Andrew's story covers a period from about 1950 to 1969, the year
following the cessation of steam on Britain's railway network. He
started collecting engine numbers in 1952, the line at the bottom
of his garden in Liverpool providing the right incentive. The local
station at Broadgreen was the first 'platform end' before moving on
to visiting Liverpool's Lime St. station. Spotting trips to Wigan
followed, thus inspiring the title for this book. Birkenhead,
Chester and Manchester, soon followed and as life became more
adventurous York and Doncaster. Recalling these journeys, Andrew
describes points of interest, such as railway junctions, many of
which are now no more, plus some of the industries which were
thriving during the period. Having left school to start work in
1960, Andrew teaming up with new friends, started taking an
interest in railway photography. Joining, the Stephenson Locomotive
Society and the South Lancashire Locomotive Club enabled seeing a
good deal of the UK. Some of the trips are described providing some
amusing anecdotes. The news of Dr Richard Beeching's report for the
reshaping of Britain's railways came as a devastating shock, not
least to the enthusiast fraternity. Andrew comment about this in
his narrative, and explains how it galvanised him into attempting
to see and photograph as many different locomotive types as
possible. Travelling to all but the four corners of the UK,
including a visit to Woodhams scrapyard at Barry, and spending the
Easter Holiday of 1963 touring Scotland with the South Lancashire
Club. Learning to drive in 1965 and buying his first car. meant the
world was his oyster. However, time was running out for steam and
Andrew set about photographing trains rather than trying to collect
the by now very few numbers he still had not seen. Fortunately
remaining engine sheds were virtually thrown open to the public
during the last weeks of steam operation, and by the Andrew was
also recording sound and was there recording the shed activity. He
also recorded on film and tape from onboard some of the many
railtours which ran in the closing twelve months to 11 August that
year and, on that day at Ais Gill, he witnessed the final act..
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