This line closed in stages. Southport to aintree central in January 1952. Aintree to gateacre November 1960. The line after that was served by grand national specials to aintree central till 1966. Plus lots of excursions. The line was then singled in 1969 and the last freight service ran in 1975. The line was built with quadrupling in mind but it never happened. This is why some of the bridges and tunnels were built that way but it was deemed too expensive. Great video though.
You were correct about the sidings for Jacob's biscuit factory on one side of the bridge, but on the other side were the sidings for Hartley's jam factory.
Grew up near Aintree. Took the Liverpool Central (HL) to Aintree Central trains a couple of times. By that time the Aintree - Southport line was closed. Also took the Southport to Lime Street "through coaches" to London a couple of times. Steam hauled as everything was back then,. Plus on Aintree race days, the Liverpool Overhead Railway trains would run to Aintree, and there were Exchange trains that took the North Mersey line from Seaforth to Aintree. Many years ago in a universe far, far away....
The extra arches were built because they envisioned having four lines eventually as they had ambitions to extend the line to Blackpool from what I read. Great video, though you missed the remains of a few bridges (mostly walls) between Aintree and Jubilee woods for example at Old Roan Station & the canal etc. Also the bridge over the brook at Hillhouse Junction (Barton Spur) is still there - you just missed it whilst you were exploring in the nettles! Oh and that wasn't another biscuit factory at Hartley's Bridge near Jacobs, it was the jam factory!
It was retained for strategic reasons and the extra bridge arches was because they considered 4 tracking in the future. Gateacre station northbound platform had a canopy connection to the station building in case 4 tracking was done. My father (platelayer Gateacre ) & I walked the length to Halewood and Knotty Ash alternate Saturday morning.
It was probably my earliest memory. My mother lifted me up so i could see a steam engine entering Lords Street Station in the summer of 1951. I was 3.5 years old
Great interest, many memories thanks. But please Gatacker pron not Gateacre and Chilled-wall not Childewall. Sorry to be penickity but it matters to us locals. Still great work, thanks again.
Gateacre is pronounced as "Gataca" I lived next to this line (The Childwall Valley Estate) up to 1992, I remember freight trains running on the line up to 1979. Childwall is pronounced as childwall useing the small i as aposed to the Capital I ... "childwall many people who do not live around here, make the same mistakes.
The Bootle Dock branch you mention was in fact built by the Midland Railway (one of the three component railways of the CLC). It was built to serve Langton Dock. It ran past the house in which I grew up and I looked out on it from my bedroom window.
I live in Aintree, and use the old railway/ cycle paths regularly, i used to take the dog over what seemed a huge siding nr Wango lane nr the canal turn at Aintree racecourse
Southport Lord Street Station became the Ribble bus station after the line closed. Just out of interest for you, Gateacre is pronounced Gataker…Childwall is pronounced Childwall (silent D) and Maghull is pronounced Magull. The extra arches found on most of the bridges were simply built like that as it was cheaper to build an arch than it was to fill the area in. Most of the embankments you see were filled in by household waste, and the CLC was unique in the fact that it used locomotive ash and cinders as ballast for the track in the majority of cases. This was very poor to drain and the line around Aintree Central frequently flooded, as you point out by the smelly lake formed under the bridge. I lived for many years in the Warbreck, Aintree area and you brilliant video brought back so many memories. I no longer live in Liverpool and it’s strange to see what has become of the place
Hi mate- Regarding the extra arches , My guess is that it was cheaper to build the extra arch there and then on the original planning build instead of adding the extra arch later. It seems like good forward planning as the line was running towards a seaside town with docks plus past the Aintree racecourse and motor racing track and could be assumed to get busier as time went on. All they had to do afterwards to make the line four track running was to remove the remaining rock walls without disturbing the arch bridges and structures that they had already prepared. Presumably other routes by different railway companies into Southport were more frequented and the expansion never came about. Kind regards - Mike.
I've seen plenty of single track railways built with bridges to allow doubling up. This is the first time I've seen a double track railway built with bridges to allow quadrupling. Only possible explanation, why else would you build a second arch with rock faces either side and not for one bridge but several. Must have had money to burn. Unfortunately haven't found any text on the internet to explain this.
perhaps the second tunnels/bridges were needed to sustain the roads above. i'm no engineer but i suspect you can't just build a hole where you want your railway to go without thinking what will happen above.
This line closed in stages. Southport to aintree central in January 1952. Aintree to gateacre November 1960. The line after that was served by grand national specials to aintree central till 1966. Plus lots of excursions. The line was then singled in 1969 and the last freight service ran in 1975. The line was built with quadrupling in mind but it never happened. This is why some of the bridges and tunnels were built that way but it was deemed too expensive. Great video though.
Love watching your videos my grandad got me into trains and abandoned train stations
Cheers for another great video buddy great that extra historic content and how you presented it big up
You were correct about the sidings for Jacob's biscuit factory on one side of the bridge, but on the other side were the sidings for Hartley's jam factory.
Grew up near Aintree. Took the Liverpool Central (HL) to Aintree Central trains a couple of times. By that time the Aintree - Southport line was closed. Also took the Southport to Lime Street "through coaches" to London a couple of times. Steam hauled as everything was back then,. Plus on Aintree race days, the Liverpool Overhead Railway trains would run to Aintree, and there were Exchange trains that took the North Mersey line from Seaforth to Aintree. Many years ago in a universe far, far away....
