Report & Pictures by Paul Bellas
STEAM buffs in Warrington were treated to a rare and impressive sight as two icons of steam roared through the town.
Heading a train up to the East Lancashire Railway for this weekend`s gala was Crewe-built British Railways Standard Class 7 No. 70000 Britannia, completed in January 1951.She was the first British Railways standard locomotive to be built and the first of 55 locomotives of the Britannia class.
Double-heading the spectacle was streamlined LNER A4 Pacific 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, built in 1937 at Doncaster works. This locomotive holds the post-war speed record for steam locomotives on British Railways (112mph, set in May 1959) and carries a plaque to that effect.
In July 1938, her `sister` LNER A4 locomotive `Mallard` set the world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph, which still stands today.
Both locomotives pictured were withdrawn from service in 1966 and are both currently Crewe-based in preservation.
English Electric D6851
Bringing up the rear for shunting duties once up at the ELR was locally-built English Electric D6851, a product of Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, in the early 1960`s.
The train is captured roaring up the incline through Moore, to cross the high-level bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal at Acton Grange.
Picture Paul Bellas
