Last scheduled steam hauled passenger train to call at Rochdale ran fifty years ago

The last scheduled steam hauled passenger train to call at Rochdale station ran on 18 May 1968, just fifty years ago.

It was the 0208 (2.08am) Mail and Passenger express which came from York to Manchester Victoria, calling at Rochdale at 0550 (5.50am).

The steam locomotive took over from a diesel at Halifax. It was Stanier class 5MT number 45310.  

Steam locomotives still shunted at Castleton until 29 June when the last steamer there was another Stanier 5MT, number 45318.

Some freight and evening parcels trains remained steam worked until 29 June 1968.

 

Number 42824 on a Sheffield to Blackpool excursion seen approaching Castleton Station, Easter Monday 1960

 

With the closure on that date of Bolton, Patricroft and Newton Heath sheds to steam the only steam activity locally was an evening freight train from Burnley to Moston.

There were a handful of privately chartered steam excursions.

Sunday 21 July saw Britannia class Pacific, number 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' work through Rochdale and then on 4 August a Railtour which ran via Oldham, Rochdale and Heywood on a grand tour of the North West behind a pair of steam locomotives, Stanier 8F number 48476 and British Railways Class 5MT number 73069 marked the official end of steam on British Railways.

After that date the only steam locomotive allowed to run on British Railways was the privately owned 'Flying Scotsman'.

 

A view of Rochdale Station in 1968 along the down main platform east bound