Springs Branch
Established Member
Speaking of Liverpool, back in the 1950s and early 60s, when Liverpool Exchange still had some long-distance services, there was a train leaving Liverpool Ex. at 5.45pm (as it was presented back then) for stations to Barrow-in-Furness then onto the Cumbrian Coast line.A worse situation was in the 1980s at Watford Junction, when the DC line service to Broad Street had been diverted into Liverpool Street. It ran just a few times a day, but one at about 0800 departed at the same time as the express to Liverpool Lime Street, first stop Runcorn, which called at the opposite side of the same island platform......
Monday to Friday this train terminated at Millom, but SO it was extended to Bootle.
I wonder if any rushing, last minute Saturday shoppers ever saw the 5.45pm to Bootle about to depart and jumped on board? (Bootle Oriel Road was known as plain "Bootle" back then, and Bootle New Strand was "Marsh Lane & Strand Rd"). Maybe the steam-hauled carriages in place of the usual Southport Electric would prevent regulars making this mistake, otherwise it was first stop Ormskirk.