|
Notes: Moss Bank Station was part of what became the St. Helens
to Ormskirk via Rainford Junction line. The route was effectively
made up of two different lines that opened within a month of
each other. Moss Bank was situated on the St. Helens to Rainford
Junction line which was opened by The St. Helens Railway on
1.2.1858. The other part of the line ran from Rainford Junction
to Ormskirk and was opened by the East Lancashire Railway. At
the time of opening new stations where provided at St. Helens
(3rd), Gerards Bridge, Moss Bank, Rainford and Rainford Junction.
A few months later the railway company decided to add another
two experimental stops to see if they were viable. One of these
was Crank, the other was Rookery.
Moss Bank Station was situated on the south side of Moss Bank
Road which crossed the line by means of a level crossing. The
line was double track and so the station was provided with two
platforms each of which had a simple wooden waiting structure
built by a local contractor. The southbound platform was made
of wood but the northbound platform was more substantially built
and contained the stations booking facilities. On the east side
of the station adjacent to the southbound platform was an Inn
that still stands today. At the time of opening the station
was served by four trains each way per day which ran from St.
Helens to Rainford Junction where the St. Helens Railway had
its own platform. The St. Helens to Rainford Junction section
of the line became part of the LNWR on 4.8.1864 and by 1904
they were operating 8 trains in each direction.
In 1923 the entire route from St. Helens to Ormskirk became
part of the LMS which brought it under the direction of one
company for the first time. This did not alter the pattern of
services though they remained as they always had with St. Helens
line services terminating at Rainford Junction. Passengers wishing
to travel on towards Ormskirk had to change at Rainford Junction.
By the middle of the 20th century traffic levels on the line
had declined and by 1951 only three workman's trains operated
at morning and afternoon rush hour in each direction. Despite
protests regular passenger services ceased on 16.6.1951. The
line remained in use for goods services and for passenger excursions
and diversions up until 6.7.1964.
Today the site of Moss Bank Station is occupied by Scafell Road
which uses the trackbed from the site of the station southwards
towards St. Helens. The Moss Bank Inn gives a clue to the site
of the railway as its name board includes a picture of the level
crossing and part of the station.
For other Stations on the St.
Helens - Ormskirk line click on the station name: St.
Helens (3rd station), Gerards
Bridge, Crank, Old
Mill Lane, Rookery,
Rainford Village,
Rainford Junction
(St. Helens Platform), Rainford
Junction (Ormskirk platform), Hey's
Crossing Halt, White
Moss Level Crossing Halt, Skelmersdale
& Westhead Halt
|