WHITEHOUSE TRIANGLE[Source:Tony Graham & Paul Wright]
triangle4.jpg) In July 1964 Stanier 'Black 5' 4-6-0 No. 45375 is about to pass underneath the six tracks of the West Coast main line on the approach to Whitehouse West Junction with the 1.50 pm Southport - Preston. In the distance is Leyland Road bridge with, immediately beyond that, the site of the former Middleforth Junction and the long-closed spur to Ribble Junction that used to provide direct access to Preston (Fishergate Hill) terminus from the east. That section of the line over which No. 45375 is passing is not part of the original WLR route, being constructed a year later, in 1883, to provide a route for WLR trains to travel to Blackburn and beyond, via the East Lancashire line. Upon takeover of the WLR by the L&YR in 1893, and with the subsequent closure of Fishergate Hill to passengers from 16th July 1900, all services started to use this section of line and a new north curve from Whitehouse West to gain access to the former East Lancashire Railway platforms at Preston. Built by Armstrong Whitworth for the LMS in June 1937, this loco lasted until the final year of steam on BR when it was withdrawn from Edge Hill Shed in January 1968. Scrapped by Cohens of Kettering, it had had a working life of well over 30 years.
Photo by Alan Castle
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