RAILWAY enthusiasts at Warrington were given a rare treat when a steam train passed through Central Station.
The train was “The 15 Guinea Special” – run by a railway preservation society to commemorate British Rail’s final steam train which ran 45 years ago when the ticket price was 15 guineas – or £15.75 for the benefit of younger readers!
The special train ran from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Piccadilly and then on to Carlisle, via the famous Settle to Carlisle line. Fares ranged from £109 to £259 for the day trip – and the train was packed with railway buffs.
After passing through Central Station it passed Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones Stadium – but it didn’t give the train crew as good a view as they had when it used to pass the old Wilderspool Stadium.
The picture (below) of the 1967 Australian touring side when they played The Wire at Wilderspool shows, in the background, a steam train waiting for the signals at Arpley – giving the crew a first class view of the pitch.
