Southport Lord Street railway station
Encyclopedia
Southport Lord Street was a railway station located in Southport
, Merseyside
.
Southport Lord Street railway station opened on 1 September, 1884, as the Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway
's (SCLER) northern terminus, which ran from Aintree Central
in the northern suburbs of Liverpool
. The new line provided passengers with an alternative through route to Liverpool city centre, to that run by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (Southport Chapel Street - Liverpool Exchange
).
Unfortunately, from the very beginning, the SCLER line was no competition to that of the L&Y's more direct coastal route, as the route of the Cheshire Lines Committee
(CLC) into Liverpool skirted around the eastern areas of Liverpool, travelling down to Hunts Cross
in the south and then back up to Liverpool Central High Level
. The line only proving to be relatively popular during the summer months and never really taking off as a commuter route. During late 1942 the timetable showed five CLC trains each weekday to Southport of which two started at Manchester (Central).
The building itself was a grand affair, fronting directly onto Lord Street. The station consisted of five platforms and a footbridge, linking all the platforms. It had been intended by the SCLER to link their tracks to that of that L&Y's, providing the CLC with access to the northern suburbs of Southport. However, this had never been agreed with the LYR, so the provision of the footbridge on this basis, was a rather foolhardy decision to make.
The station first closed in 1917, along with all other stations on the extension line, due to World War I
economy measures. It was then reopened in 1919, until 7 January 1952*, when the SCLER was closed to passengers from Aintree Central northwards. The line remained open for public goods traffic until the 7th of July 1952 at Southport Lord Street, Birkdale Palace and Altcar & Hillhouse stations. Public goods facilities were ended at Woodvale, Lydiate and Sefton & Maghull stations on the same date as passenger services (7-1-1952*) and there were never any goods facilities at Ainsdale Beach station to begin with. After 7-7-1952, a siding remained open at Altcar & Hillhouse for private goods facilities until May 1960. The very last passenger train to run on the SCLER was a railway enthusiasts' 'special' between Aintree and Altcar & Hillhouse railways stations on the 6th of June 1959.
Southport Lord Street railway station was then taken over by Ribble Buses. The spaces in between the platforms were filled in, but apart from that the interior remained the same. The trainshed remained in use by the bus company until Ribble Buses ceased to operate from the building in the 1990s. The trainshed was then later demolished. However, the frontage on Lord Street was retained and still exists today. The clock tower still showing 'SCLER' below the clock itself and making reference to its former role. Morrisons
supermarket
has now taken up the space behind the facade.
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
.
Southport Lord Street railway station opened on 1 September, 1884, as the Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway
Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway
The Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway is a now-disused railway line in Merseyside, England. It was built by the Cheshire Lines Committee, extending the North Liverpool Extension Line to Southport in 1884. Passenger services ended 7 January 1952 and goods six months later...
's (SCLER) northern terminus, which ran from Aintree Central
Aintree Central railway station
For a guide to the various Aintree stations that have existed and their relationship to each other see Aintree Stations.Aintree Central railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line on Park Lane, Aintree, Merseyside, across Park Lane from the current Aintree station.It...
in the northern suburbs of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. The new line provided passengers with an alternative through route to Liverpool city centre, to that run by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (Southport Chapel Street - Liverpool Exchange
Liverpool Exchange railway station
Liverpool Exchange railway station was a railway station located in the town centre of Liverpool, England.- Station construction and opening :...
).
Unfortunately, from the very beginning, the SCLER line was no competition to that of the L&Y's more direct coastal route, as the route of the Cheshire Lines Committee
Cheshire Lines Committee
The Cheshire Lines Committee was the second largest joint railway in Great Britain, with 143 route miles. Despite its name, approximately 55% of its system was in Lancashire. In its publicity material it was often styled as the Cheshire Lines Railway...
(CLC) into Liverpool skirted around the eastern areas of Liverpool, travelling down to Hunts Cross
Hunts Cross railway station
Hunts Cross railway station is a Grade II listed railway station in Hunts Cross, Liverpool, England. It is situated on the southern branch of the City Line's Liverpool to Manchester route, and is the southern terminus of Merseyrail's Northern Line.-History:...
in the south and then back up to Liverpool Central High Level
Liverpool Central High Level railway station
Liverpool Central High Level opened on 1 March 1874, at the end of the Cheshire Lines Committee line to Manchester Central. It replaced Brunswick as the CLC's Liverpool passenger terminus, becoming the headquarters of the committee....
. The line only proving to be relatively popular during the summer months and never really taking off as a commuter route. During late 1942 the timetable showed five CLC trains each weekday to Southport of which two started at Manchester (Central).
The building itself was a grand affair, fronting directly onto Lord Street. The station consisted of five platforms and a footbridge, linking all the platforms. It had been intended by the SCLER to link their tracks to that of that L&Y's, providing the CLC with access to the northern suburbs of Southport. However, this had never been agreed with the LYR, so the provision of the footbridge on this basis, was a rather foolhardy decision to make.
The station first closed in 1917, along with all other stations on the extension line, due to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
economy measures. It was then reopened in 1919, until 7 January 1952*, when the SCLER was closed to passengers from Aintree Central northwards. The line remained open for public goods traffic until the 7th of July 1952 at Southport Lord Street, Birkdale Palace and Altcar & Hillhouse stations. Public goods facilities were ended at Woodvale, Lydiate and Sefton & Maghull stations on the same date as passenger services (7-1-1952*) and there were never any goods facilities at Ainsdale Beach station to begin with. After 7-7-1952, a siding remained open at Altcar & Hillhouse for private goods facilities until May 1960. The very last passenger train to run on the SCLER was a railway enthusiasts' 'special' between Aintree and Altcar & Hillhouse railways stations on the 6th of June 1959.
- On the subject of railway station or line 'closing dates', it should be remembered that the official day of a closure IS ALWAYS given as the Monday following the date of last trains run. As this is almost always a Saturday, if the 7th January 1952 (Monday) is given as the date of closure, this means the ACTUAL LAST DAY OF SERVICES was Saturday, 5 January 1952. This is proven by last day tickets which bear the 5th January date.
Southport Lord Street railway station was then taken over by Ribble Buses. The spaces in between the platforms were filled in, but apart from that the interior remained the same. The trainshed remained in use by the bus company until Ribble Buses ceased to operate from the building in the 1990s. The trainshed was then later demolished. However, the frontage on Lord Street was retained and still exists today. The clock tower still showing 'SCLER' below the clock itself and making reference to its former role. Morrisons
Morrisons
Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc is the fourth largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The company is usually referred to and is branded as Morrisons formerly Morrison's, and it is part of the FTSE 100 Index of companies...
supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
has now taken up the space behind the facade.