The branch line from Preston to Longridge had a complex history but suffice it to say it became jointly owned by the L&NWR and the L&YR in 1867.

Mike Norris's new book takes a detailed look at the signalling and goods facilities along the route. The signalling arrangements were complex with a variety of single line working systems used over the years and Absolute Block in operation on the later double-track section between Maudland and Preston No.5 signal box.

For a line only seven miles long it had a surprising number of private sidings serving quarries, mills, timber merchants and, of course, many coal merchants as well as public goods yards at Longridge and Grimsargh. The original Preston terminus at Deepdale became a goods depot when the line through Maudland enabled trains to join the main line north of Preston station and survived as a Coal Concentration Depot until the 1980s.

• 305 x 215mm hardback
• 144 pages
• Profusely illustrated
  
• ISBN 978-0-955323-4-8
• Price includes UK postage
• For international postage follow the instructions on the Book Shop page.