Rookery railway station

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Rookery
General information
Location Rainford, St Helens
England
Coordinates 53°29′47″N2°46′37″W / 53.4963°N 2.7770°W / 53.4963; -2.7770 Coordinates: 53°29′47″N2°46′37″W / 53.4963°N 2.7770°W / 53.4963; -2.7770
Grid reference SD486002
PlatformsTwo
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original company St Helens Canal and Railway
Pre-grouping London and North Western Railway
Post-grouping London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
April 1858First station opened
March 1862First station closed
1 June 1865Second station opened
18 June 1951Closed to passengers

Rookery railway station was on the St Helens to Rainford Junction [1] then Ormskirk line southeast of Rainford, England. [2]

Contents

History

The first station opened in 1858 and closed in March 1862. A second station of the same name opened on a site a short distance further north on 1 June 1865.

The station had distinctive wooden buildings on each platform with curved overhanging roofs [3] to provide protection from inclement weather. Some other stations on the line had buildings of the same pattern.

The second station closed on 18 June 1951. Goods trains continued to pass through the station site until 6 July 1964 when the line north of Mill Lane was closed and lifted. Both Rookery stations have been demolished.

Services

In July 1922 thirteen "Up" (southbound) trains called at the station on weekdays, with an extra on Saturday evenings. All originated at Ormskirk, several with connections from Southport. Ten Up trains called on Sundays. All trains continued all stations to St Helens. The "Down" (northbound) service was similar. [4]

The trains all consisted of "Motor Cars - One class only". 'Motor Cars' then did not have their modern meaning, but consisted of a single railway coach joined to a dedicated steam locomotive. Their generic type is summarised in L&YR railmotors. Photographs appear in Bob Pixton's work on the line. [5]

In 1951 the Up service consisted of five trains on weekdays with three extra on Saturdays, all stations to St Helens. The rolling stock was "Third Class Only". No trains called on Sundays. The Down service was similar. [6]

All local trains plying between Ormskirk and St Helens called at Rainford Junction, entailing a reverse. None used the 'direct line' between Bushey Lane Junction [7] and Randle Junction [8] which formed the third side of the triangle shown near the top of the route diagram. That stretch was the preserve of goods trains, diversions and occasional specials. [9]

Preceding station Disused railways Following station
Old Mill Lane
Line and station closed		  London and North Western Railway
St Helens Canal and Railway 		  Rainford Village
Line and station closed

Related Research Articles

Rainford Village railway station was on the railway line from St Helens to Rainford Junction, then Ormskirk, England.

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Old Mill Lane railway station was on the St Helens to Rainford Junction then Ormskirk line south of Rainford, England. It opened on 1 August 1906 and closed on 18 June 1951. The line through the station closed in 1964 and has since been lifted. The station has been demolished.

Hey's Crossing Halt railway station was on the Skelmersdale branch, which ran from Ormskirk to Rainford Junction via Skelmersdale. Most trains ran beyond Rainford Junction through to St Helens. It opened in 1911 and closed on 18 June 1951. The line through the station was closed in 1964 and subsequently lifted. Hey's Crossing Halt has been demolished.

White Moss Level Crossing Halt railway station was on the Skelmersdale branch, which ran from Ormskirk to Rainford Junction via Skelmersdale. Most trains ran beyond Rainford Junction through to St Helens. The halt opened on 7 January 1907 and closed on 18 June 1951. The line through the station closed in 1964 and was subsequently lifted. The station was demolished and its site is now buried under the M58 motorway.

Westhead Halt railway station

Westhead Halt railway station was on the Skelmersdale branch, which ran from Ormskirk to Rainford Junction via Skelmersdale. Most trains ran beyond Rainford Junction through to St Helens.

Sutton Oak railway station served the southern area of St Helens, England. The station was on the central section of the St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway which was later absorbed by the London and North Western Railway.

Peasley Cross railway station served the central southern area of St Helens, England. It was situated on the central section of the St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway which was later absorbed by the London and North Western Railway.

Fidler's Ferry & Penketh railway station was on what is now the southwestern edge of Warrington, England. It was located at a point where the St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway, the Sankey Canal and the River Mersey come side by side and where a ferry at one time plied across the river. In modern times the station site is at the southern, canal end of Station Road, Penketh.

Golborne North railway station served the town of Golborne, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.

Bickershaw and Abram railway station

Bickershaw and Abram railway station served the communities of Bickershaw and Abram southeast of Wigan, England.

West Leigh and Bedford railway station

The West Leigh and Bedford railway station served the hamlet of Crankwood, the village of Abram, and the Plank Lane area of Leigh, England. Like many railways, the line passed between rather than through communities, with branches off to serve the key driver - goods, and in this area - coal.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Engineers' Line Reference & mileages via railwaycodes
  2. ↑ Smith & Turner 2012 , Map 45
  3. ↑ Pixton 1996 , p. 100
  4. ↑ Bradshaw 1985 , p. 485
  5. ↑ Pixton 1996 , pp 87-90 & 101
  6. ↑ Pixton 1996 , p. 91
  7. ↑ Pixton 1996 , p. 92
  8. ↑ Pixton 1996 , p. 98
  9. ↑ Pixton 1996 , p. 102

Sources

  • Bradshaw, George (1985) [July 1922]. Bradshaw's General Railway and Steam Navigation guide for Great Britain and Ireland: A reprint of the July 1922 issue. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN   978-0-7153-8708-5. OCLC   12500436.
  • Pixton, Bob (1996), Widnes and St Helens Railways, The Archive Photographs Series, Stroud: The Chalford Publishing Company, ISBN   978-0-7524-0751-7
  • Smith, Paul; Turner, Keith (2012), Railway Atlas Then and Now, Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing, ISBN   978-0-7110-3695-6
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