INCE andElton is the destination fortwice-weekly trains of sand from Middleton Towers foruse in glass bottle production.Recycledimported crushed glass also arrivesby rail in aweekly trainload from Tilbury. These services are operatedbyDBCargo UK. Notably these trains are the only weekdayservices operating between Helsbyand EllesmerePort.
In the past this line was heavily used by petroleum trains from theStanlow refinery,plus amyriadof chemical flowsfromthe Associated OctelCompany, Kemira, PanOcean Storage& Transportand GATX Unitank Storage.
Also locatedalong the line wasJakes Rail Tank Cleaning Services.Manyofthese terminals were shunted by the Manchester ShipCanal Co.
Network Rail’s Kirow 125-tonne Multitasker heavy-duty, diesel-hydraulic crane No.99709319 013-7, plus FCArunner flatsNos. 610099/100/313/314,was seeninBescot Up yard on November 2. Also presentonNovember 23was Railvac vacuum excavation unit No.9970 9515 003-0. It wasbuilt usingframes from KHAcurtain side van Nos.33704666004-5. Other KHAconversions to Railvac areNos.33704666 003-7/009-4/033-4/045-8.