These called at all stations from Manchester Central to St Helens via Glazebrook and Culcheth.
From 1952 until 5 October 1963 some race day specials to Haydock Park had deposited their passengers at the racecourse then travelled to St Helens for servicing, turning and to await their turn to return in the evening.
[22][23][24] Although a last, this tour was also a first, being the first passenger train over a new connection between the line to Ashton and the WCML at the new "Haydock Branch Junction" north of Golborne, which had opened on 22 April 1968.
[25][26] By providing this connection the line between Edge Green and Lowton St Mary's could be abandoned and, in particular, its bridge over the to-be-electrified WCML could be removed.
[28][29] In July 1968 the line to the west was reopened to serve a new oil distribution depot at Haydock.
[27] In 1975 an experiment was conducted in reviving race traffic, using Ashton station instead of Haydock Park.