Rail Freight North West England

Rail Freight: North West England

This book illustrates the changing face of rail freight in North West England over 40 years. During that time the traction and wagon fleets have been almost completely replaced, freight trains have become heavier and less frequent, the amount of shunting and trip working has been dramatically reduced, and most small freight terminals have closed. Perhaps the most striking loss has been freight from the oil and chemicals complex around Ellesmere Port and Stanlow. The former ICI complex around Northwich has lost almost all its rail traffic. On the Cumbrian coast, just nuclear traffic remains after the loss of coal, steel and chemicals traffic. The network of freight-only lines has taken a hit in recent decades.

However, not all the change has been negative: we now have biomass on rail, increased intermodal traffic and significant growth in stone from the Buxton area. The Settle to Carlisle line deserves a special place because of its remarkable recovery from the threat of closure in the 1980s. Another success story is stone traffic from three quarries in the Buxton area. The coverage of this book stretches from Cheshire to the Scottish border.

Available: NOW

ISBN: 978 1 913295 81 3

Price: £14.99

Series: The Railways and Industry Series, vol 3

Format: Paperback, 96 pages

Author: Paul Shannon