The Liverpool and Bury Railway was formed by an act of Parliament in 1845 to link Liverpool and Bury via Kirkby, Wigan and Bolton, the line opening on 20 November 1848. The line became the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway's main line between Liverpool, Manchester and Yorkshire. Most of it is still open.
In the 1840s travel by rail between Liverpool, Bolton and Wigan was possible but time consuming, and it depended on using the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR) who effectively had a monopoly on travel not only between Liverpool and Manchester but also to these industrial towns of the north west, Wigan via a connection on the North Union Railway, Bolton via a connection on the former Bolton and Leigh Railway (B&LR).[lower-alpha 1][2] Local industrialists formed the Bolton, Wigan and Liverpool Railway Company in 1844 with the intention of breaking the L&MR monopoly, in 1845 they decided to include Bury in their plans and applied for parliamentary powers, these were granted in the Liverpool and Bury Railway Act 1845 (8 & 9 Vict. c. clxvi) on 31 July 1845 and the Liverpool and Bury Railway was formed.[act 1][2][4]
The Liverpool and Bury Railway was acquired under the terms of the Manchester and Leeds Railway (No. 2) Act 1846 (9 & 10 Vict. c. cclxxxii) on 27 July 1846 by the Manchester and Leeds Railway[act 3] who needed no persuasion in acquiring a route to Liverpool. At the same time as the amalgamation act was passed, the railway also had authorised by the Liverpool and Bury Railway Act 1846 (9 & 10 Vict. c. cccxii) to construct an extension into Liverpool to a station near Exchange Square, the extension was not allowed to pass within 15ft (4.6m) of the borough gaol and a 700ft (210m) wall was to be erected to prevent railway passengers seeing into the gaol.[act 4][11]
In August 1846 the Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway (LO&PR) secured an act of Parliament, the Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston Railway Act 1846 (9 & 10 Vict. c. ccclxxxi), for a line between those towns which included the making of the line joint with the L&BR from Walton Junction to the Liverpool terminus, the terminal station itself and the proposed extension to the new terminus at Tithebarn Street. The act also included a branch from near Kirkdale to Liverpool docks. The LO&PR was required to pay the L&BR half of the cost for this joint venture. The act also allowed for the LO&PR to be leased or sold to the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) and this happened in October 1846.[act 5][13]
The line running from a temporary terminus at Liverpool Great Howard Street to the junction near Lostock, and the branch from Bolton to Bury were opened by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway on 20 November 1848, the section between Lostock and Bolton had been open since the 1841 opening of the Bolton and Preston Railway, it was double-tracked throughout. The line opened for goods traffic a month later than passengers whilst a wagon hoist was installed at Liverpool.[15][16]
The final section of the continuing route from Bury to Heywood had been opened by the L&YR on 1 May 1848.[17]
Construction
A contract for building the whole line, less the viaduct required at Liverpool, was let on 5 November 1845 to William McCormick and William Dargan, the Liverpool viaduct contract was not let until 11 March 1846 and that went to William McCormick in conjunction with S. & J. Holmes, the line was to be complete by 1 July 1847 with penalties for lateness and bonuses for early completion. Work started at once and along the whole line and by May 1846 there were about 3,500 men and 200 horses at work.[11]
There were some considerable civil engineering aspects to the line, the Liverpool viaduct was over a 1mi (1.6km), had 117 brick arches 30ft (9.1m) high and contained over 26 million bricks. On 23 March 1847 twenty-one of the arches collapsed, setting back the work and adding expense.[18][19] Walton tunnel whilst 1,149yd (1,051m) long presented no problems as it was dry. Upholland tunnel at 959yd (877m) went through coal measures and rock and proved to be very wet and troublesome requiring pumping.[18]
At Rainford the line went for 2mi (3.2km) over a moss (similar to Chat moss which the Liverpool and Manchester Railway had to cross) which had to be excavated to a depth of 26ft (7.9m). There was a 2mi (3.2km) long and 40ft (12m) high embankment at Pemberton, 65ft (20m) long bridges were needed to cross the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, at Kirkdale and again near Wigan, Wigan was approached via a timber viaduct consisting of forty-five 30ft (9.1m) spans and the NUR's Springs branch also needed a timber viaduct 25ft (7.6m) high to cross it. Further along the line a 700ft (210m) long viaduct crossed the river Croal and the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal, the Tonge valley was crossed by an 86ft (26m) high viaduct and at Bury there was a stone viaduct of five spans of 73ft (22m) each.[18]
Description
