Widnes Central railway station

Widnes Central
Location
Place Widnes
Area Halton
Coordinates 53°21′33″N 2°44′13″W / 53.3591°N 2.7370°WCoordinates: 53°21′33″N 2°44′13″W / 53.3591°N 2.7370°W
Grid reference SJ510849
Operations
Original company Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee
Pre-grouping Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee
Post-grouping Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee
History
1 August 1879 Station opened
5 October 1964 Station closed
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
UK Railways portal

Widnes Central railway station served the town of Widnes between 1879 and 1964.

History

The main line of the Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC), between Manchester Central and Liverpool Brunswick, opened in 1873.[1] This passed to the north of the town of Widnes, and so in 1873 the Widnes Railway was projected to link that town to the CLC, at a triangular junction to the west of Sankey.[2]

A 1909 Railway Clearing House Junction Diagram showing (left) railways in the vicinity of Widnes Central

In 1874 the uncompleted line was sold to the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR); and in 1875 it became the joint property of the MS&LR and the Midland Railway - two of the partners in the CLC. The third partner, the Great Northern Railway declined to take part in the project, and so it was not part of the CLC but separately administered by the Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee. This line opened for goods traffic in 1877.[3] The Widnes line was soon extended westwards to rejoin the CLC near Hough Green; a passenger station on the extension, known as Widnes Central, was opened on 1 August 1879.[3][4]

The service at Widnes Central was provided by the trains of the CLC running between Warrington Central and Liverpool Central.[5]

The station was closed by British Railways on 5 October 1964.[4] as a result of the Beeching Axe. Services had by this declined significantly from their peak levels in pre-grouping days (15 per day each way in 1922) to just five westbound and six eastbound departures on weekdays & Saturdays only.[6] The entire loop line was closed as a through route soon afterwards, though the freight yard at Tanhouse Lane remained in use for cement traffic until 2000 - access was latterly provided by a connection from the ex-LNWR Widnes Deviation Line. The station and approach lines were demolished after closure and no trace now remains.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dow, George (1962). Great Central, Volume Two: Dominion of Watkin, 1864-1899. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 132. ISBN 0-7110-1469-8.
  2. ↑ Dow 1962, pp. 127–8
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dow 1962, p. 128
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 250. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
  5. ↑ Casserley, H.C. (April 1968). Britain's Joint Lines. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 152. ISBN 0-7110-0024-7. 469 CEX 468.
  6. ↑ "Disused Stations - Widnes Central" Disused Stations; Retrieved 2014-03-20

External links

Preceding station Disused railways Following station
Hough Green
Line closed, station open		   Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee
Widnes Loop		   Tanhouse Lane
Line and station closed