Rookery railway station

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

Rookery
Location
PlaceRainford
AreaSt Helens
Coordinates53.4963°N 2.7770°W / 53.4963; -2.7770
Grid referenceSD486002
Operations
Original companySt Helens Canal and Railway
Pre-groupingLondon and North Western Railway
Post-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway
PlatformsTwo
History
April 1858First station opened
March 1862First station closed
1 June 1865Second station 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

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". 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.[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

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 and 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 978-0-7524-0751-7CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Smith, Paul; Turner, Keith (2012), Railway Atlas Then and Now, Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing, ISBN 978-0-7110-3695-6CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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