Railway Herald
Steam heads into the sunset. On the last weekend of "regular" BR steam haulage the RCTS "End of Steam Commemorative Tour" used several steam locomotives from Manchester Victoria to Hellifield, Skipton, Lostock Hall and Stockport. Here LMS Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 No. 45407 and a cleaned BR Standard Class 5MT No. 73069, with Caprotti valve gear, double head the charter through Hapton near Burnley on 4th August 1968. Due to several problems the train was running four hous late at this point! No. 45407 survived into preservation at the East Lancs Railway, but unfortunately No. 73069 was scrapped in March 1969.
John Neave
