Lost Railways of Lancashire

by Gordon Suggitt

Countryside Books, 2003
£9.95 paperback

Reviewed by Michael Nunn

Developments in local history
Local history is a continually-changing subject in all its aspects, even though events like the closure of railway lines and local stations might seem to draw an irrevocable line beyond which there can be no further development.

The so-called ‘Beeching closures' of the 1960s have generated considerable debate among social historians and railway enthusiasts, much of it overly sentimental. But it is the more positive aspects of the issue which are important, ie to celebrate the re-openings (eg the well-patronised Blackburn – Clitheroe line) and also evaluate the beneficial restorations such as the cycle track on the former Green Ayre – Castle line formerly plied by the Lancaster-Morecambe-Heysham electrics here in Lancaster.

Lines Forgotten, Past & Present
Fortunately, this positive approach is adopted by former Geography teacher Gordon Suggitt in his recent and welcome Lost Railways of Lancashire, published by Countryside Books last year. There have been similar volumes and indeed complete series published in the last thirty years, such as the David & Charles ‘Forgotten Railways' series (North-West England, dating back to 1981, is volume 9), and the more recent Silver Link Publishing's British Railways Past & Present (West, East & North Lancashire is volume 43).

But this writer and his publishers have decided on a different approach which complements the historical focus of the Forgotten Railways and the ‘now and then' comparisons of the ‘Past and Present' approach. Suggitt outlines the history concisely and accurately enough, and also describes the present state of the former railway presence.

Local features
In our local area – which gets prides of place as the first two chapters (‘Down the Lune' and ‘The Pilling Pig') – some useful recent photographs, some by the author himself, illustrate how former railway buildings and line alignments have been adapted over the years. Featured are Morecambe's still-popular and attractive Stone Jetty, built by the North Western Railway in 1853, Lancaster University's Rowing Club premises, formerly Halton's goods shed and Caton's Catholic Church.

Wyre and Fylde
Also described is the less well-known former line between Garstang, Pilling and Knott End (whose ferry to Fleetwood has recently been reprieved). This was a branch off the Preston-Lancaster main line at Garstang, which went from that small community through and to even smaller settlements. It started life alongside other "grand schemes for the new line to link to West Yorkshire and the Humber.'

Yes, there were crazy capitalist dreamers in the 1860s too, but the markets were not impressed and its early developments, or rather lack of progress, were the stuff of financial high comedy. The line never fulfilled its planners' dreams and was, not surprisingly, closed to passengers as far back as 1930.

Glasson glory
A similar fate befell the Lancaster-Glasson Dock branch, which was similarly axed to passengers around the same time. At least this link had some realistic prospects, though it came too late to boost the growth of Lancaster's replacement port further downstream on the Lune.

Local magnate James Williamson had a private station on the line at Conder Green, just near his Ashton Hall (now a golf club), and the branch had its clandestine moments of glory during World War II when the Royal Train was stabled overnight on the line in the interests of safety and secrecy. The track bed is still in use for travel as the cycle track from Lancaster along the southern banks of the Lune estuary makes an attractive journey.

Lucid narrative
Suggitt's style is clear and unsentimental, and the carried photographs mostly well reproduced. Subsequent chapters covering the rest of the present-day post-1974 county are also interesting, particularly those covering Preston and Blackpool. The 160-page book carefully and intelligently reflects wider social and economic changes within non-metropolitan Lancashire - that is, excluding the conurbations of Liverpool and Manchester.

The ‘heritage factor'
It can be argued that the railways were a critical factor in the development of Blackpool and Morecambe as seaside resorts in the 19th century, given the enormous acreage of railway lines on the Fylde which has been abandoned since the 1960s.

This aspect of our local heritage is often forgotten, though there are even now calls for the restoration of the local rail network, such as developing a direct heavy-use freight link from the main line to Heysham Port, as well as calls for local stations at Lancaster University and the reinstatement of the main-line platforms at Carnforth.

Good points
The point of history – ancient, modern or local – is to learn from it, benefit from it and continue it pro bono publico. Cycle tracks are a move in the right direction, and this excellent work shows new uses for old infrastructure, and demonstrates our ability to reinvent ourselves and our environment.

The political animal will proclaim these moves as a nettle still to be grasped pursuing a Green agenda, and a model to be pushed forward. This writer, whilst condemning Bay Bridges and all By-pass schemes as unsustainable folly, is also happy to just to appreciate a good, fresh and worthwhile contribution to local history.

Copyright © 8 August 2004 Michael Nunn