| As the nineteenth century moved on from the early embryonic period of the Bolton & Leigh, Liverpool & Manchester and Wigan Branch Railway eras, the railway system of South Lancashire had become greatly enlarged by the 1880s and the proliferation of lines in the St. Helens and Wigan areas bear testament to this. The competition generated by such extension could only be good for the industrialists who would favour whichever company offered the best transit rates and it must not be forgotten that the canal companies provided intense competition against the railways, often undercutting their prices. By the late 1840s, amalgamations within the railway hierarchy in the North-West of England, had led to the formation of the 'Big Two', namely the London & North Western and Lancashire & Yorkshire Railways. Each had sought to build incursions into their competitors back yard, the London & North Western having the lion's share in South Central Lancashire and the Lancashire & Yorkshire more prominent in West and East Lancashire. It is against this background that industry, principally Wigan coal owners, who were anxious to reduce transport cost to East Lancashire, formulated their plans for a railway from the London & North Western stranglehold at St. Helens, through Wigan, deep into Lancashire & Yorkshire territory at Blackburn. Thus the Lancashire Union Railway was conceived. Also includes joint Lancashire Union/ Lancashire & Yorkshire lines. Contents:
- Introduction & Acknowledgements
- St. Helens Connections
- The Lancashire Union Railway
- Carr Mill
- Garswood
- Bryn
- Ince Moss and Fir Tree House Junctions
- Amberswood Junctions
- De Trafford & Hindley No2 Junctions
- Rose Bridge & Roundhouse Junctions
- Lindsay Pit to Haigh Junction
- The Pemberton Branch
- Whelley Junction to Standish
- The Joint Lines:-
- Boards Head to Adlington
- Chorley to Cherry Tree
- Extracts from Working Time Tables
- Bibliography and Abbreviations
Continent: Europe
Country: UK |
