| Lancaster Green Ayre | |
|---|---|
| Old goods crane on the station site (2005) | |
| Location | |
| Place | Lancaster |
| Area | Lancaster, Lancashire |
| Operations | |
| Original company | Morecambe Harbour and Railway |
| Pre-grouping | Midland Railway |
| Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway |
| History | |
| 12 June 1848 | Opened as Lancaster |
| 1 June 1850 | Incorrectly listed as Lancaster Green Area |
| 1 November 1870 | Listed as Lancaster Green Ayre |
| 3 January 1966 | Closed |
| 1976 | Demolished |
| Disused railway stations in the United Kingdom | |
| Closed railway stations in Britain A B C D–F G H–J K–L M–O P–R S T–V W–Z |
|
Lancaster Green Ayre railway station was the Midland Railway's station in the city of Lancaster in England. The line between Green Ayre and Morecambe was used for pioneering experimental electrification via overhead cable.
The station closed to passengers in 1966 and there are no remains.
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Lancaster's first two stations were the Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway's at Greaves in 1840,[1] and the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway's Lancaster Castle station which superseded it in 1846.[2]
The third station was opened by the Morecambe Harbour and Railway Company (MH&R) on 12 June 1848.[2][3] The station building was designed by Edmund Sharpe.[4][5] Originally called Lancaster,[6] it was soon renamed Lancaster Green Ayre, although timetables incorrectly listed its name as Lancaster Green Area until 1870.[3] The line originally ran from Lancaster to Morecambe Harbour. The MH&R soon amalgamated with the "little" North Western Railway, which continued the line eastward from 17 November 1849, eventually reaching Skipton in 1850.[2] Meanwhile, a short connecting curve was built between the Green Ayre and Castle stations, opening on 18 December 1849.[2][3]
The station was located on the southern bank of the River Lune, adjacent to Skerton Bridge and immediately to the north of the city centre. Immediately west of the station was the junction between the connecting curve to Castle station (and Green Ayre's engine shed) and the main line which then crossed the river via Greyhound Bridge and continued along the north bank of the river, passing under the Lancaster and Carlisle's Carlisle Bridge over the river. East of Green Ayre the line followed the south bank of the river.
The "little" North Western Railway was taken over in 1874 by the Midland Railway (which had previously operated, then leased the line),[7] and became a significant route for that company, giving access from its Yorkshire lines to the Lancashire coast in an area dominated by its major rival, the London and North Western Railway.
The Lancaster–Morecambe line was electrified in 1908. This was the first high voltage overhead electrification in the United Kingdom and was at 6,600 volts AC running at 25Hz; as such it was the pioneer for such systems. The electrified system from Lancaster to Morecambe and Heysham was intended to be a test bed for further mainline electrification by the Midland Railway. In 1952 the original rolling stock was life expired and was withdrawn. Steam traction took over for a short while and then the power supply was upgraded to 50Hz and some new stock provided; this was to act as a test-bed for further mainline electrification in the UK.[8] This section of line became particularly busy.
The line between Wennington and Morecambe via Lancaster fell victim to the Beeching Axe. Green Ayre station, along with the line, closed to passengers on 2 January 1966,[2][8][9] although the line through the station continued to be used for freight until 16 March 1976.[2] The station was demolished that year.[10]
The line's Greyhound Bridge was converted for use by the A589 road from 1972.[10][11] The site of Green Ayre station is now a public park. Nothing remains of the station,[12] but a goods crane from Hornby goods shed has been erected in the park near the site.[10][13] The site of the adjacent locomotive shed is now occupied by a supermarket.
| Maps showing Lancaster Green Ayre Station |
| NPE Maps (1948) |
| Vision of Britain |
| OS 1:2500 Map on MARIO (about 1893) |
| Other maps |
| Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halton | Midland Railway "Little" North Western Railway |
Morecambe (Northumberland Street) until 1907 |
||
| Midland Railway North Western Branch |
Morecambe Promenade 1907–1957 |
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| London Midland Region North Western Branch |
Scale Hall from 1957 |
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| Halton | Midland Railway "Little" North Western Railway Castle Branch |
Lancaster Castle | ||