Thornton for Cleveleys railway station
Encyclopedia
Thornton–Cleveleys was a small-sized railway station which served the two English
Lancashire
towns of Thornton
and Cleveleys
, but was situated in the centre of Thornton. Located on the now disused line between and , the station also had a shunting yard for the making-up of freight trains for and beyond. During its life it was also known at times as Thornton station and Thornton for Cleveleys station. In the 1860s and early 1870s the line was of great importance being the direct route from London to Glasgow, before the Shap route was opened passengers (allegedly including Queen Victoria) would travel from Euston
to Fleetwood and then onwards via steamer to Scotland.
The original station was opened in April 1865, and was named Cleveleys. It was to the south of Station Road in Thornton, near an older halt called Ramper Road, the Station Masters house and station building can still be seen in use as a private residence. The station was renamed Thornton for Cleveleys on 1 April 1905. This station closed in 1927 when the new station (the first to be built by the LMS) opened to the north of the level crossing. IN February 1953, the station was renamed again, this time to Thornton–Cleveleys. Rationalised in the 1950s/60's the station eventually closed on 1 June 1970 when the Fleetwood line
was closed to passengers. Freight continued on the line to nearby Burn Naze
until 1999.
Today, the station buildings at Thornton are long since demolished but the platforms remain. The site of the main station buildings and bus turning circle now being the site of a supermarket and small shops. On 1 July 2007, the station was leased by Network Rail
to the Poulton & Wyre Railway society to allow the group of volunteers access to the site to clear it of vegetation and undertake cosmetic works.
There have recently been moves towards reopening the Fleetwood line and its stations, including Thornton. A feasibility study into the line's re-opening was commissioned in 2006 by Poulton Market Town Initiative and the Wyre Strategic Partnership.
Thornton for Cleveleys Station platforms have now been resurrected and is near to complete restoration except for the canopies. Some of the track is now clear of being overgrown as the northern track was never lifted up to Burn Naze. Also the junction with the main Blackpool line at Poulton-le-Fylde is now complete.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
towns of Thornton
Thornton, Lancashire
Thornton is a village on the Fylde, in Lancashire, England, about four miles north of Blackpool and two miles south of Fleetwood. It is in the Borough of Wyre...
and Cleveleys
Cleveleys
Cleveleys is a town on the Fylde Coast of Lancashire, England, about 4 miles north of Blackpool and 2 miles south of Fleetwood...
, but was situated in the centre of Thornton. Located on the now disused line between and , the station also had a shunting yard for the making-up of freight trains for and beyond. During its life it was also known at times as Thornton station and Thornton for Cleveleys station. In the 1860s and early 1870s the line was of great importance being the direct route from London to Glasgow, before the Shap route was opened passengers (allegedly including Queen Victoria) would travel from Euston
Euston railway station
Euston railway station, also known as London Euston, is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sixth busiest rail terminal in London . It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail, and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line...
to Fleetwood and then onwards via steamer to Scotland.
The original station was opened in April 1865, and was named Cleveleys. It was to the south of Station Road in Thornton, near an older halt called Ramper Road, the Station Masters house and station building can still be seen in use as a private residence. The station was renamed Thornton for Cleveleys on 1 April 1905. This station closed in 1927 when the new station (the first to be built by the LMS) opened to the north of the level crossing. IN February 1953, the station was renamed again, this time to Thornton–Cleveleys. Rationalised in the 1950s/60's the station eventually closed on 1 June 1970 when the Fleetwood line
Fleetwood Branch Line
The Fleetwood Branch Line consists of the train line from to . It passed through many smaller stations along the way . When work at Fleetwood docks was under threat, the Fleetwood station was closed, this effectively closed the branch in 1970...
was closed to passengers. Freight continued on the line to nearby Burn Naze
Burn Naze Halt railway station
Burn Naze Halt railway station served Burn Naze in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, England, between 1908 and 1964. The platforms are still in existence but heavily overgrown with vegetation...
until 1999.
Today, the station buildings at Thornton are long since demolished but the platforms remain. The site of the main station buildings and bus turning circle now being the site of a supermarket and small shops. On 1 July 2007, the station was leased by Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
to the Poulton & Wyre Railway society to allow the group of volunteers access to the site to clear it of vegetation and undertake cosmetic works.
There have recently been moves towards reopening the Fleetwood line and its stations, including Thornton. A feasibility study into the line's re-opening was commissioned in 2006 by Poulton Market Town Initiative and the Wyre Strategic Partnership.
Thornton for Cleveleys Station platforms have now been resurrected and is near to complete restoration except for the canopies. Some of the track is now clear of being overgrown as the northern track was never lifted up to Burn Naze. Also the junction with the main Blackpool line at Poulton-le-Fylde is now complete.
External links
- Poulton and Wyre Railway Society, working towards restoring passenger services to Fleetwood.