Cab Ride: Preston Docks to Wakefield Kirkgate via Blackburn, Copy Pit and Healey Mills.
In a surprise move, the longstanding Preston Bitumen Oil train ran for the last time in December 2024. This popular east-west train, running via an interesting and varied route, had operated for many years. Heading out loaded from Lindsey Oil Refinery and hauled by a 37, 56, 60 or latterly a 66 to Preston, the empties headed back east, usually on a daytime path.
Colas took over the operation in 2015 which duly saw their own Class 60s, then 70s, 56s and pairs of 56s working the train - and again, it was popular with enthusiasts and photographers. In 2015, our cameras filmed a Cab Ride from Preston to Lindsey on board a Class 60.
Nine years later and with the train now running to Haverton Hill, this cab ride is sort of a farewell journey, filmed on 56090 during the final weeks of operation in October 2024. Released in two parts, this first part starts at Preston in the exchange sidings, up the short steep incline to the WCML, then Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley and up the gradient over the scenic Copy Pit line, Hebden Bridge, Mirfield, Healey Mills and to a crew change at Wakefield Kirkgate. The train consists of ten ICA bogie tanks.
The full journey is shown, with maps, on-screen captions and minimal narration. A thrash cam in the back cab records the loco at work and ambient sounds.
Bonus footage: A 30-minute documentary on the Preston Bitumen Trains.
Produced by - Train Crazy
Duration - 159 minutes
Format - 16:9 widescreen
Blu-ray and DVD
Released - January 2025
