DOUBLE ‘FIVE’ DELIGHT PAST GHOST OF DALLAM SHED

You wait months for main line steam to return… then two come along at once!

“Wahey” – wrote photter Phil Jones, and in a single word summarised the joy of a one-off moment. For while they were once common as muck, on August 29 ‘Black Fives’ Nos. 44871 and 45231 collectively created a decent whiff of times gone by… simply by passing each other near Warrington.

Crewe-based No. 45231 was at the head of the Saphos Trains WolverhamptonCrewe ‘Lakelander’; Ian Riley’s No. 44871, meanwhile, was on its way engine and van from the East Lancs to Bristol for the following day’s ‘Royal Duchy’ for the Railway Touring Company.

Not so long ago, just the idea of two steam engines passing on the main line would have been enough to hold the page. Less so now, but it’s still a remarkable thing in a year that brought months without a single charter; and with a matching pair, too.

Phil Jones had gone to Dallam for the ‘Lakelander’, in the knowledge that No. 44871 was due along a few minutes afterwards as well. In the event though, Riley’s ‘Five’ was slightly early, and

No. 45231 a little late… so he was in the perfect spot.

Almost.

For there is actually a certain amount of make-believe involved in the image on this page. Sadly – though what are the chances of it being otherwise? – No. 44871 was actually receding slightly too far around the bend in the distance by the time the Saphos trip arrived; you can see the actual shot in News on pages 6-7. This picture then, is a merger of two frames taken seconds apart, as it was “too close… not to do a fudge”.

Without help it would, perhaps, have been too good to be quite true…

One other thing: Phil reports that rather than being any other anonymous structure, the blue cladding swaddles the old Warrington Dallam Motive Power Depot (8B). Built by the LNWR in 1888, it lasted until August 1968.

Stanier 4-6-0s would once have been an everyday sight. But, says Phil: “I do wonder how long ago it was” when two ‘Black Fives’ last crossed in front of the old 8B “such a short time apart”.

In fact, has it ever happened before in all the years since the end of BR steam…?

PHIL JONES Virtual reality near Warrington as ‘5MTs’ Nos. 44871 and 45231 cross paths... In reality, the actual pass occurred just seconds later and just too late for the perfect moment to be caught on camera, so this is a digital fudge. For the unedited scene, see News.