks.<\/p>\n

Peter opened the regulator of 50647 as they continued the climb towards the tunnel. By the time they reached the bridge at Turton Tower, with the old turrets on the bridge, the tracks were completely covered with snow.<\/p>\n

They went over the level crossing by the towel mill and carried on, through open fields towards Entwistle. In a short while they passed over the big viaduct, looking down to the reservoirs, with the moon reflected in the waters.<\/p>\n

Entwistle station was, like all the others, quiet with no sign of anyone in the signalbox, perched above the tracks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re nearly at the top now, Mary.\u201d You don\u2019t need to shovel any more coal on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, I\u2019m tired out,\u201d she said. \u201cI need a long rest…\u201d<\/p>\n

They passed the signalbox \u2013 Walton\u2019s Siding \u2013 at the summit of the climb and started to drop down towards the tunnel mouth. Peter closed the regulator, shutting off steam.<\/p>\n

They entered the tunnel at about 45 mph.<\/p>\n

Then it started to happen.<\/p>\n

Gradually a white light covered the engine cab and the whole of the tunnel. It got brighter, and brighter, and brighter. They could hardly see anything for the brightness, just the fire in the engine\u2019s firebox.<\/p>\n

Peter and Mary leant across the cab towards each other, their hands reaching out to each other\u2019s. Their fingers lightly touched.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay with me Mary,\u201d Peter said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCourse I will, a good fireman never deserts her driver.\u201d<\/p>\n

……………………………………………………………………………..<\/p>\n

There was no newspaper the following day but the headlines of The Bolton Evening News<\/em> for December 27th<\/sup> were full of a big local story.<\/p>\n

\u201cTerrible Christmas Day Tragedy \u2013 children drowned in mill lodge\u201d<\/p>\n

The report continued:<\/p>\n

A Christmas Day skating adventure turned into tragedy for Bolton children Peter Haslam (11) and his sister Mary (8). A thin sheet of ice cracked under the children\u2019s weight and both children fell into the freezing water. It is thought that death was instantaneous….the children\u2019s bodies were discovered with them holding each other\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

A police spokesman said \u201cThis terrible tragedy underlines the importance of children staying away from mills lodges. This is not the first time this has happened in Bolton but it must be the last.\u201d<\/p>\n

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………<\/p>\n

It was two days later that Bill Hartley and Tommy Frost signed on at the sheds for a special job at 8.30 in the morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cTek that owd demick 50647 on th\u2019siding road to Horwich for scrap,\u201c said Fred Horrocks, the shed foreman. \u201d You\u2019ve loco 2626 on Road number 6 to drag it. Jack Haslam\u2019s spare so he\u2019ll act as guard. And be good wi\u2019 him, you\u2019ll have heard what happened to his niece and nephew. He were very close to \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n

The crew found Jack in the messroom with a full cup of tea.<\/p>\n

Nobody knew what to say but both men put their arms round Jack in a rough but kind show of sympathy.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get this job done,\u201d said Bill. \u201cAn\u2019 we can aw get finished an\u2019 goo whom.\u201d<\/p>\n

They got steam up on 2626 and eased off down the shed yard and reversed into the siding to collect the old engine, to make its last journey to the scrapyard.<\/p>\n

Tommy jumped down to couple up the engine and \u2018got in between the two engines. He\u2019d been told it might be a job to get the engine moving \u2013 it had been stood outside for six.<\/p>\n

Yet there was something strange about the old engine.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure this hasn\u2019t moved for six months?\u201d Tommy shouted up to his driver.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, that\u2019s what Horrocks towd me, it\u2019s bin on th\u2019scrap road for months.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell this engine\u2019s bin someweer\u00a0 \u2013 th\u2019 rails under th\u2019 wheels aren\u2019t rusty. It\u2019s bin movin\u2019, for bloody sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn\u2019 here\u2019s summat else for Horrocks to chew on,\u201d shouted Tommy. \u201cThat firebox is warm. It\u2019s bin in steam not long agoo. Two days at th\u2019most. What d\u2019you mek o\u2019that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Day out to Dumfries<\/strong><\/h5>\n

