Looking Back, with Eric Leaver

NOSTALGIA for the age of steam on the railways may be still be strong but plenty were glad to see the back of the old coal-fired locomotives - even though thousands turned out to wish them farewell.

It was in January 4, 1960, when the run-down of steam commenced as new diesel trains took over services on the Colne and Todmorden lines to Preston for first time.

Six days later, they began running on the Blackburn and Accrington lines to Manchester - though, initially, on Sundays only.

And so impressed were passengers that the Evening Telegraph reported an increase in numbers flocking back to rail travel.

What pleased them was that new green-painted trains were quicker.

The diesels took as few as 13 minutes to travel between Blackburn and Burnley, against 20 minutes by "fast" steam train.

One couple, returning to Fleetwood on the first day of the new diesel services after spending the weekend at Todmorden, reported that the new trains knocked 45 minutes off their usual journey time.

And with their introduction, British Rail brought in more-frequent services.

More than that, as trainspotters gathered at Blackburn station to catch their first glimpse of the diesels, passengers found the new trains were spotlessly clean and comfortable. Just as pleased with this new form of luxury were British Rail's drivers, who had undergone diesel training sessions at Blackburn with teams of travelling instructors.

They found a new world of comfort, sitting down in a warm, enclosed cab - far different from their old lot of noise, dirt and a mixture of heat and cold on the exposed footplates of the steam locos.

It was clear a new age had dawned.

And at Burnley, Coun John Parkinson thought it was time that the town's Central Station, then serving 70 trains a day, caught up with it. He called for the 25 Victorian gas lights that lit up its platforms and passages to be replaced by electric ones. However, the old-fashioned steam era still had more than eight years to run before it came to a close in East Lancashire - when the last remaining steam locos were withdrawn on the night of Sunday, August 4, 1968.

The age was seen out by a "Farewell to Steam" salute in the form of four special trains packed with enthusiasts from all parts of the country departing from Blackburn that day.

Four hundred people turned up to see them and the eight locos that, in all, hauled them as they stopped to take on water before heading up the Hellifield line.

Stations and bridges were packed with crowds anxious to witness the end of 130 years of steam trains.

At Blackburn, the trains crews received star treatment, being photographed, filmed and asked for their autographs.

The last of the four specials, departed with a circular white board on the back of the rear coach bearing the message: "1838 - 1968. The End."

But it wasn't quite. The following Sunday, the 158-ton green and black engine Oliver Cromwell pulled into Blackburn to fill its 4,250-gallon tender with water as it hauled 470 passengers on a journey which had commenced at Liverpool Lime Street. They were on their way to Carlisle and back and had paid 15 guineas for the privilege of riding through Lancashire's mill towns on the very last steam train.

The special returned through Blackburn around teatime (21 minutes late, in keeping with British Rail traditions), behind two "Black 5" class locomotives - 44871 and 44781 - while 15 minutes later Oliver Cromwell came through on its own, destined for preservation in a Norfolk flower nursery.

But at Darwen a spark from the engine rekindled memories of another reason why not everyone lamented the end of the steam age.

It caused a grass fire on the embankment near Darwen Station, prompting a fireman at the town's fire station to comment: "We're glad to see the last of them."

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