From the joint L&YR/ELR station at Liverpool Great Howard Street/Liverpool Borough Gaol[lower-alpha 4] the joint line ran northwards through Bootle Lane (later became Kirkdale) to Walton Junction where the ELR line to Ormskirk and Preston which was under construction branched off, the line to Bury veering eastwards, immediately after the junction was Preston Road (which later became Rice Lane) then Simonswood (which later became Aintree then Fazakerley) to Kirkby. Rainford was next followed by Pimbo Lane (later became Upholland) and Upholland which only lasted a short time until 1852 before being replaced by Orrell just over 1mi (1.6km) further along the line, then came Pemberton and into the first Wigan station.[21][22]
Just to the south of the original joint terminus the London and North Western Railway (L&NWR) had built a branch at a lower level into Waterloo Goods station, the extension had to cross these lines and did so via a bridge described as a huge brick arch 150ft (46m) in span and wedge-shaped in plan 135ft (41m) wide at the north end and 200ft (61m) wide at the south end, on a level with the passenger station and about 60ft (18m) above the L&NWR lines, this was designed by John Hawkshaw, the chief engineer of the L&YR.[29][30]
From the south end of the great brick arch the line curved eastwards around the wall of the borough gaol, crossed the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and then rose to the new terminus where the tracks were 25ft (7.6m) above Tithebarn Street, the height being necessary to keep open the canal and several streets passing beneath.[31]
The two-storied station building faced onto Tithebarn Street and rose to 90ft (27m) above street level with separate facilities for the two companies, the L&YR occupying the west side. The station had one arrival platform shared by the occupants who had two departure platforms each, the station opened on 13 May 1850.[32]
The approaches to the station were improved in the 1880s by the building of a loop line over a diverted Leeds and Liverpool canal, the station itself was completely rebuilt and enlarged to ten platforms, fully re-opening on 2 July 1888.[33]
Plans were drawn up and approved by both companies for the branch but no progress was made before the powers expired in 1853.[34] In 1854 the L&YR applied for the same powers, plus some additional branches into other docks. These were granted in the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (Liverpool Dock Branches) Act 1854 (17 & 18 Vict. c. lviii), and this time the ELR was allowed to become joint owners, again having to pay for half of the cost, the ELR declined, was reimbursed some of its earlier expenditure and the L&YR proceeded alone. The branch opened on 26 March 1855.[act 7][36]
From the junction, just north of Liverpool North Docks station (which later became Sandhills) the line descended on a long brick viaduct with iron spans over the streets and a plate-girder bridge over Great Howard Street. From here the line split with the left-hand branch continuing to descend to ground level and into North Docks Goods station where there were connections onto the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board (MDHB) rail network. The other branch ran via a vertical-lift bridge over Regent Road to two High-level coal branches in Bramley Moore and Wellington docks, maintaining the higher level of the line enabled coal to be delivered directly into ships using shutes.[37][38]
The goods station dealt with a significant amount of imported Irish livestock, around 250 wagonloads a day for over 50 years until an outbreak of foot and mouth disease caused livestock to be diverted to Birkenhead and quarantined.[39]
The L&YR built this 4½ mile (7.2 Km) long double-track line to capture some of the increasing freight passing through the Canada Dock system in the north of the Mersey docks, opened in 1859. The line opened on 27 August 1866.[40][41]
The L&YR introduced multiple-unit third-rail electric powered trains from Exchange station to Southport Chapel Street from March 1904, with a full service from 13 May 1904.[lower-alpha 5] This meant the section from Exchange to Sandhills was electrified then. The electrification was subsequently extended to Ormskirk in 1913 meaning the electrification now extended to Walton Junction.[45]
As part of the electrification work for the creation of Merseyrail, the line to Kirkby was electrified, as diesel multiple units were banned from operating in the new tunnels for safety reasons. In order to maintain a through service to the city, the section from Walton Junction to Kirkby was third-rail electrified, with the remainder of the line towards Rainford and Wigan remaining diesel operated. The station at Kirkby became the interchange point between the two, as electrification eastwards from Kirkby was deemed too expensive at the time. Electric operations commenced on 2 May of that year, along with the end of through running between Bolton/Wigan and Liverpool.[46]
The interchange station changed in October 2023 when a new station at Headbolt Lane opened, this station is served on the Merseyrail side by a new fleet of battery operated trains.[47]
Other improvements
The lines from Walton junction into Liverpool were doubled which needed two new tunnels at Kirkdale, all four tracks being brought into use on 24 April 1904.[48]
A new loop-line was constructed at Sandhills it was completed by 1889.[49]
The L&YR widened the line to four-tracks through Hindley and from there opened a new loop line 3mi (4.8km) to Pemberton avoiding Wigan, the line opened for freight traffic on 1 May 1889 and to passenger traffic on 1 June 1889.[50]
