Station Name: RAINFORD VILLAGE

 

[Source: Paul Wright & Bevan Price]

Date opened: 3.2.1858
Location: North side of Cross Pit Lane (B5205)
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: SD478010
Date of visit: 14.2.2006

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


Rainford Village Station in 1961




Looking south along the northbound platform at Rainford Village station from the northern end of the station in March 1965. The goods dock is seen on the right. Regular traffic had ceased by this time.
P
hoto by Keith Rose


Looking north at Rainford Village station signalbox in March 1965 Behind the signalbox can be seen the stations northbound platform. The signalbox controlled the section of line that went from double to single track beyond the northern end of the station. It also controlled the level crossing and access to the goods siding seen in the picture above.'
Photo by Keith Rose



Rainford Village Station looking north towards Rainford Junction in 1968'
Photo by Tony Graham


Looking north towards the site of the level crossing and Rainford Village Station in February 2006
P
hoto by Bevan Price

Click on thumbnail to enlarge

 

 

 

[Source: Paul Wright & Bevan Price]


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