I saw no 9Fs on Northwich hoppers

REGARDING David Shaw's letter about Northwich ore trains and ICI hoppers in issue 277: from 1952, aged 11, until 1964 I lived between Lostock Gralam and Northwich stations with a view of the line from my window.

Hopper trains were a common daily sight, invariably hauled by Stanier 8Fs, occasionally doubleheaded. As an avid spotter, I soon copped all the locos allocated to Northwich, then BR code 9G.

I can state categorically I never saw a 9F hauling the hopper trains, which would rumble through Northwich station, cross the River Weaver on a stone-built viaduct and take a right turn at Greenbank into ICI's Winnington Works.

The only times I saw 9Fs in Northwich were in the mid-1950s and these were exciting times for local spotters. The first of the 9Fs, with very early numbers, were being built and outshopped from Crewe Works.

Sporting all their shiny new glory, one of their first ex-works duties was a brief ‘trial run' with a local freight service to Northwich, via Middlewich, returning after a visit to the 9G turntable. For some months, I would see about one per week on the way to school.

A tuppeny bus ride from Northwich was Hartford station, on the West Coast Main Line, where I was immediately hooked on spotting for the rest of my schooldays. Now I'm a member of the Bahamas Locomotive Society, unable as I approach 80 years of age to provide anything more than financial support to my favourite Jubilee locomotive class.

But I shall never forget those

ICI hopper trains and hope David Shaw is not disappointed that I cannot reinforce his happy hopper memories.

Stanley Goldsmith Knutsford, Cheshire