Lancashire’s Railways : 1978-present

Martyn Hilbert’s colour photographs record the changes on the railway network around Lancashire from 1978 to the present day. Spanning the end of the regional BR Rail Blue era, through sectorisation and privatisation, this book captures the huge variety of motive power in operation during this period, from diesel and electric locomotive-hauled services to first- and second-generation DMUs and EMUs, as well as some industrial railways. The book covers the county’s network from its northern boundary, including Lancaster and Carnforth, to the West Yorkshire boundary, the Fylde area (Blackpool, Lytham, etc.), Central Lancashire (the Preston area, Chorley, Leyland) and West Lancashire where it reaches the current Merseyside boundary south of Ormskirk. The traditional former Lancashire towns of Bolton, Bury Oldham and Wigan, which are now part of Greater Manchester, are also included, as well as the city of Salford. This photographic survey over more than forty years of the railway scene in Lancashire will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of the railways in this county.