In this issue of Steam Days Chris Forrest recalls his schooldays in Lancashire, trainspotting and getting to know some of the signalmen in his area during the period of time just prior to the nationalisation of the railways and in the years following, up until 1955. Chris, like I, was born in 1934, so we have similar experiences from our spotting days.
Chris was educated at a school in Orrell, a matter of yards away from the Wigan to Liverpool L&YR line, but frustratingly the LMS and BR trains passed by in cutting, unseen if in the classrooms, while a brickworks line could be seen, complete with regular derailments!
I went to school at Worcester at the Worcester Royal Grammar School from the prep at the age of six until…
