Notes: The West Lancashire Railway (WLR) River Ribble bridge was located at the northern end of the company’s Southport & Preston Railway that opened in stages between 1878 and 1882. The bridge carried the WLR across the River Ribble and into Preston where the company had their own terminus station located at Fishergate Hill.

The crossing of the Ribble was not an easy task and involved a great deal of preparation. It was further complicated by Preston Corporation insisting that there had to be an 80ft wide excavation taken down to 10ft depth that had to be made into sandstone. The reason given was to aid navigation.

The contractors were Messrs Braddock & Matthews and the resident engineer for construction was a Mr Blackburn. Work had started on the bridge by 1881, and in order to construct the stone piers that would carry it coffer dams had to be built. On 31 July 1881 the river flooded following heavy downpours combined with high tides. One of the coffer dams was destroyed and with it went equipment and materials which set the work back. Another flood occurred on 10 August 1881 but preparations had been made and no equipment was lost on this occasion.

The bridge was completed by September 1882. It was 45 ft above the river and had six piers made from stone quarried at Longridge. The six piers supported five iron spans that varied in length from 58 ft to 60 ft. On the south side it was approached by an embankment that included a bridge over the Leyland Road and over the Riverside Road. On the north bank the line crossed over Broadgate and was then carried over a masonry viaduct of 12 arches to enable it to approach Preston WLR station.

On 1 September 1882 as part of the line inspection by the Board of Trade inspector Major-General Hutchinson a heavy locomotive with an assortment of coaches was taken onto the bridge. Later that day four engines were driven onto it, and they ran back and forth at various speeds. The bridge was recorded as deflecting by a quarter of an inch which was deemed to be acceptable. The inspector sanctioned opening of the line for 4 September 1882. A special train to mark the opening ran from Southport to Preston on 5 September 1882. From 16 September 1882 the bridge began to carry regular traffic.

In July 1897 the WLR was amalgamated with the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (LYR). On 10 January 1899 an LYR board minute recorded that the adjoining viaduct, on the north side of the river, needed heavy repairs. In July 1900 regular passenger services ceased to operate over the bridge when the Preston WLR station closed to passengers and became a goods-only facility.

The bridge became part of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway in 1923 and during their period of ownership a gas pipeline was fitted to it. On 1 January 1948 it became part of British Railways London Midland Region.

On 26 January 1965 the former Preston WLR station closed completely. The bridge over the Ribble was redundant, and it was demolished by the summer of 1968 although its piers were left standing and the gas pipe remained in place.

Sources:

• The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Vol 1, John Marshall, David & Charles 1969
• The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Around Preston, Bob Gregson, Atkinson Publications 2011

See also
The Penwortham Triangle & Preston (WLR) Station