I had a very enjoyable day out to Dumfries recently on the invitation of my good friend and Scotrail community ambassador John Yellowlees. I was delighted to meet up with some members of DARG (Dumfries Adoptive Gardeners) and see their wonderful display (even in December). Their museum is a delight and the station cafe next door is fantastic, run by Daniel who hails from Ethiopia. I can recommend the haggis barm cakes (buns). Ann Roberts has kindly drafted this short article about the work of DARG:<\/em><\/p>\n

Dumfries Adoptive Railway Gardeners (DARG) is a group of gardeners who look after the grounds at Dumfries Railway Station as part of the ScotRail Adopt a Station scheme.\u00a0 We were constituted in<\/p>\n

\"\"
Dumfries volunteers in the Station heritage Centre, with JY on the right and Ann on left<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2019 following on from a previous gardening group at the station and we\u2019re a group of nine retirees , meeting on a Monday morning from about March through to December.<\/p>\n

The main Glasgow-Carlisle line runs through Dumfries Station and there are two platforms.\u00a0 There is garden ground at both platforms.\u00a0 The grounds have been planted up in distinct areas depending on the soil and aspect.<\/p>\n

Platform 2 is sloping down towards the track.\u00a0 It is laid to lawn primarily with a bed in the centre with DUMFRIES marked out in box hedging.\u00a0 The far end of this garden is laid out with cornus bushes which provide variegated leaves in the summer and bright red and<\/p>\n

\"\"
Dumfries Station<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

orange bare stems through the winter providing some colour all year.\u00a0 At the car park side, the area is surrounded by metal railings beside which is a long bed of perennials and bulbs.\u00a0 At the other end we now have a small bench surrounded by fragrant perennials in the summer. There is access to the lawn through a gate by the station buildings so that passengers and public can sit on the bench and makes for easier and safe access for gardening. The recent coronation and the reign of Queen Elizabeth 2nd is commemorated by two shrubs.<\/p>\n

On the platform itself is a blue painted wooden train made from whisky barrels, provided by ScotRail, and several planters filled with orange geums and purple salvias which last through from Spring to Autumn.\u00a0 In the Spring they are bright with daffodils and muscari.<\/p>\n

The main garden area is on Platform 1.\u00a0 There are two sheds, both listed buildings, within the garden, one of which is used by DARG.\u00a0 The ground is divided up into several smaller \u2018gardens\u2019 depending on aspect and soil type.<\/p>\n

Firstly, the Wishing Well Garden, a lawned area bordered by herbaceous beds containing lupins, everlasting geraniums and monarda to name a few.\u00a0 It also contains a wooden Wishing Well.\u00a0 Next is the Dry Gravel Garden, containing various grasses which provide height and movement. Further along is the Rose Garden planted with scented rose bushes and lavender and has a seat donated by the Breathing Space mental health charity.<\/p>\n

There is a very large, old red horse chestnut tree on the sloping area leading up to the road bridge so DARG, with the help of several local supporters has created a Fairy Garden under it for wee ones to visit.\u00a0 Comprising several \u2018fairy houses\u2019, doors and toadstools, it is popular with one of the local day nurseries.<\/p>\n

This year DARG adopted two further pieces of railway land.\u00a0 A derelict, weed and rat infested area beside the main car park has been cleared, planted with azaleas, daffodils and four thousand purple crocus bulbs and named The Shrubbery, it should be very colourful in the Spring.\u00a0 Two narrow beds running along each platform were formerly adopted by Incredible Edibles growing fruit bushes and vegetables \u2013 these have been given back and are now planted with azaleas, heathers and bulbs.<\/p>\n

DARG has been involved with Keep Scotland Beautiful for many years and is proud to have achieved its Level 5 and Certificate of Distinction.\u00a0 We have participated in the Annual ScotRail in the Community Awards and have been honoured to win Adopted Station of the Year amongst others.<\/p>\n

Conservation and environmental responsibility is important to the group.\u00a0 This is demonstrated by installing water butts to assist with watering in summer; creating compost bins working on a three year cycle; using shrubs and perennials within the garden rather than annuals; using pollinator friendly plants and installing bird nest boxes and feeders.<\/p>\n

The garden is regularly used by passengers and members of the public as a spot to wait for a train, enjoy a picnic lunch or a bit of quiet space.\u00a0 When we are working people frequently stop to chat and compliment us on the gardens as do some of the train crews.\u00a0 To see photographs of the garden and to see what we have been doing, there is a Facebook page \u2013 Dumfries Adoptive Railway Gardeners \u2013 DARG.<\/p>\n