In 1946 one of the Victorian timber bridges on the line was replaced with the Adam Viaduct, the first prestressed concrete railway bridge in the United Kingdom.[52]
The line today
With the exception of the section from Bolton to Bury (closed on 5 October 1970, along with the continuation through to Castleton) and the closure of Liverpool Exchange station in 1977 the line is still in use. The Liverpool end of the line now runs as part of Merseyrail'sLink Tunnel. with Moorfields having replaced Exchange station. [53]
Long-term aspirations are to extend Merseyrail to Wigan on this line.[citation needed]
In January 2019, Campaign for Better Transport released a report identifying the line between Bolton and Bury which was listed as Priority 2 for reopening. Priority 2 is for those lines which require further development or a change in circumstances (such as housing developments).[55]
In March 2020, a bid was made to the Restoring Your Railway fund to get funds for a feasibility study into reinstating the line between Bolton and Bury. This bid was unsuccessful however a resubmitted bid for the second round was successful.[56][57]
↑ Both railways called their terminus Liverpool but in 1850 the L&YR started to call it Liverpool Borough Gaol, and the ELR called it Liverpool Great Howard Street to avoid confusion with the about to be opened Liverpool Exchange.[20]
↑ Initially it was a four-rail system, but the fourth, centre rail, was gradually removed and the running rails used to return the current.[44]
Acts of Parliament
↑ An Act for making a Railway from Liverpool to Wigan, Bolton, and Bury, with several Branches therefrom.[3]
↑ An Act for amending the Acts relating to the Manchester and Leeds Railway, and for making a Branch therefrom to Burnley, and for extending the Oldham and Heywood Branches.[8]
↑ An Act to incorporate the Liverpool and Bury Railway Company with the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company.[9]
1 2 An Act for amending the Act relating to the Liverpool and Bury Railway, and for making Branches therefrom.[10]
1 2 An Act for making a Railway from the Liverpool and Bury Railway to the North Union and Blackburn and Preston Railways, with Branches therefrom, to be called "The Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston Railway."[12]
1 2 An Act to enable the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company to make certain Branches, Extensions, and other Works, and to alter the Name of the Company.[14]
↑ An Act for enabling the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company to construct a Railway from Kirkdale to the Liverpool Docks, with connecting Lines there; and for other Purposes.[35]
Related Research Articles
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways. It was the third-largest railway system based in northern England.
Liverpool Exchange railway station was a railway station located in the city centre of Liverpool, England. Of the four terminal stations in Liverpool's city centre, Exchange station was the only station not accessed via a tunnel.
The Ashton, Stalybridge and Liverpool Junction Railway was opened in 1846 to connect the industrial town of Ashton-under-Lyne to the developing railway network, and in particular to the port of Liverpool. It was a short line, joining the Manchester and Leeds Railway at Miles Platting and the connection to Liverpool was over that line and the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.
The Manchester and Leeds Railway was a British railway company that built a line from Manchester to Normanton where it made a junction with the North Midland Railway, over which it relied on running powers to access Leeds. The line followed the valley of the River Calder for much of the way, making for easier gradients but by-passing many important manufacturing towns. Crossing the watershed between Lancashire and Yorkshire required a long tunnel. The line opened throughout in 1841.
The Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway in north-west England was formed in 1846 by the Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston Railway Act 1846. It was purchased by the East Lancashire Railway the following year and opened to traffic on 2 April 1849.
The Ribble Valley line is a railway line that runs from Manchester Victoria through Blackburn, in Lancashire, to Hellifield in North Yorkshire. Regular passenger services normally run as far as Clitheroe, but occasional passenger services run the whole line through north Lancashire to Hellifield, where it joins the Settle–Carlisle line. The line passes over the distinctive 48-span Whalley Viaduct.
The Preston and Wyre Railway was promoted to open up agricultural land in the Fylde in Lancashire, access a new port at what became Fleetwood and the Lancaster Canal at Preston: it opened in 1840. An associated company built the dock leading to the company changing its name to the Preston and Wyre Railway, Harbour and Dock Company. Passenger business was more buoyant than expected, and the company built branch lines to the nascent resort of Blackpool and Lytham that opened in 1846. At that time the line was leased by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and later the London and North Western Railway took a share in the lease which was later converted to outright ownership. The Preston and Wyre Railway continued to be jointly owned as the Preston and Wyre Joint Railway.
