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8D ASSOCIATION

The 8D Association is dedicated to promoting the history of the railways of South Lancashire, Merseyside and North Cheshire.

Edge Hill 8A in Images.

During the 1960’s a group of three friends from the Widnes area started to travel the network of the north west recording the last days of steam. The photographic record they made was passed to the Widnes Historic Railway Society which was formed in the 60’s. Unfortunately the Historic Society closed when membership declined towards the end of the last century. Richard Mercer who as the 8D Association archivist was a member of the group of three and of the society has held onto this collection of photographs which now forms part of the Richard Mercer Collection. During a recent look through the collection the following shots of 8A towards the end of its working life emerged. (All images part of Richard Mercer Collection unless otherwise marked)

A good overall view of the front of the shed the decline of the shed’s allocation is evident with only a couple of locos on view.
A pair of Stanier 4-6-0 Black 5’s stand at the front of the shed with No 44986 in steam.
The shed on this visit is full of locos and ‘Jinty’ No 47493 complete with 8A shed plate awaits its next turn of duty in the sunshine. The Fowler designed 3F was built at the Vulcan Foundry, Newton Le Willows and released to traffic during February 1928. From the mid 1950’s the loco was based in the north west becoming an 8A loco during September 1965 it was to be its last shed being withdrawn during December 1966. The loco was preserved and is currently operational at the Spa Valley Railway.
A pair of Stanier Black 5 Class 4-6-0’s with a Stanier 8F Class 2-8-0 accompanied by an unidentified loco sporting a Fowler designed tender standing outside the shed.
Armstrong and Whitworth built Black 5, standing beneath the impressive twin track coaling stage at 8A. The loco No 45156 has lost its ‘Ayrshire Yeomanry’ nameplates at this stage and would find fame hauling 1T85 the Lancastrian Railtour from Liverpool Lime Street on 20th April 1968, being turned out from 8A in near ex-works condition. The loco was delivered new during July 1935 and would remain in service until August 1968 the loco was swiftly cut up during December 1968.
Armstrong and Whitworth built Black 5 No 45284 standing over the ash pit at the front of the shed. The loco was released into traffic during December 1936 and withdrawn off 8A during May 1968 being cut up during August 1968.
Fowler designed 3F Jinty Class 0-6-0T No 47357 standing inside the shed. Built by the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow and released to traffic during August 1926 the loco would be withdrawn during December 1966. It was despatch to Woodham Bros, Barry, then eventually rescued for preservation and restored to full working order at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley, Derbyshire.
Another of the Edge Hill based Fowler 3F Jinty locos No 47406 unofficially known as The King Of Edge Hill standing between duties at the front of the shed. The locos unofficial nameplate can be seen on the water tank towards the cab door. Vulcan built during December 1926 and withdrawn forty years later during December 1966 the loco would go on to be preserved eventually ending up at the Great Central Railway where it is currently operational.
A Stanier Black 5 Class 4-6-0 stands alongside Stanier 8F Class 2-8-0 which is in steam.
Riddles designed Standard 9F Class 2-10-0 seen here at the front of the shed. Seen to many as a crime these locos were still being built during the B.R. Modernisation Plan and several had very short service lives. No 92123 here was delivered new from Crewe Works on 31st March 1957 and would be withdrawn just over 10 years later during October 1967. The loco would be cut up at T W Ward of Beighton on 28th February 1968.

Two unknown 8f’s approaching the shed around 1967 / 68. In the background, is the line that went from Edge Hill Signal (Power) Box to Engine Shed Junction and then onto the the Gridiron.  (Unknown Photographer, part of the Doug Birmingham Collection 8a.s.202).

Two shots of Crewe built Black 5 Class 4-6-0 outside the shed in steam and coupled to another member of the class, both locos are coaled and ready for a days work. No 44964 is the rear loco and was new from Crewe during July 1946 it was withdrawn during October 1967 and cut up by Cashmores of Great Bridge during March 1968.
Spotted from the shed running from the Grid Iron is Crewe built Britannia Class 4-6-2 No 70039 ‘Sir Christopher Wren’. The difference in the ground level of the shed and the surrounding lines is clearly evident. The loco was new to traffic on 9th February 1953 and withdrawn on 23rd September 1967 and cut up on 25th January 1968.
long with many other sheds at the time locos withdrawn from service were dumped in sidings awaiting disposal as is the case with this Stanier designed 8F Class 2-8-0.
Another withdrawn 8F Class 2-8-0 loco awaiting disposal..
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