Station Name: MOSS BANK

 

[Source: Paul Wright]



Date opened: 3.2.1858
Location: South side of Moss Bank Road on what is now Scafell Road.
Company on opening: St. Helens Railway
Date closed to passengers: 18.6.1951
Date closed completely: 6.7.1964
Company on closing: British Railways (London Midland Region)
Present state: Demolished
County: Lancashire
OS Grid Ref: SJ510977
Date of visit: 30.5.2005

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

 

Moss Bank Station looking north west. The Moss Bank Inn can be seen to the left.
P
hoto received from Bob Forber




The site of the level crossing at Moss Bank Station in May 2005. The station was alongside the inn.
P
hoto by Paul Wright

Moss Bank station was to the right of the Inn (May 2005)
P
hoto by Paul Wright



 

 

 

[Source: Paul Wright]


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