West Lancashire Railway
Encyclopedia
The West Lancashire Railway (WLR) ran northeast from Southport
to Preston
in northwest England.
of Southport, on 19 April 1873.
A branch was constructed from Penwortham to the Blackburn line at Whitehouse Junction allowing direct services from East Lancashire Railway to Southport.
In 1881 a further branch was constructed from east of Hesketh Bank station southwards to Tarleton
Lock on the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
by the River Douglas
. This was mainly intended for goods, but a passenger service did run on the branch until 1912/3. The branch closed completely in 1930.
, opened in 1887 to provide greater access to Liverpool (in competition with its rival the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
) and in an attempt to forge a commercial alliance with the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
. At one time the line featured as a potential alternative route to Blackpool
. The line was never successful and its construction bankrupted the West Lancashire Railway. Finally in 1897 the two railways were taken over by their competitor, the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.
Up to the take-over, the WLR used its own stations at each terminus. These were Central station
in Southport and Fishergate Hill
in Preston. The new owners built a west-to-north connecting chord at Whitehouse Junction which enabled them to redirect all of the WLR passenger trains into their own Preston (ELR) Station
. Likewise at the Southport end, passenger trains were rerouted into the adjacent Chapel Street Station
. Both WLR termini became goods depôts with that at Preston seeing occasional passenger use when it played host to special services during the Preston Guild.
to provide an electric service all the way to Liverpool. From 15 February 1909, electrification was extended to ; most electric trains between Southport and Crossens called at Meols Cop and reversed out.
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...
to Preston
Preston railway station
Preston railway station serves the city of Preston in Lancashire, England and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line.It is served by Northern Rail, Virgin Trains, and TransPennine Express services, plus First ScotRail overnight sleeper services between London and Scotland.-Station layout...
in northwest England.
History
Construction was started by Samuel Swire the MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Southport, on 19 April 1873.
A branch was constructed from Penwortham to the Blackburn line at Whitehouse Junction allowing direct services from East Lancashire Railway to Southport.
In 1881 a further branch was constructed from east of Hesketh Bank station southwards to Tarleton
Tarleton
-Population :-Economy:As a result of soil on the former mossland, a major economic activity in Tarleton is market gardening, particularly growing salad crops....
Lock on the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of , it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line...
by the River Douglas
River Douglas
The River Douglas, also known as the River Asland or Astland, is a river that flows through Lancashire and Greater Manchester in the north-west of England...
. This was mainly intended for goods, but a passenger service did run on the branch until 1912/3. The branch closed completely in 1930.
Expansion, bankruptcy and take-over
It also sponsored the Liverpool, Southport and Preston Junction RailwayLiverpool, Southport and Preston Junction Railway
The Liverpool, Southport & Preston Junction Railway was formed in 1884, and totaled 7 miles. In 1897 it became part of Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, and on 1 May 1901, its northern terminus switched from to ....
, opened in 1887 to provide greater access to Liverpool (in competition with its rival the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
) and in an attempt to forge a commercial alliance with the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway was formed by amalgamation in 1847. The MS&LR changed its name to the Great Central Railway in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension.-Origin:...
. At one time the line featured as a potential alternative route to Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
. The line was never successful and its construction bankrupted the West Lancashire Railway. Finally in 1897 the two railways were taken over by their competitor, the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.
Up to the take-over, the WLR used its own stations at each terminus. These were Central station
Southport Central railway station
Southport Central was a railway station in Southport, Lancashire, England. It was opened on 4 September 1882 as the terminus of the West Lancashire Railway from Preston; it replaced the temporary terminus at Windsor Road which had been in use since 10 June 1878.The station was also known as...
in Southport and Fishergate Hill
Preston Fishergate Hill railway station
Preston Fishergate Hill was a railway station at the bottom of Fishergate Hill in Preston. It formed the northeastern terminus of the West Lancashire Railway which built a direct railway link between Southport and Preston...
in Preston. The new owners built a west-to-north connecting chord at Whitehouse Junction which enabled them to redirect all of the WLR passenger trains into their own Preston (ELR) Station
Preston railway station
Preston railway station serves the city of Preston in Lancashire, England and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line.It is served by Northern Rail, Virgin Trains, and TransPennine Express services, plus First ScotRail overnight sleeper services between London and Scotland.-Station layout...
. Likewise at the Southport end, passenger trains were rerouted into the adjacent Chapel Street Station
Southport railway station
Southport railway station serves the town of Southport, Merseyside, England. It is at the end of one of the branches of the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network, and at the end of the Manchester-Southport Line which runs via Wigan...
. Both WLR termini became goods depôts with that at Preston seeing occasional passenger use when it played host to special services during the Preston Guild.
Electrification
From 22 March 1904 the line from to Southport was electrified using a third railThird rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
to provide an electric service all the way to Liverpool. From 15 February 1909, electrification was extended to ; most electric trains between Southport and Crossens called at Meols Cop and reversed out.
Closure
Passenger services, including the electric ones, ceased in 1964 and most of the line was closed. A goods service to Hesketh Park continued until November 1967. The line was quickly lifted over 1965.Sources
- Biddle, G., (1989), The Railways Around Preston - A Historical Review, Scenes from the Past: No. 6, Foxline Publishing, ISBN 1-870119-05-3
- Brookes, G. (2004) History, New Longton On-Line, www page, accessed 6 February 2007
- Cotterall, J.E., (1982), The West Lancashire Railway, The Oakwood Press, ISBN 0-85361-288-9
- Greville, M.D. and Holt, G.O. (1960) "Railway Development in Preston", Railway Magazine, vol. 106, in three parts : part 1, Feb. no. 706, p 94-112; part 2, Mar. no. 707, p. 197-204; part 3, Apr. no. 708, p. 274-277
- Nock, O.S. (1969), The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway - A Concise History, Ian Allan, ISBN 0-7110-0130-8
- Robertson, B. (2003-2007) St. Lukes to Preston Whitehouse North Jn., (including Whitehouse West Jn. to Todd Lane Jn., Whitehouse South Jn.), British Railways Routes in 1960, www page, accessed 6 February 2007
- Taylor, S. (1996), Journeys by Excursion Train from East Lancashire: Southport via the West Lancashire Line ... , Scenes from the past, No. 26, Part 2, Foxline Publishing, ISBN 1-870119-41-X
External links
- http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/
- http://www.rcts.org.uk/railways%20around%20preston.htm
- http://www.southportpast.com/altcarbob.shtml
- http://www.heskethbank.com/history/photos/railway.html