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Paul is a visiting Professor at the Universities of Bolton and
Huddersfield and has a lifetime experience of the railway
network. He is also the author of several books. During his
early years as a teenager he would take his own photographs of
the end of the steam age and he used many of these during the
presentation. |
Paul Salveson with some of his books. |
Some of Paul's books. |
Last Train
from Horwich. |
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened in 1830 and is
generally considered the first railroad in Lancashire. However,
Paul told us of the Bolton and Leigh Railway that opened for
goods in Aug 1828. By 1831 it began carrying passengers and
eventually closed in 1965.
In 1869 the Chorley to Cherry Tree
and Blackburn line opened. The climb out of Chorley to Brinscall
was described as ‘Going over the Alps’ by the railwaymen. Some
of the line through Brinscall and Abbey Village has now been
converted to a footpath. There used to be a Heapey Branch near
White Coppice that serviced the large Heapey Bleach Works
(Witters). It was called the Heapey Works Siding and closed in
1953. The through route closed to passengers in Jan 1960 and to
goods in 1966. The 9 arch viaduct carrying it over the Leeds &
Liverpool Canal at Botany was blown up in 1968 to clear the way
for the M61 motorway. |
'Club'
train Dicconson Lane. |
Many industrialists whose mills were in Manchester or Bradford
would frequently have their main houses by the sea in Southport,
Blackpool or Morecambe. Some services would have a special
luxury carriage for those who could afford to pay the fare.
These were known as the ‘Club’ Trains.
Paul's presentation
illustrated a railway network that was vital to the Industrial
Development of the area and although most of the lines have
vanished their importance should be remembered. |
Balshaw Lane. |
Hoghton Station.
L to R: 2 men one
called Smith and lived at Mintholme Crossing, no 3 Station
Master John Harrison in hat, no 4 Jim Lawrenson.
Thanks to
Steve Williams for the names. |
Botany
Viaduct on the Chorley - Blackburn line. |
Botany
Viaduct on the Chorley - Blackburn line. Demolition 1968. |
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