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Cab Ride: Wakefield Kirkgate to Haverton Hill via Colton Jct, York (avoider), ECML, Eaglescliffe and Billingham Jct

In a surprise move, the longstanding Preston Bitumen Oil train ran for the last time in December 2024. This popular east-west train, running via an interesting and varied route, had operated for many years. Heading out loaded from Lindsey Oil Refinery and hauled by a 37, 56, 60 or latterly a 66 to Preston, the empties headed back east, usually on a daytime path.

From 2015 Colas took over the operation which saw their own Class 60s, then 70s, 56s and pairs of 56s working the train. In 2023 the start/finish location was switched from Lindsey to Haverton Hill in Middlesbrough, running via the rarely used freight-only branch from Billingham Junction.

With ten ICA bogie tanks, this was filmed on board 56090 during the final weeks of operation in October 2024. This is the second part of the journey, starting from a crew change at Wakefield Kirkgate and forward via Milford Junction, Colton Junction and the York avoider followed by the ECML to Northallerton, Yarm, Eaglesliffe and Billingham Junction.

Upon resignalling in 2021, what is known as the ‘Haverton Hill’ branch from Billingham Junction was due to close. Remarkably, in a once thriving industrial area, now very bleak and almost abandoned, one track to the oil terminal was spared, and with a token exchange at the closed Belasis Lane signal box, we run along what remains, about three miles to the end of the line.

The full journey is shown, with maps, on-screen captions and minimal narration. A thrash cam in the back cab records the loco at work and ambient sounds.

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