What the WCML in 1959 was all about!

Here is the last photo in my series ' Holiday in Lancaster 1959 ' The big stuff again this time, just what the WCML was all about to railfans in the 1950's. Stanier Pacific #46242 'City of Glasgow' wheels the south bound 'Caledonian Express' along the up main line through Lancaster Castle station.
This is the WCML as it was before electrification - big locos hauling big trains. Not a wire in sight! - Hey wait a minute! How many of you have noticed the gantrys and catenary to the side of the up lines? I know it's not steam but that little electrified line has a very pertinent history to all modern electric traction in the UK.
In the early part of the twentieth century it was the first AC current line in the UK using MU's [6,600VAC at 25htz.] Then for three years [ 1950-53 ] it was operated as steam push pull servive. Oddly by 5 loco identical to the 0 - 4 - 4 T at Coventry Vaughan posted a few days ago. The engines involved were 41900 - 41904.
Then in 1953 it was re-electrified at 6.600vac 50htz. as a working test bed for the future electrified WCML. It used MU's again - five of the six motor cars were supplied and contolled by different methods. All sorts of different gantrys and catenary equipment was tried out as well.
Just an interesting bit of railway history to interest you. Look it up on the net - Lancaster to Morecombe and Heysham Railway. Enjoy the steam - My regards, Phil H. Leura. Oz.

PS. note the 2MT 'Mickey Mouse' 2 - 6 - 0 on a down local in the bay platform. Phil H.