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Notes: Rainford Village 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. The station 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.
When first opened the station was called Rainford but it was
renamed as Rainford Village in November 1861. Interestingly
it was still referred to as Rainford in the 1864 timetable.
Rainford Village Station was situated on the north side of the
B5205 which crossed the line by means of a level crossing. The
station was located in a good central location in its village
namesake. The line was double track and so the station was provided
with two platforms with the main facilities being located on
the northbound platform. A simple wooden shelter was provided
for passengers travelling in the St. Helens direction. 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 mid 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 Rainford Village Station is occupied by a
road and housing.
For other Stations on the St.
Helens - Ormskirk line click on the station name: St.
Helens (3rd station), Gerards
Bridge, Moss Bank,
Crank, Old
Mill Lane, Rookery,
Rainford Junction
(St. Helens Platform), Rainford
Junction (Ormskirk platform), Hey's
Crossing Halt, White
Moss Level Crossing Halt, Skelmersdale
& Westhead
Halt
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