My recent posting on the Gaumont cinema, which I erroneously attributed to Camden Street (the suggestion is that it was The Savoy in Brougham Terrace) brought home to me the ease with which errors can be made and, if not corrected, become established facts. When I started publishing books, I soon realised that there were people out there with specialist knowledge on every subject you could name – but especially transport. Known unkindly as ‘rivet counters’, this body of men (they always are) have a detailed knowledge of their subject that would do a Mastermind contestant proud. A book I published with the Museum (The Liners of Liverpool) made a small number of mistakes, such as ship sailing to the wrong port, that immediately diminished its value as a reference book. So for today’s posting I am going to put up a disclaimer that all the information is from a highly reputable expert.
The line below the Overhead serviced the docks and was operated by British Rail. The locomotive is a 0-4-0 saddle tank shunter, nicknamed a ‘Pug’. Their short wheelbase made them ideal for the sharp curves of the dockland lines. Imagine, today, allowing a train to run freely where pedestrians could cross without any barriers or restrictions. I am not sure when the dock railway ceased to operate – but I am certain I am going to find out very quickly.
Amazing, that’s one of the most interesting photos I’ve seen of Liverpool! I’d no idea there was another railway there. Goes to show I still have a lot to learn! Keeps my feet on the ground.
Colin
Thanks for taking the time for putting together an amazing set of photo’s along with your heartfelt text of what has happened there since.
For some reason, today I have been on a nostalgia trip down memory lane that is Liverpool – I left there in ’81 and have lived in the US since ’94. Part of this trip this evening was to watch the movie “Violent Playground” while viewing your photos – instant play on Netflix.
One of the scenes shows the railway in the photo with a loco pulling some carriages, just after Johnny (played by David McCullum – still on TV over here) runs over the chinese kid.
One day, I need to get back to my roots just to walk the streets around the city center I knew as a kid, if they are still there.
Thanks for the photo of the alternative railway. The Mersey Docks and Harbour Board ran also the small trains: my late father was a driver of them, his engine was named after our mother Mary. He was involved in the ammo ship that was blown up, landing on the other side of the dock wall and spending months in hospital being scalded when the engine exploded. Regarding films made, he was used in the scenes of quite a few.