WIDNES DEVIATION RAILWAY

(The St Helens line spur)

[Source: Paul Wright]

The primary purpose of the Widnes Deviation Railway was to enable Garston and Warrington line trains to pass over the Widnes and St Helens line without impeding traffic on that route. The origal routes crossed on the level at Widnes Dock Junction which caused much congestion.

As a new Widnes station was provided on the Deviation line a connecting spur giving access to the St Helens line was necessary to allow passenger trains from that route to use the new station. The connecting spur diverged from the main line at Widnes Junction and ran for 13 chains to a junction with the St Helens line just to the south of Ann Street crossing. The spur dropped down from Widnes Junction to the St elens line at a gradient of 1/138. In the space between the spur and the main line the LNWR built the Widnes Locomotive Shed.

From 10 March 1969 the St Helens line connecting spur became the only route that St Helens traffic could take to gain access to Widnes as the original line from Ann Street to Widnes Dock Junction closed (from Widnes Dock Junction to Widnes Dock having closed on 4 November 1968).

The St Helens line closed as a through route on 1 November 1981. Trip workings to Tanhouse Lane via Widnes No.1 ceased to use the deviation spur line from 18 April 1982. From this date they used a new connection to Tanhouse Lane yard direct from the deviation line.

The spur was lifted by the end of July 1982. In the mid-1990s Watkinson Way was built on most of the trackbed of the spur.


In the early months of 1976 a diverted passenger service heads towards St Helens along the spur line that connected the Widnes Deviation to the Widnes - St Helens line. Widnes No. 7 signal box can be seen centre left. The dark area of ground between the photographer and the spur line marks the site of the original connection between the St Helens line and the route to Garston which had opened in 1852 and closed in 1968.
Photo by Bevan Price
The Widnes Deviation St Helens line spur shown on a 1905 map. The spur diverges from the main line at the bottom left of the map. In the top right it joins the St Helens line and passes under the deviation. Between the spur and the main line was the Widnes Engine Shed.

Looking north at the same DMU as in the picture above is seen at the end of the deviation spur line. The junction between the spur and the St Helens line had been just to the right of the DMU. The photographer is looking along the route of that line which had closed from Ann Street to Widnes Dock Junction in 1968. The bridge seen in the distance carries the deviation main line
over the St Helens route.
Photo by Bevan Price


The Widnes Locomotive Depot (8D Shed) seen looking west in the early 1970s. The St Helens line spur of the deviation line is seen in the foreground.
Photo by Graham Earle


Looking west along the spur line towards Widnes No.7 signal box on 20 July 1982. The up line had been lifted and signals had been removed.
Photo by Graham Earle


Looking east along the deviation St Helens line spur on 20 July 1982. Sections of the up line had been lifted and stacked adjacent to the down. The Widnes Deviation main line can be seen in the distance.
Photo by Graham Earle


The bridge that carried the Widnes Deviation line over the St Helens line is seen looking south-west on 20 July 1982. The lines curving to the right formed part of the spur that connected the
St Helens line to the deviation.
Photo by Graham Earle

To continue the journey along the Widnes Deviation Railway click here

 

 

 

[Source: Paul Wright


Last updated: Thursday, 18-May-2017 17:23:40 CEST
© 1998-2013 Disused Stations