Rail Freight North West England

This book illustrates the changing face of rail freight in North West England over forty years. During that time the traction and wagon fleets have been almost completely replaced, freight trains have become heavier and less frequent, the amount of shunting and trip working has been dramatically reduced, and most small freight terminals have closed. The coverage of this book stretches from Cheshire to the Scottish border. It includes the Buxton area because it always been associated with the North West even though it lies in Derbyshire. The ten chapters are arranged on broadly geographical lines, but the chapter titles should not be taken too literally. For example, in the Greater Manchester chapters it makes sense to include some locations beyond the metropolitan county boundary. Conversely Wigan lies in Greater Manchester but in railway terms it is more closely associated with Warrington.