FISH TRAINS THROUGH BRIGG

Every so often a memory of the distant past in Brigg comes to mind. And this was the case when we saw a fish van parked up the other day. 
It was of the vehicular variety but set us thinking about the mid-1960s when a trainspotting highlight was to see, and smell, steam-hauled Grimsby fish trains steam come through on the  way to Manchester. These loco-hauled delights arrived about 6.30pm but didn't stop.
We looked out an old railway magazine from the period which contained an interesting article about Grimsby fish trains. 
Road transport captured more and more of the trade, resulting in shorter fish trains and fewer of them, until the plug was pulled altogether in the late 1960s. 
British Railways, in the era of Doctor Beeching, was looking to cut loss-making wherever possible and concentrate only on lucrative freight.
Fish trains had run all over the country from Grimsby, Hull, Aberdeen and Fleetwood. 
Other notable Brigg freight trains of the mid-1960s were the pick-up goods from Retford, which shunted wagons after 4pm; vans from Spain which brought in oranges for Spring's factory; and coal wagons supplying the local merchants.
Sadly, we didn't have access to a Box Brownie in those far off boyhood days. A great pity as the fish trains were certainly worth photographing for posterity.