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. British narrow gauge railways project gutenberg self. A short 2ft gauge passenger line situated in the village of hesketh bank, between southport and preston. Constructed around a former brick works clay pit the line is home to a large collection of 2ft gauge locomotives and rolling stock. The west lancashire light railway is a short 400m narrowgauge heritage steam railway running live steam trains on sundays and bank holidays from easter. Hesketh bank station staff pose for an official photograph in 1899. The hesketh bank brickworks with the west lancashire railway on the right. Check west lancashire light railway in hesketh bank, station road on cylex and find. Much of the equipment is from local industrial sites. Short heritage railway in the village of hesketh bank, lancashire.
Easter egg hunts, teddy bears outings and santa special events also take place. How to get to west lancashire light railway in becconsall. West lancashire light railway the west lancashires premier narrow gauge 2ft steam passenger and industrial railway that runs by the village hesketh bank. West lancashire light railway one of hundreds of great. It runs for approximately quarter of a mile around a fishing lake set in the rural west lancashire village of hesketh bank. 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. 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. This invaluable book is essential reading for all those who wish to build a small, narrow gauge model railway layout to a high standard. West lancashire light railway places to go lets go with the. West lancashire railway the parish of hesketh with becconsall. Wllr founders 40 years on, hesketh bank, 12 august 2007. 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.
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. To filter the list by category, please use the new books menu above, or use the search functionality. But industrial narrow gauge railways are often hidden inside a factory, behind a fence and locked gates. This was the narrow gauge light railways finest hour. This is a delightful narrow gauge railway at hesketh bank between southport and preston. The saxon state railways constructed a network of 75cm lines between 1881 and 1923, which eventually totalled 556km. Steam trains west lancashire light railway preston. Ww1 rollingstock tracks to the trenches ww1 narrow. The west llangollen light railway possibly holds the record for being the shortest lived, and possibly little known narrow gauge railways in recent years. 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. Hesketh bank is a small agricultural village in lancashire, england. 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. I am offering for sale 3 railway related narrow gauge album, patrick b whitehouse.
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. West lancashire light railway hesketh bank, station road. Railholiday self catering holiday accommodation in cornwall. Some books cover a number of categories and so these have been placed in what we feel is the most appropriate section. The railway is 2 ft 610 mm narrow gauge and has a running length of 430 yards 393 m. 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. In 1904 thirdrail electrification of the line from southport chapel street was completed to crossens and electric trains served this station. 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 railway in hesketh bank, hesketh. West lancashire light railway hesketh bank railuk forums.
Narrow gauge railway for sale in uk view 62 bargains. Comprehensive, extensively illustrated account of the growth and decline of american narrow gauge railroading. Since the 1960s the railway has grown to include a number of historic steam locomotives, which have been beautifully restored on site. Apparently our local coal merchant heard that we now had two joffreclass locos on site and was seen reaching for the holiday brochure. Steam train lines future secured in land deal harrison. Narrow gauge railways in north caernarvonshire volume 1 book narrow gauge railways in north caernarvonshire volume 2 book. Of course, by this time hesketh bank had become an important local railhead, requiring the services of numerous personnel.
World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. A site was located at hesketh bank and some equipment acquired and in september 1967. Event news tracks to the trenches ww1 narrow gauge. This two foot narrow gauge heritage railway is located in hesketh bank, lancashire, uk. Just wanted to see how popular this light railway is with other forum members. Visit west lancashire light railway on your trip to preston. 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. It was established in 1967 by a group of six enthusiastic schoolboys to preserve the fastdisappearing. West lancashire light railway railway in hesketh bank. The railway was developed as part of the steam, steel and stars 2 event held at the llangollen railway in.
Peter johnsons first book, rails in wales the cambrian lines, was published by ian allan publishing in 1984. 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. West lancashire light railway santa specials family in. There were more than a thousand british narrow gauge railways ranging from large. A suitable site was found alongside altys brickworks at hesketh bank and some equipment acquired and a short approx. West lancashire light railway is lancashires only narrow gauge passenger.
The 2ft gauge yaxham light railway is situated alongside the former ger yaxham station on the dereham to wymondham line, on. This is a two foot gauge passenger carrying railway located in the village of hesketh bank midway between preston and the resort of southport. An additional bank payment charge will apply to sales paid for by credit or debit card. A short 2ftgauge passenger line situated in the village of hesketh bank, between southport and preston. The west lancashire light railway is a heritage narrowgauge passenger carrying railway located in the village of. West lancashire light railway to expand thanks to lottery. 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. The original wllr was a standard gauge line running from preston to southport. Successful heritage lottery fund application announced today to lay the foundations for a successful future development project at the west lancashire light railway. A short history of brickmaking at hesketh bank by graham j. Secondhand railway books narrow gaugeindustriallight. 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. Prideaux and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The book is well illustrated, although only the front cover is in color. Our railway is a short 2ft gauge passenger line in the village of hesketh bank, between southport and preston. Narrow gauge lines west lancashire light railway the west lancashire light railway is. Some wear as can be seen on pictures, but still in good condition. At first it was the southern terminus, located where southports growing suburbs met the countryside. Lancashires only narrow gauge steam heritage railway. Take a tour of west lancashire light railway, united kingdom. Geography edit hesketh bank lies just to the north of the larger village of tarleton and the village of banks north meols. 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. Santa special west lancashire light railway tripadvisor. Lancashires only narrow gauge railway, a short 2ft operational, narrow gauge steam railway with a. 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. West lancashire light railway academic dictionaries and. The railway is narrow gauge 24 and has a running length of 430 yards.
West lancashire light railway gala day 7 october 2012. 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. If you fancy a drive out youll find this lovely little railway in west lancashire. Altys brickworks has become a major employer and railtraffic provider and there is a fairly intensive trade in the transport of locallygrown. 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. I was walking the mouth of the river douglas and passed the site of the west lancashire light railway 2 foot. Bill hudson transport books extensive range of new and. 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. The area falls under west lancashire borough council for administrative purposes, and hesketh withbecconsall parish council for parochial matters. 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. Images like british railways guards van showing 101. It features locomotives, wagons and other equipment from longgone industrial sites in lancashire, other parts of the uk and overseas. 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.
West lancashire light railway it looks very small and takes up space very close to the disused line connecting southport and preston directly. It lies to the northeast of the town of southport on the irish sea estuary of the river ribble. 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. The north west of england is rightly known for its pioneering industrial past where once narrow gauge railways moved raw materials and manufactured products. West lancashire light railway is lancashires only narrow gauge passenger railway. The west lancashire light railway is a short narrow gauge passengercarrying railway. Based in matlock, derbyshire, we sell an extensive range of transport books for the enthusiast. Also to be seen is the tarleton lock branch to the right and the brickworks sidings to the left. West lancashire light railway, preston, lancashire. Geography edit hesketh bank lies just to the north of the larger village of tarleton.
A site was found alongside a brickworks at hesketh bank and some equipment acquired. All the surviving operations and many of the closed lines are featured in the photographic coverage of these fascinating. Built originally in 1859 as a 2 3 gauge horsehauled tramroad, steam locomotives arrived in 1878 and passengers were carried from 1883 to 1930. This was called the west lancashire railway wlr and the vision saw a system. It is in the village of hesketh bank, between southport and preston. Royal assent was given for the west lancashire railway on 14 august 1871. 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. Open every sunday and bank holiday from easter to the end of october. We are an operational narrow gauge steam railway, with an historic collection of locomotives and rolling stock. Boyd j i c narrow gauge railways in north caernarvonshire. 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.
British industrial narrow gauge railways project gutenberg. 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. Check whsmith hesketh bank in hesketh bank, station road on cylex and find. The west lancashire light railway operates at hesketh bank, situated between preston and southport in north west england. There are 6 steam locomotives 4 operational and 2 undergoing restoration, and more than twenty diesel, petrol and electric locomotives. There are 25 hesketh bank railway and transport attractions to pick from.
The track is short, but runs through a semirural area, overlooking the flooded clay pit of a former brickworks. Ian allan railway books for sale in uk view 58 bargains. There is plenty on offer for narrow gauge enthusiasts with an eclectic mix of locomotive from the more traditional. Hesketh park railway station was on the west lancashire railway in england. The wlr was promoted by sir thomas george fermorhesketh, bart. 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 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.
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. The village is located just out side southport and is also near to preston. Alternatively, why not explore some other sightseeing days out nearby, including tourist attractions, or museums and art galleries. Local events whats on in and around tarleton and hesketh bank. 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 population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 4,041. Specialist railway books london termini past and proposed featuring cannon street, charing cross and waterloo. Narrow gauge railways that is railways with a distance between the rails of.
Note on the preserved narrow gauge railway at station road, hesketh. West lancashire light railway, 2007 andrewstransport. West lancashire railway photos narrow gauge railway. West lancashire light railway preston 2020 all you need to. 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. Narrow gauge railway in hesketh bank, lancashire, england feldbahn in hesketh bank, lancashire nordwestengland. 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. In 1878, the standard gauge west lancashire railway was opened from southport to hesketh bank, with a through connection to preston following in 1882. The station was adjacent to a swing bridge over the river douglas. The railway was begun by six local schoolboys sometimes five, sometimes four in september, 1967. 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.
The west lancashire light railway which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017 is located at hesketh bank, lancashire. The area falls under west lancashire borough council for administrative purposes, and hesketh withbecconsall parish council for paroc. The northern end of the revived welsh highland railway is being rebuilt by the ffestiniog railway in grand style. The titles on this page are all about modelling and are categorised to make browsing them a little easier. 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.
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