Hest Bank railway station
Encyclopedia
Hest Bank railway station was a former railway station opened by the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
(L&CR) a short distance north of Lancaster
. The line was authorised in 1844 and a station was proposed for Hest Bank
the following year. It opened in 1846 along with the line. It was on the only part of the present-day West Coast Main Line
(WCML) which is within sight of the coast.
Meanwhile, the "little" North Western Railway had been formed to link Skipton
to Lancaster and with the Morecambe Harbour and Railway planned to make a junction with the L&CR at Hest Bank. Regrettably this never materialised. Hoping to develop an export trade in coke and other minerals, the L&CR applied on its own account to build the branch to Morecambe
, receiving permission in 1859. At this point the line was leased by the London and North Western Railway
(LNWR) and it was the latter that built the branch as a double track opening in 1864. In time however the branch was singled, but with an increase in holiday trade a south facing curve was added to the junction during 1888. Later a part of the branch from Bare Lane
was redoubled and is still open as the Morecambe Branch Line
.
Hest Bank station itself was of rugged stone construction, a two-storey station house with a booking hall below on the up (southbound) platform. It was next to a level crossing over a minor road linking the A589 with houses, a water treatment works and a caravan park further along the foreshore. A small cottage for the crossing keeper was provided on the down (coastal-facing) side along with a footbridge to connect the platforms. The down side also had two sidings, one providing a bay platform.
At grouping
in 1923 it became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway.
During the 'thirties the station became remarkable as the only one between Preston and Carlisle with electric lighting, thanks to the ingenuity of a member of staff. The goods yard closed on 2 December 1963, but the tracks were used for camping coaches until 1969 when the station closed to passengers.
All trace of the platforms and buildings have disappeared apart from the crossing keeper's cottage as the incoming Morecambe branch was extended along the length of one of the former platforms (as part of the layout changes associated with the 1973 WCML electrification scheme). The nearby signal box
remains in use, although only to supervise the level crossing
s here and at nearby Bolton-le-Sands
. NR has however recently published proposals to close the box here at the end of 2012 (along with neighbouring Bare Lane) and convert the crossings to CCTV operation from Preston PSB
Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
The Lancaster and Carlisle Railway was a British railway company authorised on 6 June 1844 to build a line between Lancaster and Carlisle in North-West England...
(L&CR) a short distance north of Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
. The line was authorised in 1844 and a station was proposed for Hest Bank
Hest Bank
Slyne-with-Hest is a civil parish in the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. It had a population of 3,163 recorded in the 2001 census. The parish is north of Lancaster and consists of two villages; Slyne, on the A6 road, and Hest Bank on the coast....
the following year. It opened in 1846 along with the line. It was on the only part of the present-day West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
(WCML) which is within sight of the coast.
Meanwhile, the "little" North Western Railway had been formed to link Skipton
Skipton
Skipton is a market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is located along the course of both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, on the south side of the Yorkshire Dales, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
to Lancaster and with the Morecambe Harbour and Railway planned to make a junction with the L&CR at Hest Bank. Regrettably this never materialised. Hoping to develop an export trade in coke and other minerals, the L&CR applied on its own account to build the branch to Morecambe
Morecambe
Morecambe is a resort town and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. As of 2001 it has a resident population of 38,917. It faces into Morecambe Bay...
, receiving permission in 1859. At this point the line was leased by the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
(LNWR) and it was the latter that built the branch as a double track opening in 1864. In time however the branch was singled, but with an increase in holiday trade a south facing curve was added to the junction during 1888. Later a part of the branch from Bare Lane
Bare Lane railway station
Bare Lane railway station is a railway station that serves the village of Bare, which is a suburb of Morecambe in Lancashire.It is located on the Morecambe Branch Line from Lancaster to Heysham Port....
was redoubled and is still open as the Morecambe Branch Line
Morecambe Branch Line
The Morecambe Branch Line is a railway line in Lancashire, England, from Lancaster to Morecambe and Heysham where services connect with the ferry service to Douglas on the Isle of Man. To reach Heysham, trains must reverse at Morecambe....
.
Hest Bank station itself was of rugged stone construction, a two-storey station house with a booking hall below on the up (southbound) platform. It was next to a level crossing over a minor road linking the A589 with houses, a water treatment works and a caravan park further along the foreshore. A small cottage for the crossing keeper was provided on the down (coastal-facing) side along with a footbridge to connect the platforms. The down side also had two sidings, one providing a bay platform.
At grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
in 1923 it became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway.
During the 'thirties the station became remarkable as the only one between Preston and Carlisle with electric lighting, thanks to the ingenuity of a member of staff. The goods yard closed on 2 December 1963, but the tracks were used for camping coaches until 1969 when the station closed to passengers.
All trace of the platforms and buildings have disappeared apart from the crossing keeper's cottage as the incoming Morecambe branch was extended along the length of one of the former platforms (as part of the layout changes associated with the 1973 WCML electrification scheme). The nearby signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
remains in use, although only to supervise the level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
s here and at nearby Bolton-le-Sands
Bolton-le-Sands
Bolton-le-Sands is a large village and civil parish of the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. The parish had a population of 4,098 recorded in the 2001 census,...
. NR has however recently published proposals to close the box here at the end of 2012 (along with neighbouring Bare Lane) and convert the crossings to CCTV operation from Preston PSB