I do hope that some of your members could pay us a visit – we would love to show you round.<\/p>\n

Awash with awards<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Kents Bank Station Library has been honoured with the prestigious \u2018Lancastrian Award 2025\u2019, covering the area traditionally known as \u2018Lancashire North of the Sands\u2019. This recognition celebrates the Library\u2019s dedication to the North\u2019s railway heritage and history. In addition it has been shortlisted for two entries in the national Community Rail Awards for 2026, which will be held in Derby in March.<\/p>\n

Since its opening in January 2024, the Library has welcomed visitors<\/p>\n

\"\"
Group visits welcome…here are members of the Penistone Line Partnership<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

from across the region and beyond. Guests can explore an extensive collection of railway books on aspects of railway and wider transport history, enjoy a growing lending section, and browse books and model railway equipment for sale.<\/p>\n

The library hosts regular exhibitions, informal talks at the \u2018Mutual Improvement Class\u2019, poetry readings and offers complimentary teas and coffee at the pop-up station buffet.\u00a0It recently published a collection of railway ghost stories, set in the North-West (\u2018The Loco Vanishes \u2013 Northern Rail Mysteries\u2019).<\/p>\n

Prof. Paul Salveson, manager of the Library (a community interest company run by volunteers) said “We are really thrilled to receive this recognition. Kents Bank was part of the ancient North Lonsdale Hundred and remains part of the historic County Palatine of Lancashire, though it transferred to the administrative area of Cumbria in 1974 and more recently became part of Westmorland and Furness Council. Many local people, as well as visitors from Grange, Ulverston, Barrow, Broughton and surrounding communities still strongly identify as Lancastrians. But we welcome visitors from anywhere and everywhere,” he added. “Recently we have had visitors from Budapest, the Isle of Skye and Switzerland!”<\/p>\n

Kents Bank is a wonderful destination\u2014whether walking or taking the train from Grange-over-Sands. Visitors can also enjoy the beautiful station gardens and the stunning artwork at the neighbouring Beach Hut Gallery.<\/p>\n

Friends of Real Lancashire said, “This award is a testament to the v<\/p>\n

\"\"
One of our regular users!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ibrant community that supports Kents Bank Station Library. We hope this award will entice even more visitors in the future! Congratulations to everyone at Kents Bank Station Library.”<\/p>\n

The Library, and adjoining The Beach Hut Gallery, is open Friday to Monday 11.00 to 16.00, until closing for the holiday on December 22nd. The Library and Gallery are holding their Christmas Fair on Saturday December 13th, from 11.00 to 16.00. “We invite everyone, Lancastrians, Cumbrians, Yorkshire folk and neighbours from Westmorland to come along and see what’s on offer at our wonderful place,” said Paul<\/p>\n

Railway cats, ghosts and other stuff<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The collection of short stories with an ever-so-slightly supernatural twist is now available and selling pretty well. The Loco Vanishes \u2013 Northern Rail Mysteries<\/em> is published by Kents Bank Station Library price \u00a39.95. It includes a very kind foreword by Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, as well as endorsements by Phil James of Network Rail and the acclaimed railway novelist Andrew Martin. Mick Whelan said: \u201c<\/em>Paul\u2019s knowledge of and love for the railway shines through both in the construction of the stories and also by introducing the reader to a world of which they would normally be unaware<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Phil James, Managing Director of Network Rail\u2019s North-West route said: \u201cPaul\u2019s stories capture the spirit of railway life in a way that\u2019s both deeply<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
approaching Chorley….a scary place!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

personal and universally relatable. As someone who\u2019s spent a career in rail, I see in these tales the humour, grit, and humanity that define our industry. From the signalbox to the supernatural, this book is a celebration of the people and places that make the railway\u2014and the North\u2014so special<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are ten stories in all, mostly set in the Bolton, Blackburn and North Lancashire area, including Kents Bank. \u2018The Crossing Keeper\u2019s Cat\u2019 is set in and around Oxenholme. Many of the stories are based on tales I picked up when I worked on the railways, including the title story, based on an event which happened at Plodder Lane loco shed, Farnworth, probably in the late 1940s. \u2018The Boggart of Kitson Wood Tunnel\u2019 is also based on a true story from the 1960s.<\/p>\n

