Station Name:LINACRE ROAD

 

[Source: Paul Wright]


Date opened: 1.6.1906
Location: East of Linacre Road (A567)
Company on opening: Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Date closed to passengers: 2.4.1951
Date closed completely: 2.4.1951
Company on closing: British Railways (London Midland Region)
Present state: Demolished
County: Lancashire
OS Grid Ref: SJ338969
Date of visit: 19.6.2005 & 6.4.2007

Notes: Linacre Road Station was located on the North Mersey Branch which ran from Fazakerley Junction, on the Liverpool Exchange to Wigan Line, to Gladstone Dock. The line was opened on 8.1867 as an important goods line linking the north Liverpool docks with the L&YR route to the east. Connections to the Ormskirk - Liverpool line where provided at Sefton Junction (Aintree) going from west to north and at North Mersey Branch Junction going from South to East.

In 1906 the L&YR electrified the North Mersey Branch from North Mersey Branch Junction to Sefton Junction and they opened two Stations at Linacre Road and Ford. The stations were served by an electric commuter service that ran from Aintree Sefton Arms Station to Liverpool Exchange. On 7.9.1914 the L&YR extended the electrification to a new station at Gladstone Dock. The service on this section of the line lasted less than 10 years ending on 7.7.1924.

The Liverpool Exchange to Aintree Service via Ford continued until 2.4.1951. The only passenger trains to use the line after this date were the once a year services which ran from the Liverpool Overhead Railway to Aintree Sefton Arms on Grand National day. These services ceased with the closure of that line in 1956 although excursions from further afield continued to run into the 1990's.

The route was always more important for goods and it reverted to serving only that role. On the 2.2.1971 the section of line from North Mersey Branch Junction to North Mersey Yard was closed. On the 1.5.1977 the connection to the Wigan line was severed at Fazakerley Junction. Only the section from North Mersey Branch Junction to Sefton Junction and to Fazakerley sidings which was by then an engineers depot survived. In 1987 what had become a short spur to Fazakerley sidings was closed and in the early 1990's regular goods services had ceased. Today the line survives as a route for engineers trains to access the Merseyrail Ormskirk line.

To see the other stations on the North Mersey Branch click on the station name: Aintree Racecourse, Ford & Gladstone Dock


Linacre Road bridge looking south in the 1930's. The station entrance is on the left.
Photo received from Ronnie Cusworth





Looking east to Linacre Road Station taken from the site of the North Mersey Branch Junction. A small section of the eastbound platform can be seen on the bridge over Linacre Road. The same section of platform can be seen in the April 2006 photograph below. The points in the foreground are the North Mersey Branch Junction which connected the North Mersey Branch to the Liverpool to Southport Line. Today only this link survives the line to the docks having closed in 1971
Photo by Tony Graham



Looking west at the site of Linacre Road Station in April 2007. Gladstone Dock station would have been straight ahead close to the dock buildings that can be seen on the horizon. The line can be seen turning south just after the road bridge. This would have at one time been the location of a junction connecting the North Mersey branch to the Liverpool and Southport Line.
Today it is the only route that survives
P
hoto by Paul Wright

The bridge at Linacre Road looking towards the north west in April 2006. Part of the platform remains can be seen.
P
hoto by Paul Wright




Click on thumbnail to enlarge

 

 

 

[Source: Paul Wright]


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