Having lived in Lancashire all my life, I have had a lifelong interest in railways and have managed to record the ever-changing railway network across Lancashire (and beyond) since the late 1970’s. Lancashire’s Railways: 1978-Present, illustrates much of the network that serves the County of Lancashire.

Complete with headboard, Class 31/4 31412 in BR engineers grey livery, was passing Lostock Hall Junction with the 09.05 Preston to Carlisle 'Dalesrail' service on 2September 1989. Formed of six coaches, this was a brief period when some of these Sunday out-and-back workings over the Settle & Carlisle via Blackburn were loco-hauled, due to a shortage of DMU sets. (Lancashire's Railways, Amberley Publishing)

In a geographical spread from its northern boundary, including Lancaster and Carnforth, to the West Yorkshire boundary, the Fylde area (Blackpool & Lytham), Central Lancashire (Preston, Chorley & Leyland) and West Lancashire where the county reaches the current Merseyside boundary just South of the market town of Ormskirk. The traditional former Lancashire mill towns of Bolton, Bury, Oldham and Wigan, which are now part of Greater Manchester, are also covered, as well as the city of Salford.

Running through the landscape of the Calder Valley, GBRf Class 66 66796 –‘The Green Progressor’ in its 'HS2 - Cleaner by Rail' livery, was passing over Gauxholme Viaduct with the 08.07 Liverpool Bulk Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass on 6April 2022. The railway here is flanked by the A646 road and the Rochdale Canal. (Lancashire's Railways, Amberley Publishing)

The illustrations, all in colour, show a variety of railways, including: main lines, secondary routes, branch lines, industrial lines, heritage railways, tramways and miniature railways. All the images are supported by detailed and informative captions.

A large variety of motive-power is featured, including some steam, to a variety diesel and electric locomotives, first and second generation multiple units, including many scenes, with the passage of time, that have now passed into history, covering from the British Rail era through to privatisation in the late 1990’s and including modern day views. Many of the images feature not only the trains but include the infrastructure and the scenery that the railways pass through.

Lancashire's Railways
The Doyen Northern Class 153 single-unit 153301 was crossing the River Douglas on the approach to Rufford whilst working the 10.07 Preston to Ormskirk service on 19 November 2011. (Lancashire's Railways, Amberley Publishing)

Lancashire’s Railways showcases the varied railway scene across the county and hopefully may inspire some to get and about to explore and record the varied network that serves the diverse county of Lancashire. One day it will all be history!

Lancashire's Railways by Martyn Hilbert is available for purchase now.