This postwar Fairbairn class 4 2-6-4T survived to be preserved on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway in Cumbria. On 24 June 1968 it was stored at Carnforth awaiting transfer to its new home

The Ivatt class 4 2-6-0s were considered to be a standard class and survived virtually until the end of steam working. This one, 43029, had been withdrawn by the date of this image taken at Lostock Hall on 29 December 1967

Another withdrawn 2-6-0 was 43088 also dumped at Lostock Hall on 29 December 1967

Black 5 44713 seen at Carnforth on 24 June 1968 with one of the few surviving standard class 4 4-6-0 types to be seen behind

Newton Heath had been the largest shed on the old Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and had maintained an allocation of over 100 well into BR days. The few active survivors towards the end of steam working were mostly LMS Black 5 and class 8F 2-8-0s. Black 5 44758 was seen on 25 February 1968

Black 5 44858 at Lostock Hall on 29 December 1967, with a class 25 diesel alongside. The operation of steam and diesel traction from the same depot did not help the reliability of the new form of traction in the days of mixed operation

Another view of 44858 at Lostock Hall on 29 December 1968

Black 5 44963 awaits departure from Heysham with the early morning Belfast Boat Express to Manchester on 26 April 1968, just as the sun was rising. There were two steam departures from Heysham in the morning, as the London connection was also steam hauled but only as far as Lancaster where diesel traction took over. The Manchester train was steam hauled throughout in both directions until virtually the end of steam working

I was living in Withington for a short period in 1968 and on fine mornings would walk into the University, passing the former Fallowfield station on the way. The coal sidings at Fallowfield were still operational in 1968, so one morning I took my camera with me and got some shots of Black 5 45190 shunting the coal wagons on 21 March 1968

45190 again amid the disarray which was Fallowfield coal sidings on 21 March 1968. Such a high cost operation for the delivery of domestic coal could not survive long, and in truth these were the last days of some of the time honoured methods of distribution by rail of many daily products

Black 5 45312 brings a freight through Knott Mill and Deansgate station. under the 1500 dc. catenary of the Manchester. South Junction and Altrincham Railway on 21 March 1968

Black 5 45342 was being prepared to work the 2055 Belfast Boat Express to Heysham on 10 December 1967. This photo was taken in the early afternoon, emphasising the non-productive time involved in steam operation

Two Black Fives at Heysham in the early morning, preparing for departure with boat trains to Manchester and London on 26 April 1968

LMS Black 5 4-6-0 no. 45435 seen between Carleton and Layton on the line into Blackpool North on 26 March 1968

This was one of the last surviving Ivatt class 2 light 2-6-0 tender engines seen dumped at Newton Heath on 10 December 1967. These modern types were introduced after the second world war to replace many pre-grouping engines that had survived long past their sell-by date, but in reality were never produced in sufficient numbers to make the kind of impact that was required

In the 1950s the Stanier 8F 2-8-0s were rarely seen at Blackpool, but by the end of steam the survivors could be seen at most north west sheds. 48033 was out of steam over the Christmas holiday at Blackpool North shed on Boxing Day, 1967

Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48062 at Carnforth on 24 June 1968, with one of the ill-fated Metro-Vick Co-Bo diesels in the background

The line to Fleetwood was maintained to supply coal to Fleetwood power station, long after the passenger and fish trains had gone. Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48247 passes the site of Singleton station between Kirkham and Poulton-le-Fylde with a coal train on 28 March 1968. The LMS designed engines had replaced WD class 2-8-0s on these workings some 3 to 4 years previously

Stanier 8F number 48551 with a loose coupled train of mineral wagons trundles through Widnes on the former LNWR deviation route via Widnes South on 9 April 1968 through a wasteland of decaying industrial buildings

The LNER's answer to the Stanier Black 5 was the class B1 4-6-0 of which over 400 were built from 1942 onwards. One of the last survivors was 61306, seen here at Carnforth on 24 June 1968 awaiting transfer into preservation

A handful of BR standard class 7 Britannia Pacifics survived into the last year, but only one remained active until the end. The nameplates of 70023 "Venus" had been removed and the loco would see no further active use, having been dumped at Newton Heath on 25 February 1968

In some ways it was quite sad to see fine modern engines designed for main-line work being reduced to little more than station pilot duties in the final year, but such was the fate of standard class 5 73157 at Manchester Exchange on 8 December 1967

This BR Standard class 4 2-6-0 had had a relatively short life but by December 1967 it was withdrawn and dumped along with other members of the class at Springs Branch, Wigan

Studies in light and shade were very much in vogue in the late 1960s, and I tried my hand with this shot of a Black 5 at Newton heath on 10 December 1967