Railways around Preston

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Acknowledgements;

History of Preston, Anthony Hewitson, First Published 1883, republished by SR Publishers, Wakefield.

Scenes from the Past 6, The Railways Around Preston by Gordon Biddle, Foxline Publishing, Stockport, 1989. Link to book review.

1803

A horsedrawn railway was built in 1803 to take goods and return coal from the Lancaster Canal terminal in Preston to the Preston to Wigan canal quays at Walton Summit some 6 miles away. This was called the Tram Road and is today called the Old Tram Road with only a couple of gravelly miles remaining between the River Ribble Tram Bridge and Lostock Hall. This railway had a steam powered cable pulley to raise and lower the cars up the River Ribble valley side. The building for the pulley remained until recently. The last tram was hauled in 1863.

1838

Preston to Wigan, North Union Railway. A good fairly straight and level run for the 12 miles to Wigan. Bridging the River Ribble was an achievement. Since then the bridge has been widened twice to make 6 tracks.

1840's

A rush of railway building made Preston a major junction for connections to big cities. Liverpool, Manchester, London, Glasgow. Lines also to Blackburn, Longridge, Preston Quays, Fleetwood, Lytham, with branches to Blackpool and Southport. The line to Glasgow had interesting events between Preston and Lancaster with disputes over ownership resulting in trains eventually colliding. All these tracks were laid by small local companies formed specifically for the purpose. These were eventually merged or bought out. Forming the London and North-Western Railway and the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway by the middle period of the 19th Century. Preston had several railway stations where passengers had to risk walking along the track to get between them and rivalry between the companies causing trains to leave before the passengers had changed.

The Preston & Wyre Railway was formed in response to a need for a port for the town of Preston. It was proposed that the port be based at the mouth of the River Wyre and a town to be called Fleetwood, after the main sponsor Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood, would be built. After much unexpected difficulty, particularly around the marshy area of the Wyre, the first train travelled from Fleetwood using North Union loco's in 1840. The railway was also a gateway to Scotland as no trains crossed Shap until 1847. A book on the PWR is reviewed click here.

1880's

Preston main railway station opened in 1880. In 1882 the Preston to Southport line opened with a new station at the bottom of Fishergate Hill which closed to passenger use in 1900. Also in 1882 the Park Hotel opened which was a magnificent Gothic style building overlooking the ornamental Miller Park and the Ribble Valley and with close access to the station. This became a Local Government building, in the 1960's a 'modern' box mini tower type building was built next to it to accommodate the administrators. The expresses between London and Glasgow stop in Preston and the passengers can use the fine restaurant facility.

1900's

The railways were largely built by the end of the 19th Century. In the first half of the century traffic through Preston increased especially in summer. Blackpool attracted specials from all over the country. Locomotives from all the regions, except the Southern, ventured North to Blackpool. The Glasgow trains had a special link that took them through Preston, south for 3 miles to Farington then round through Lostock Hall and Preston Junction (Todd Lane) before passing through Preston again and straight through to Blackpool, without reversing.

There had been constant amalgamation and take over of railway companies. In 1922 the Lancashire and Yorkshire and the London & North Western Regions were the largest in the area and they merged. This was only 12 months before the restructuring that was to form the London Midland Scottish Region (LMS). The LMS was the biggest of the amalgamated companies, the others being the LNER, Southern, Great Western. Each claiming to be the best with the fastest most powerful locomotives. From a Preston viewpoint the Stanier Pacifics were the best pulling the Royal Scot, Mid-day Scot and Caledonian titled expresses passing through north and south bound each day. There was also the Royal Mail Train which had a film made which started with a well known poem by W.H.Auden, Night Mail. Read it here.

In 1949 the private rail companies were nationalised to form British Rail although they kept their distinction largely due to the locomotives. Although the standard BR built steam loco's and diesels began to bring greater commonality.

The lines to Knott End, Longridge, Southport, Fleetwood closed. As did the direct route to Blackpool along with Blackpool Central Station, leaving North as the main station. Preston locomotive shed burnt down and Lostock Hall shed closed.

In the 1960's the main line to London and Glasgow was electrified. The local lines between Preston, Manchester, East Lancashire and Blackpool remain non-electrified.

2000's

Electric trains travel approximately hourly from Preston to London, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Direct diesel trains to Blackpool, York, Buxton, Exeter, Manchester, Liverpool, Barrow are available with all stops between. Plans to improve the main line are put back but improvements to enable consistent 125 mph running on the winding west coast main line are being put into place. Virgin have bought 140mph trains and have brought service on board to a good standard although the trains are often full.

Railway Locomotives built around Preston

London & North Western Railway

Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway