Ww1 rollingstock tracks to the trenches ww1 narrow. Constructed around a former brick works clay pit the line is home to a large collection of 2ft gauge locomotives and rolling stock. Note on the preserved narrow gauge railway at station road, hesketh. A short 2ft gauge passenger line situated in the village of hesketh bank, between southport and preston. The west llangollen light railway possibly holds the record for being the shortest lived, and possibly little known narrow gauge railways in recent years.
West lancashire light railway is is a short 2ft gauge passenger line and features locomotives, wagons and other equipment from longgone industrial sites in lancashire, other parts of the uk and overseas. West lancashire light railway is about to mark its first 50 years at hesketh bank. The railway was begun by six local schoolboys sometimes five, sometimes four in september, 1967. West lancashire light railway the west lancashires premier narrow gauge 2ft steam passenger and industrial railway that runs by the village hesketh bank. Altys brickworks has become a major employer and railtraffic provider and there is a fairly intensive trade in the transport of locallygrown. Steam trains west lancashire light railway preston. The railway is narrow gauge 24 and has a running length of 430 yards. West lancashire light railway, becconsall the west lancashire light railway wllr is a 2 ft 610 mm narrow gauge railway that operates at hesketh bank, situated between preston and southport in north west england. A short history of brickmaking at hesketh bank by graham j. I am offering for sale 3 railway related narrow gauge album, patrick b whitehouse.
This invaluable book is essential reading for all those who wish to build a small, narrow gauge model railway layout to a high standard. Some books cover a number of categories and so these have been placed in what we feel is the most appropriate section. Of this large railway network, 100km are still in existence, now privatised and catering mainly for the tourist industry rather than their original purposes. The wlr was promoted by sir thomas george fermorhesketh, bart. West lancashire light railway railway in hesketh bank, hesketh. Corris railway museum the corris railway was the first narrow gauge railway in midwales. The station was adjacent to a swing bridge over the river douglas. These can be seen in operation at the tracks to the trenches event, july 15, where copies of the north british book will be on sale if there are. It lies to the northeast of the town of southport on the irish sea estuary of the river ribble.
It was established in 1967 by a group of six enthusiastic schoolboys to preserve the fastdisappearing. But industrial narrow gauge railways are often hidden inside a factory, behind a fence and locked gates. West lancashire light railway academic dictionaries and. There are 6 steam locomotives 4 operational and 2 undergoing restoration, and more than twenty diesel, petrol and electric locomotives. Just wanted to see how popular this light railway is with other forum members. In 1904 thirdrail electrification of the line from southport chapel street was completed to crossens and electric trains served this station. In september 1967 work began on laying the first 150 yards of 2ft gauge track, using redundant rails and a set of axles on which the first item of rolling stock was built. The west lancashire light railway which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017 is located at hesketh bank, lancashire. Based in matlock, derbyshire, we sell an extensive range of transport books for the enthusiast. West lancashire light railway gala day 7 october 2012. West lancashire light railway, hesketh bank lancashires only narrow gauge railway, a short 2ft operational, narrow gauge steam railway with a historic collection of locomotives. A suitable site was found alongside altys brickworks at hesketh bank and some equipment acquired and a short approx.
It has also secured a longterm access agreement with the previous landowner to accommodate car parking for railway users, while housing planned on surrounding land can still go ahead. Event news tracks to the trenches ww1 narrow gauge. West lancashire light railway is lancashires only narrow gauge passenger railway. Coronavirus covid19 update rail books is operating normally and we are currently able to dispatch orders to all uk addresses and most overseas destinations, although our delivery agents are advising that deliveries may take a little longer than usual. West lancashire light railway railway in hesketh bank.
Narrow gauge lines west lancashire light railway the west lancashire light railway is. Since the 1960s the railway has grown to include a number of historic steam locomotives, which have been beautifully restored on site. It set the tone for many of the books that followed, with the emphasis on a wellwritten text supported by a good range of illustrations. The full line is longer than this however it follows a ledge above the old clay pit which is narrow enough to prohibit the building of a run round loop. Short heritage railway in the village of hesketh bank, lancashire. Running from the waters edge in caernarfon the line currently runs on the old standard gauge trackbed to dinas junction where it rejoins the original whr rightofway and heads deep into the snowdonia national park. West lancashire light railway one of hundreds of great. Narrow gauge railway in hesketh bank, lancashire, england feldbahn in hesketh bank, lancashire nordwestengland. Half an hour drive away from my lydiate home is hesketh bank where the west lancashire light railway has been operating for 50 years, indeed 2017 is its 50 anniversary year. A site was located at hesketh bank and some equipment acquired and in september 1967. West lancashire railway photos narrow gauge railway.
West lancashire light railway santa specials family in. It is in the village of hesketh bank, between southport and preston. The west lancashire light railway, based in hesketh bank, has acquired an area of land along the quarter of a mile route of its narrow gauge line. There are 25 hesketh bank railway and transport attractions to pick from. West lancashire railway the parish of hesketh with becconsall. Of course, by this time hesketh bank had become an important local railhead, requiring the services of numerous personnel. Apparently our local coal merchant heard that we now had two joffreclass locos on site and was seen reaching for the holiday brochure. This was the narrow gauge light railways finest hour. The west lancashire light railway wllr is a narrow gauge railway which was formed in 1967 to save the narrow gauge railway equipment which was disappearing from local industries. Lancashires only narrow gauge steam heritage railway.
An additional bank payment charge will apply to sales paid for by credit or debit card. The track is short, but runs through a semirural area, overlooking the flooded clay pit of a former brickworks. Wllr founders 40 years on, hesketh bank, 12 august 2007. Local events whats on in and around tarleton and hesketh bank. Ian allan railway books for sale in uk view 58 bargains. The hesketh bank brickworks with the west lancashire railway on the right. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 4,041. This two foot narrow gauge heritage railway is located in hesketh bank, lancashire, uk. Bill hudson transport books extensive range of new and. How to get to west lancashire light railway in becconsall. Narrow gauge railways that is railways with a distance between the rails of. Secondhand railway books narrow gaugeindustriallight. The site for the railway is the edge of an abandoned claypit for altys brickworks, adjacent to the railway yard for the former west lancashire light railways wllr station at hesketh bank.
Check west lancashire light railway in hesketh bank, station road on cylex and find. Comprehensive in its coverage, the book begins with a useful summary of the history and development of narrow gauge railways in the british isles, and this is followed by a detailed, but easily digestible, consideration of the complex and wide choice of. It features locomotives, wagons and other equipment from longgone industrial sites in lancashire, other parts of the uk and overseas. Hesketh park railway station was on the west lancashire railway in england. The railway is 2 ft 610 mm narrow gauge and has a running length of 430 yards 393 m. The railway was a relative latecomer, built after the light railway act in 1896 made it cheaper and easier to build a railway expected for light duty only. West lancashire light railway preston 2020 all you need to. Railholiday self catering holiday accommodation in cornwall. Santa special west lancashire light railway tripadvisor.
The original wllr was a standard gauge line running from preston to southport. A site was found alongside a brickworks at hesketh bank and some equipment acquired. We are an operational narrow gauge steam railway, with an historic collection of locomotives and rolling stock. Royal assent was given for the west lancashire railway on 14 august 1871. A rare undated picture of the railmotor on the tarleton branch heading for hesketh bank on the banks of the douglas courtesy keith c hick. This line remained in use until 1964, when it fell victim to the beeching cuts, removing hesketh bank from the main line map altogether as a consequence. British industrial narrow gauge railways project gutenberg. Prideaux and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Our railway is a short 2ft gauge passenger line in the village of hesketh bank, between southport and preston. West lancashire light railway to expand thanks to lottery. There is plenty on offer for narrow gauge enthusiasts with an eclectic mix of locomotive from the more traditional. West lancashire light railway hesketh bank, station road. The distance between the s tations on the railway is 430 yards 393 m, though track extends eastwards beyond delph station on ledge above the old clay pit which is too narrow to. The west lancashire light railway is a short 400m narrowgauge heritage steam railway running live steam trains on sundays and bank holidays from easter.
Easter egg hunts, teddy bears outings and santa special events also take place. The west lancashire light railway operates at hesketh bank, situated between preston and southport in north west england. West lancashire light railway it looks very small and takes up space very close to the disused line connecting southport and preston directly. Images like british railways guards van showing 101. Some wear as can be seen on pictures, but still in good condition. This site is devoted to the british narrow gauge railways and what makes them worth visiting the west lancashire light railway a 2 gauge passenger carrying railway located in the village of hesketh bank. The west lancashire light railway is a narrow gauge railway that is located in hesketh bank. Hesketh bank is a small agricultural village in lancashire, england.
World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. West lancashire light railway, 2007 andrewstransport. I was walking the mouth of the river douglas and passed the site of the west lancashire light railway 2 foot. The west lancashire light railway is a short narrow gauge passengercarrying railway.
Hesketh bank preston pr4 6sp narrow gauge railway west lancashire light railway this narrow gauge line, founded in 1967 by six schoolboys, started operating steam trains in 1980. The west lancashire light railway wllr is a 2 ft 610 mm narrow gauge railway that operates at hesketh bank, situated between preston and southport in north west england. This was called the west lancashire railway wlr and the vision saw a system. The charge will be calculated from the sales amount of the purchase and is based on the type of credit or debit card used, as follows. Geography edit hesketh bank lies just to the north of the larger village of tarleton. Chasing the narrow gauge volume 3 richardson in this third volume of his narrow gauge chronicle, noted narrow gauge preservationist robert richar. At first it was the southern terminus, located where southports growing suburbs met the countryside. The west lancashire light railway is a heritage narrowgauge passenger carrying railway located in the village of. This is a two foot gauge passenger carrying railway located in the village of hesketh bank midway between preston and the resort of southport. Profits from the book project will support the work of the moseley railway trust, and in particular the development of the trusts collection of first world war narrow gauge railway vehicles.
Alternatively, why not explore some other sightseeing days out nearby, including tourist attractions, or museums and art galleries. West lancashire light railway, preston, lancashire. Specialist railway books london termini past and proposed featuring cannon street, charing cross and waterloo. Comprehensive, extensively illustrated account of the growth and decline of american narrow gauge railroading. The railway was developed as part of the steam, steel and stars 2 event held at the llangollen railway in. The west lancashire light railway at hesketh bank is the only industrial narrow gauge centre in the north west operating and displaying this fascinating history. Lancashires only narrow gauge railway, a short 2ft operational, narrow gauge steam railway with a. The northern end of the revived welsh highland railway is being rebuilt by the ffestiniog railway in grand style. The distance between the stations on the railway is 430 yards 393 m, though track extends eastwards beyond delph station on ledge above the old. First set up in 1967 by a group of local teenager rail enthusiasts, it runs for about a quarter of a mile in the village of hesketh bank, in west lancashire with over a 10,000 passengers per year. Check whsmith hesketh bank in hesketh bank, station road on cylex and find. Weve rounded up the best railway and transport attractions in hesketh bank in our quest to discover brilliant family attractions and places to visit near you. If you fancy a drive out youll find this lovely little railway in west lancashire. West lancashire light railway hesketh bank railuk forums.
Narrow gauge railway for sale in uk view 62 bargains. To filter the list by category, please use the new books menu above, or use the search functionality. The area falls under west lancashire borough council for administrative purposes, and hesketh withbecconsall parish council for parochial matters. The 2ft gauge yaxham light railway is situated alongside the former ger yaxham station on the dereham to wymondham line, on. A short 2ftgauge passenger line situated in the village of hesketh bank, between southport and preston. The titles on this page are all about modelling and are categorised to make browsing them a little easier. The book is well illustrated, although only the front cover is in color. British narrow gauge railways project gutenberg self. All the surviving operations and many of the closed lines are featured in the photographic coverage of these fascinating.
Geography edit hesketh bank lies just to the north of the larger village of tarleton and the village of banks north meols. West lancashire light railway is lancashires only narrow gauge passenger. The saxon state railways constructed a network of 75cm lines between 1881 and 1923, which eventually totalled 556km. Narrow gauge railways in north caernarvonshire volume 1 book narrow gauge railways in north caernarvonshire volume 2 book. There were more than a thousand british narrow gauge railways ranging from large. Hesketh bank railway station was on the west lancashire railway in england. Peter johnsons first book, rails in wales the cambrian lines, was published by ian allan publishing in 1984. Visit west lancashire light railway on your trip to preston. Take a tour of west lancashire light railway, united kingdom. Steam train lines future secured in land deal harrison. Open every sunday and bank holiday from easter to the end of october. Successful heritage lottery fund application announced today to lay the foundations for a successful future development project at the west lancashire light railway. May 21, 2017 hesketh park station was built by messrs bridge and co of burscough bridge and opened on 20 february 1878 with the first section of the wlr.
Built originally in 1859 as a 2 3 gauge horsehauled tramroad, steam locomotives arrived in 1878 and passengers were carried from 1883 to 1930. Hesketh bank station staff pose for an official photograph in 1899. The north west of england is rightly known for its pioneering industrial past where once narrow gauge railways moved raw materials and manufactured products. The village is located just out side southport and is also near to preston. If they extend out into public access at all, they still serve only one company and are unlikely to connect with another narrow gauge railway. The area falls under west lancashire borough council for administrative purposes, and hesketh withbecconsall parish council for paroc. Boyd j i c narrow gauge railways in north caernarvonshire. The distance between the stations on the railway is 430 yards 393 m 2, though track extends eastwards beyond delph station on ledge above the old clay pit which is too narrow to contain a run round loop. The west lancashire light railway is a short 400m narrow gauge heritage steam railway running live steam trains on sundays and bank holidays from easter to the end of october, plus santa specials and other events. West lancashire light railway places to go lets go with the. Also to be seen is the tarleton lock branch to the right and the brickworks sidings to the left. It runs for approximately quarter of a mile around a fishing lake set in the rural west lancashire village of hesketh bank. In 1878, the standard gauge west lancashire railway was opened from southport to hesketh bank, with a through connection to preston following in 1882.
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