The extra arches were built because they envisioned having four lines eventually as they had ambitions to extend the line to Blackpool from what I read. Great video, though you missed the remains of a few bridges (mostly walls) between Aintree and Jubilee woods for example at Old Roan Station & the canal etc. Also the bridge over the brook at Hillhouse Junction (Barton Spur) is still there - you just missed it whilst you were exploring in the nettles! Oh and that wasn't another biscuit factory at Hartley's Bridge near Jacobs, it was the jam factory!
Great video ..thanks..
It was retained for strategic reasons and the extra bridge arches was because they considered 4 tracking in the future. Gateacre station northbound platform had a canopy connection to the station building in case 4 tracking was done. My father (platelayer Gateacre ) & I walked the length to Halewood and Knotty Ash alternate Saturday morning.
Don't leave it so long in future!! Great stuff, love em all.
It was probably my earliest memory. My mother lifted me up so i could see a steam engine entering Lords Street Station in the summer of 1951. I was 3.5 years old
Great interest, many memories thanks. But please Gatacker pron not Gateacre and Chilled-wall not Childewall. Sorry to be penickity but it matters to us locals. Still great work, thanks again.
Thank you for the walking tour this day. A beautiful video, and easy to understand. Cheers mate! 🇬🇧👍🙂🇺🇸
During my railway career I had ONE DAY working at Aintree Central - Grand National Day in 1957 - and I got down Melling Road to see some of the race!
Fantastic video and great channel 🙏🏻. You are a brilliant presenter- you can hear the joy in your voice ❤
Nice to have you back mate doing videos .... cheers and thanks for the efforts-- enjoyed it
A lot of hard work went into making this excellent video, great channel, subbed!
Gateacre is pronounced as "Gataca" I lived next to this line (The Childwall Valley Estate) up to 1992, I remember freight trains running on the line up to 1979. Childwall is pronounced as childwall useing the small i as aposed to the Capital I ... "childwall many people who do not live around here, make the same mistakes.
Mayghull is pronounced as "magul"
The Bootle Dock branch you mention was in fact built by the Midland Railway (one of the three component railways of the CLC). It was built to serve Langton Dock. It ran past the house in which I grew up and I looked out on it from my bedroom window.
Ebike with the old skool tunes on? Living the dream buddy!
I live in Aintree, and use the old railway/ cycle paths regularly, i used to take the dog over what seemed a huge siding nr Wango lane nr the canal turn at Aintree racecourse
Great video, good to see some relics left 👍
Southport Lord Street Station became the Ribble bus station after the line closed. Just out of interest for you, Gateacre is pronounced Gataker…Childwall is pronounced Childwall (silent D) and Maghull is pronounced Magull. The extra arches found on most of the bridges were simply built like that as it was cheaper to build an arch than it was to fill the area in. Most of the embankments you see were filled in by household waste, and the CLC was unique in the fact that it used locomotive ash and cinders as ballast for the track in the majority of cases. This was very poor to drain and the line around Aintree Central frequently flooded, as you point out by the smelly lake formed under the bridge.
I lived for many years in the Warbreck, Aintree area and you brilliant video brought back so many memories. I no longer live in Liverpool and it’s strange to see what has become of the place
Thx for the info Martin, as a manc my pronunciation is questionable
Great upload , this line is apparently mothballed for future use by Merseyrail .
Hi mate- Regarding the extra arches , My guess is that it was cheaper to build the extra arch there and then on the original planning build instead of adding the extra arch later. It seems like good forward planning as the line was running towards a seaside town with docks plus past the Aintree racecourse and motor racing track and could be assumed to get busier as time went on. All they had to do afterwards to make the line four track running was to remove the remaining rock walls without disturbing the arch bridges and structures that they had already prepared. Presumably other routes by different railway companies into Southport were more frequented and the expansion never came about. Kind regards - Mike.
"Southport Chapel Street" but it was within a few feet of Lords St. It had a lot of platforms for seaside specials.
Can still remember those steam trains running past my house until closure
You could describe this old route as an "also ran", since it ran to the race course but lost out to the electric lines.
Looking a the foliage and weather I'm guessing this was filmed last summer 🙂
Great film.
Gateacre is Gat-acre and Childwall is Chil-wall
I've seen plenty of single track railways built with bridges to allow doubling up. This is the first time I've seen a double track railway built with bridges to allow quadrupling. Only possible explanation, why else would you build a second arch with rock faces either side and not for one bridge but several. Must have had money to burn. Unfortunately haven't found any text on the internet to explain this.
The locals pronounce Gateacre as GAT ICKER - Childwall is pronounced CHILL WALL - Maghul is pronounced Ma' GULL
perhaps the second tunnels/bridges were needed to sustain the roads above. i'm no engineer but i suspect you can't just build a hole where you want your railway to go without thinking what will happen above.
Did Bella ever go the correct way?
Mickey mouse station. Love it! Yes, true. Thank is all we get these days.
lol at Gate Acre, it's pronounced GATIKER locally
Shame they cant bring it back 😩
Gateacre is pronounced Gat acre and Childwall Chill dwall
Damn beeching destroyed our city!