Wigan Album

Great picture Tony. What was the class & number of the loco, do you know ?

JB, Fifteen Guinea special railtour from Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime street, number 45110 LMS 5MT 4. As Tony says, 11 August 1968.

The train is stationary at the site of the original Parkside Station, which was sited on this side of the bridge in the background. Behind the locomotive is the monument to William Huskisson (MP for Liverpool) who was fatally injured after being struck down by a train drawn by locomotive 'Comet',(his train having stopped to take on water for the final part of the journey to Manchester. They transported him on the locomotive 'Northhumbrian' (detached from its train to Eccles,) but he later died of his injuries.
The following appears on the monument:-

THIS TABLET

A TRIBUTE OF PERSONAL RESPECT AND AFFECTION HAS BEEN
PLACED HERE TO MARK THE SPOT WHERE ON THE 15TH September
1830 THE DAY OF THE OPENING OF THIS RAIL ROAD
THE RIGHT HONble WILLIAM HUSKISSON M.P
SINGLED OUT BY THE DECREE OF AN INSCRUTABLE PROVIDENCE FROM
THE MIDST OF THE DISTINGUISHED MULTITUDE THAT SURROUNDED HIM. IN THE FULL PRIDE OF HIS TALENTS AND THE PERFECTION OF
HIS USEFULNESS MET WITH THE ACCIDENT THAT OCCASIONED HIS
DEATH: WHICH DEPRIVED ENGLAND OF AN ILLUSTRIOUS
STATESMAN AND LIVERPOOL OF ITS MOST HONOURED
REPRESENTATIVE WHICH CHANGED A MOMENT OF THE NOBLEST
EXULTATION AND TRIUMPH THAT SCIENCE AND GENIUS HAD EVER ACHIEVED INTO ONE OF DESOLATION AND MOURNING: AND STRIKING
TERROR INTO THE HEARTS OF ASSEMBLED THOUSANDS.

BROUGHT HOME TO EVERY BOSOM THE FORGOTTEN TRUTH THAT

"IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH"

I am certain it was Stephenson's "ROCKET" that hit Huskisson and severed his leg, from which he bled to death, not Comet.

You may be right, but, I did read somewhere that he was travelling on the train drawn by "Rocket", alighting in order to stretch his legs, then being struck by "Comet"
Let us know from where you gor the info to enable me to check. Thanks.

Hi, George.
Sorry about the mistake. It was 'Rocket' that ran over Mr Huskisson.
Are you going to make allowance because I am 83????6

For photo`s of this special excursion train and details of steam loco 45110 `RAF BIGGIN HILL` see:-
http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/ArchiveSteam/loco45110.htm

Hello Tony,
Memories and info get muddle in my brain too. I remember leaving Bank Quay behind 70044 Earl Haig, with 3 carriages. My mate was a wizard at maths and used to calculate the train speeds as we travelled along. With the evident power from each pull of the pistons we knew we were in for a fast ride to Crewe. He calculated that we were doing 104 mph at one point. ( I think it was 104 mph and that is where my memory is fading a bit. It may have been 110mph) When we arrived at Crewe we went to the driver and told him. He said we were wrong as his speedo showed 114 mph or was it 110 mph. Anyway it was well over the ton. Normally the 10.36 was a BR (ex LMS) class 5 or EE type 4. Great day out that day and now I collect model Brittania's. One of my favourite locos as we used to go especially to see them on the main expresses. The "half eight flyer" through Bank Quay was a favourite. For all their faults, the Brits were my among my favourite locos along with the superb Coronation Class (Duchesses). I was on the footplate of 6229 only last week in the NRM York.

Thanks for your story George, about the speed of the train.
Very interesting.
Being in a signal box one couldn't judge the speed of the trains, but they were pretty quick!!!

Locomotive 45110 Black Five can been seen regularly on Severn Valley railway. It is kept in pristine condition and is still after all this time a wonderful thing to behold. God bless steam

In reply to Ernest Pyke 3rd May 2014, and anyone interested.
I can confirm this particular photograph will be on the front cover of a book I have written:- "The Sojourns of a Railway Signalman", to be published in the very near future.
I am indebted to Ernest, for the information gleaned from his comments re docbrownpics, and a suitable acknowledgement will be made at the end of the book.
Thanking you.
Tony Cook