Old Mill Lane railway station

Old Mill Lane railway station was on the St Helens to Rainford Junction[1] then Ormskirk line south of Rainford, England.[2] It opened on 1 August 1906[3] and closed on 18 June 1951. The line through the station closed in 1964 and has since been lifted. The station has been demolished.

Old Mill Lane
Location
PlaceRainford
AreaSt Helens
Coordinates53.490430°N 2.767159°W / 53.490430; -2.767159
Grid referenceSJ492995
Operations
Original companyLondon and North Western Railway
Pre-groupingLondon and North Western Railway
Post-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway
PlatformsTwo
History
1 August 1906 (1906-08-01)Opened
18 June 1951Closed to passengers
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

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". Please note that '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.

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[6] and Randle Junction[7] 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.[8]

Private Sidings

To modern eyes a surprising amount of industry was once served by the railway at Old Mill Lane, the scale can be gauged in the aerial photographs in the Disused Railways website linked below.

Rainford Pottery was served by a siding from 1868 until the 1950s when the traffic was lost to road.[9]

Pilkington's had two sidings, a yard turning northeast from south of the station[10] and a siding to Rainford Sand Wash running parallel to the tracks just north of the station.[11] Sand was a key ingredient in St Helens' glassmaking industry. This sand wash was served over the years by narrow gauge railways, aerial ropeways and lorries.[12]

Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Crank Halt
Line and station closed		   London and North Western Railway
St Helens Canal and Railway		   Rookery
Line and station closed

References

Notes
  1. ELR and mileages via railwaycodes.org.uk
  2. Smith & Turner 2012, Map 45
  3. http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/o/old_mill_lane/index.shtml
  4. Bradshaw 1985, p. 485
  5. Pixton 1996, pp 87–90 & 101
  6. Pixton 1996, p. 92
  7. Pixton 1996, p. 98
  8. Pixton 1996, p. 102
  9. Townley & Peden 2002, p. 520
  10. Townley & Peden 2002, p. 522
  11. Townley & Peden 2002, p. 525
  12. Townley & Peden 2002, pp. 567–576

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 and Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-8708-5. OCLC 12500436.
  • Pixton, Bob (1996), The Archive Photographs Series Widnes and St Helens Railways, The Chalford Publishing Company, ISBN 0-7524-0751-1
  • Smith, Paul; Turner, Keith (2012), Railway Atlas Then and Now, Ian Allan Publishing, ISBN 978-0-7110-3695-6
  • Townley, C H A; Peden, J A (2002), Industrial Railways of St Helens, Widnes and Warrington, Part 2, Industrial Railway Society, ISBN 1-901556-25-5
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