Dock Railway, Pier Head, 1953

[Colin Wilkinson]

My recent posting on the Gaumont cinema, which I erroneously attributed to Camden Street (the suggestion is that it was The Savoy in Brougham Terrace) brought home to me the ease with which errors can be made and, if not corrected, become established facts. When I started publishing books, I soon realised that there were [...]

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[Ged]

Great posting Colin and yes i'm sure an answer will follow shortly.

[Oddsocks]

Good photo, old one but very clear. You put some very good images up that enhance the topic.

Especially as it shows the floating roadway up with the tide.

Oddsocks

[Sirob]

The railway lines shwn in the picture were part of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Boards 'main line', which ran the length of the docks. The railway companies and their successors had runnimg powers over it, but the MDHB had a fleet of 0-6-0 saddle tanks and engine sheds as well.
The section across the Pier Head became a nightmare to operate, due to parked cars and traffic, being abandoned in the 1960's. the dock railway was then operated in two halves until closure of the South Docks in 1971. Following re-laying and reconstruction of Alexandra Dock level crossing, the only section remaining is from the container terminal to the Bootle Branch.
This is the limit of the northern part in July 1971 and the last (private) steam loco on the docks.

[dazza]

Great picture Sirob.

[Sirob]

Great picture Sirob.

Thanks, I had great fun steaming round the Princes Dock lines - and I have the pics to prove it!

[Ged]

For those of you who have not seen Sirob's fantastic collection of photos on what I consider to be one of the best threads ever on Yo (along with Brian Daleys Hullo old home to name but one other) then check this out.

http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/sho...SEEN+LIVERPOOL


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[dazza]

Thanks Ged, I've come across Sirob's excellent thread before. We're a lucky lot on Yo to have access to all this wonderful information

[Ged]

Not arf.

[Waterways]

I remember the diesel locos. Square and painted a lightish brown. The went very slow. Slower than trams.
They would run in and out the docks across the Dock Rd and into the freight terminals which were all along the Dock Rd.

[wsteve55]

The railway lines shwn in the picture were part of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Boards 'main line', which ran the length of the docks. The railway companies and their successors had runnimg powers over it, but the MDHB had a fleet of 0-6-0 saddle tanks and engine sheds as well.
The section across the Pier Head became a nightmare to operate, due to parked cars and traffic, being abandoned in the 1960's. the dock railway was then operated in two halves until closure of the South Docks in 1971. Following re-laying and reconstruction of Alexandra Dock level crossing, the only section remaining is from the container terminal to the Bootle Branch.
This is the limit of the northern part in July 1971 and the last (private) steam loco on the docks.

Hi Sirob,Is this a similar engine to the one on permanent display,on the corner of Derby rd.?

[ItsaZappathing]

My recent posting on the Gaumont cinema, which I erroneously attributed to Camden Street (the suggestion is that it was The Savoy in Brougham Terrace) brought home to me the ease with which errors can be made and, if not corrected, become established facts. When I started publishing books, I soon realised that there were [...]

More...

Another fine post Colin.Very good.

[Sirob]

The loco plinthed on Derby road is a diesel, I had a small Andrew Barclay saddle tank steam loco.
With the Princes Dock rail traffic finished, the resident MD&HB diesel was sent under its own power to Brunswick via the disused Waterloo/Victoria tunnels, Edge Hill and Allerton Junction. I rode on it to Edge Hill and the driver was concerned about the gearbox getting hotter and hotter!
The pics show Waterloo Tunnel Mouth, Brunswick MD&HB shed and a railtour of the northern docks in 1973(pre HSE!).

[wsteve55]

Thanks for that Sirob! I was down Regent rd,earlier, and I never realised there was so much track!

[ItsaZappathing]

The loco plinthed on Derby road is a diesel, I had a small Andrew Barclay saddle tank steam loco.
With the Princes Dock rail traffic finished, the resident MD&HB diesel was sent under its own power to Brunswick via the disused Waterloo/Victoria tunnels, Edge Hill and Allerton Junction. I rode on it to Edge Hill and the driver was concerned about the gearbox getting hotter and hotter!
The pics show Waterloo Tunnel Mouth, Brunswick MD&HB shed and a railtour of the northern docks in 1973(pre HSE!).

Nice one Sirob mate. Cracker pics.