The East Lancashire Railway operated from 1844 to 1859 in the historic county of Lancashire, England. It began as a railway from Clifton via Bury to Rawtenstall, and during its short life grew into a complex network of lines connecting towns and cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Salford, Preston, Burnley and Blackburn.
The North Union Railway was an early British railway company, operating two main routes, from Parkside to Preston and from Bolton Trinity Street to Preston, all in Lancashire. The northerly part of the routes sharing the line from Euxton to Preston.
Lostock Hall railway station is a railway station serving the village of Lostock Hall in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England. It is on the East Lancashire Line and is managed by Northern, who also provide all passenger trains serving it.
Wigan Wallgate railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town centre of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. The station serves two routes, the Manchester-Southport Line and the Manchester-Kirkby Line. It is 16 miles north-west of Manchester Victoria. The station is managed by Northern Trains, who operate all trains serving it.
Clifton railway station is a railway station in Clifton, Greater Manchester, England which was formerly called Clifton Junction. It lies on the Manchester–Preston line.
The Manchester and Southport Railway in England was formed by an Act of 22 July 1847 to link Manchester and Southport. Before the line opened it was acquired jointly by the L&YR and the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) on 3 July 1854.
Burscough Bridge railway station is one of two railway stations which serves the town of Burscough in Lancashire, England. It is on the Manchester-Southport Line. It is operated and managed by Northern Trains. A bus interchange has recently been constructed next to the station, including a shop and cafe. The station has been identified by Merseytravel as a possible interchange between the Liverpool to Ormskirk line and the Southport to Wigan line in its Liverpool City Region Long Term Rail Strategy.
Rainford railway station is situated to the north of the village of Rainford, Merseyside, England. It is on the Kirkby branch line. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Trains.
The Kirkby Branch Line is a branch railway line from Wigan to Headbolt Lane. The line's original route was from Liverpool to Bury and later the most northern of the Liverpool to Manchester lines. The line was split at Kirkby in 1977 with the western section forming a high frequency branch of the electrified Merseyrail Northern Line, also referred to as the Kirkby branch line. The Kirkby branch to Wigan remained a low frequency diesel operated service by Northern Trains from Headbolt Lane to Manchester.
The Lancashire Union Railway ran between Blackburn and St Helens in Lancashire, England. It was built primarily to carry goods between Blackburn and Garston Dock on the River Mersey, and also to serve collieries in the Wigan area. Most of the line has now been closed, except for the St Helens-to-Wigan section that forms part of the main line between Liverpool and the North.
The Manchester and Bolton Railway was a railway in the historic county of Lancashire, England, connecting Salford to Bolton. It was built by the proprietors of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Navigation and Railway Company who had in 1831 converted from a canal company. The 10-mile (16 km) long railway was originally to have built upon most of the line of the canal, but it was eventually built alongside the Salford and Bolton arms of the canal. The act of Parliament, the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal and Railway Act 1831, also allowed the construction of a connection to Bury, but technical constraints meant that it was never built.
The Bolton and Preston Railway (B&PR) connected Bolton and Preston, in Lancashire, England. Its authorising act of Parliament forbade its early completion to protect the North Union Railway (NUR) and imposed other restrictions that limited the success of the B&PR. A change of route was authorised to bypass the delay making it dependent on the goodwill of the NUR to reach Preston. The NUR saw the B&PR as a competitor and used underhand tactics to harm the success of the B&PR.
Liverpool Great Howard Street railway station was a station in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, it was also known as Liverpool Borough Gaol railway station. The station was jointly owned but separately operated by two rival railway companies from 1848 to 1850 when it became solely a goods station.
Cadwallader, Jonathan; Jenkins, Martin (2010). Merseyside Electrics. Hersham: Ian Allan. ISBN978-0-7110-3417-4.
Clinker, C.R. (October 1978). Clinker's Register of Closed Passenger Stations and Goods Depots in England, Scotland and Wales 1830–1977. Bristol: Avon-Anglia Publications & Services. ISBN0-905466-19-5. OCLC5726624.
Grant, Donald J. (2017). Directory of the Railway Companies of Great Britain (1sted.). Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire: Troubador Publishing Ltd. ISBN978-1-78803-768-6.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