The book is kindly sponsored by ASLEF and Furness Line Action Group. Details on the Station Library website: www.stationlibrary.org.uk<\/a> or email me your email address and I\u2019ll send you further details.<\/p>\n

Books for holiday reading<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The Library continues to get a selection of new books for review. Usually, we don\u2019t have sufficient space in The Salvo or the Library news updates to do them justice but hopefully the following will whet your appetite.<\/p>\n

The Liberation Line \u2013 the last untold story of the Normandy Landings<\/em>\u00a0 Christian Wolmar<\/p>\n

Wolmar has excelled himself with this story of the railway\u2019s \u2013 and railway workers\u2019 \u2013 contribution to the Normandy Landings and what<\/p>\n

\"\"
Wolmar’s new book<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ultimately led to the Allied victory over the Nazis. There is so much in this that will be new to most Salvo readers and it\u2019s difficult to single out particular highlights. What I would say, the contribution of American soldiers \u2013 many of them railroad workers in their civilian roles \u2013 was immense. Another interesting, and related, fact is that the main US railroads helped to organize the squads of GIs, so for example the Union Pacific RR had its own Railway Operating Battalion. The Pennsylvania RR and Baltimore and Ohio also played major roles in the reconstruction of Northern France\u2019s railway network, often while lines were still within shell and even rifle range of the Germans.The French Resistance played a massive part in defeating the Nazis, often at a very high cost. Many French cheminots<\/em> were members of the Resistance and the communist-led union, the CGT, played a particularly heroic part. Published by Atlantic Books price \u00a312.99<\/p>\n

For the Love of Trains<\/em> Paul Routledge<\/p>\n

Paul has written a lovely book about his own \u2018love of trains\u2019. Needless to say, it\u2019s a good read (He has spent a lifetime in journalism, much of it with The Daily Mirror<\/em>). It combines a potted history of Britain\u2019s railways with a sharp political eye for the post-war railway, including Beeching, privatisation and the battle to save the Settle-Carlisle Line. Paul was brought up in a railway community (Normanton) and that helps inform his understanding of railways. As a lifelong socialist he \"\"makes sure that the contribution of Britain\u2019s railway workers figures large in the narrative. He\u2019s also a self-confessed \u2018puffer nutter\u2019 with a particular penchant for narrow-gauge railways. Nice to see that top of his \u2018Top 10 Great Little Trains\u2019 is the Ravenglass and Eskdale, with the miniature North Bay Railway in Scarbrough coming second (he\u2019s also a typical Yorkshireman\u2026). A nice book to snuggle down to on a Winter\u2019s evening. I pretty much read it in one, go, but may return for a longer savouring, possibly over a pint of Taylor\u2019s Landlord, Paul\u2019s pint of choice. Published by Mirrorbooks price \u00a312.99<\/p>\n

Industrial Railways & Locomotives of Furness, Westmorland and the Isle of Man<\/em> Peter Holmes<\/p>\n

This is quite unlike the above two books \u2013 a compendious work of reference which you should dip in and out of rather than attempt to read in one or two goes, even with a pint of Landlord to assist. It has been a long time a comin\u2019 but the wait has been worth it. The depth of Peter\u2019s scholarship is immense and the book is a major contribution to<\/p>\n

\"\"
Industrial Railway Delight<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

the industrial history of Cumbria and the Isle of Man (his previous book on industrial railways covered Cumberland). It is very well illustrated , with Cumbria Archives and Local Studies Centre in Barrow clearly having helped considerably, as well as many private and other institutional collections.<\/p>\n

The book should be read by anyone interested in the wider history of Cumbria, as well as industrial railway enthusiasts. A reference copy ifs available at Kents Bank Station Library, kindly donated by the author. Published by the Industrial Railway Society price \u00a339<\/p>\n

Slow Trains Around Spain<\/em> Tom Chesshyre<\/p>\n

Tom\u2019s new book is subtitled \u2018a 3000 mile adventure on 52 Rides\u2019. I\u2019ve only flicked through it and I want to take my time with this fascinating but clearly very readable book which combines railways with culture, politics and a strong \u2018sense of place\u2019. So perhaps more on this in the next Salvo! Published \u00a0by Summerdale \u00a39.99.<\/p>\n

Fields of Marks \u2013 the life and work of Milan Ivani<\/em>\u0109<\/em>\u00a0 Roz Ivani\u0109<\/p>\n

