What are the two outer tracks at Burton used for?

[Comstock]

They don't look abandoned, but I've never seen a train on them. Through trains use the tracks by the platforms. So what are the two outer tracks at Burton on Trent railway station used for?

 

[class 9]

They are goods lines, so freight, ECS, tampers etc use them & yes they are used.

 

[miked]

I live a stones throw from the station, and class 9 is right, they’re regularly used by freight trains, i have also been sat on a XC service on platform 1, which was sat waiting for a while due to a medical issue, the following xc service was allowed to pass using the outside lines.

 

[Spartacus]

If you're in the area and pop down now you should be in time to see 60059 on an oil train to Kingsbury there.

 

[randyrippley]

Not for beer trains then??

 

[Comstock]

Not for beer trains then??

I'm not sure when beer stopped being sent by rail but I'm 45 and can't remember any such trains.

At one point there must have been beer freight services to London, would be interesting to know what route they took.

 

[randyrippley]

I'm not sure when beer stopped being sent by rail but I'm 45 and can't remember any such trains.

At one point there must have been beer freight services to London, would be interesting to know what route they took.

beer train at Burton
taken from http://www.burton-on-trent.org.uk/category/amenities/railway
doesn't say a lot about routing though

 

[Iskra]

beer train at Burton
taken from http://www.burton-on-trent.org.uk/category/amenities/railway
doesn't say a lot about routing though

Down to St Pancras would be my guess. There was a goods depot underneath (or nearby) the current station. It was mentioned in a book I read I think.

Actually:

https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/news/shadow-of-st-pancras.htm

 

[edwin_m]

It's fairly well known that the vaults at St Pancras were designed around the dimensions of a beer barrel, and there was a large freight depot where the British Library now is. The Midland had the best route from Burton to London whether via Loughborough or via Ashby.