This is a remarkable book which deserves wide promotion. Milan, Roz\u2019s husband, is a brilliant artist and this book, a labour of love in many ways, is a great tribute to his work. Milan was born in 1947 in Rakovec, Slovakia \u2013 just north of the Danube. His father was a railway worker and was conscripted into the German army during the Nazi occupation – and ended up in the \u2018railway corps\u2019 in Russia. After the war ended he made his way home and became a track worker for CSD (Czech State Railways). \"\"<\/p>\n

The book is more than a collection of Milan’s paintings \u2013 though that in itself would be more than worthwhile. It tellsthe story of Milan\u2019s life and also his relationship with Roz. Milan became a committed communist, at a time when politics in Czecholsolvakia were changing radically, with Dubcek\u2019s \u2018socialism with a human face\u2019 in the mid-60s, leading up the Russian invasion of 1968. Milan left for the UK in 1978 and has lived in Lancaster where he is part of the thriving art scene there.What to say of his work? It\u2019s remarkably diverse, many different styles and subjects. It deserves wide recognition. Published privately by Roz, price \u00a334. Copies are available at Kents Bank Station Library<\/p>\n

Books in print (at gradely prices)<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Northern Rail Heritage: an introduction to the social history of railways in the North of England<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 is available price \u00a35 from Kents Bank Station Library, cheques for \u00a38 (including post and packing) to Kents Bank Library, c\/o Station House, Kentsford Road, Grange-over-Sands LA11 7BB. ISBN 978-1-0683741-0-4<\/p>\n

The Loco Vanishes \u2013 Northern Rail Mysteries<\/em><\/strong> available price \u00a313 (including post and packing) from Kents Bank Station Library (address above). ISBN 978-1-0683741-1-1. See above for more…<\/p>\n

Lancastrians: Mills, Mines and Minarets <\/em><\/strong>I still get invitations to speak on my book on Lancashire\u2019s history. The book is hardback, price \u00a325. Salvo<\/em> readers can get it post free directly from me: http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/order-form<\/a> Or from publisher Hurst. Get in touch if you\u2019d like a talk about the book and its themes. Later this year I\u2019m talking to Bolton Soroptimists on \u2018Great Lancashire Women Whom The History Books Ignore\u2019.<\/p>\n

ALLEN CLARKE: Lancashire\u2019s Romantic Radical<\/em><\/strong> \u00a35.99 (normally \u00a318.99): the only biography of Allen Clarke\/Teddy Ashton (1863 \u2013 1935): Lancashire dialect writer, socialist, cyclist, philosopher, poet, novelist\u2026and more. Born in Bolton, mum and dad were millworkers; spent his later years in Blackpool. A remarkable chap who helped keep memories of the 1896 Winter Hill Trespass alive, friend of Tolstoy, admirer of Walt Whitman, etc. etc.<\/p>\n

The Settle-Carlisle Railway<\/em><\/strong> A history of the famous route with an emphasis on the human story (including my own, as a guard in the 70s!). \u00a314 including p and p.<\/p>\n

Last Train from Blackstock Junction<\/em><\/strong> (published by Platform 5 Books). A collection of short stories about railway life in the North of England. Salvo<\/em> readers can get the book at a specially discounted price, courtesy of Platform 5 Publishing. Go to https:\/\/www.platform5.com\/Catalogue\/New-Titles<\/a>. Enter LAST22 in the promotional code box at the basket<\/strong> and this will reduce the unit price from \u00a312.95 to \u00a310.95. I\u2019ve a few copies of my own to sell at \u00a310.95 plus p and p.<\/p>\n

With Walt Whitman in Bolton: <\/em><\/strong>This has been out of print for a few months but I\u2019m doing a new edition, with at least one additional chapter. Likely to be out for next May.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Northern Christmas Salvo Incorporating \u00a0Weekly Notices, Sectional Appendices, and Northern Weekly Salvo Published at Station House, Kents Bank, Lancashire-North-of-the-Sands, LA11 7BB email: paul.salveson@myphone.coop No. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 329\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 December 2025\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Salveson\u2019s half-nakedly political digest of railways, tripe and secessionist nonsense from Up North Season\u2019s Greetings from Kents Bank Warmest greetings for Christmas and the New Year […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1798","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1798"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1798\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1821,"href":"http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1798\/revisions\/1821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/lancashireloominary.co.uk\/index.html\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}