Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Parkgate Train Station

Just wondering if anyone has any photographs of either of the two Parkgate Station's that existed; I have only ever found one other than the ones on Subbrit, but looking for as many as I can.

Also, any information or even better, first hand descriptions of what the station was like would be grand.

Thanks!

The two photo's on the Subbrit site are the one's that appear in "The Hooton to West Kirby Branch Line" by the Merseyside Railway History Group. As Subbrit gave no credits, I suspect they were just "wizzed". Something subbrit bangs on about if you do it to them! However I digress.

I've never seen any other photos of Parkgate Station. A bit thin on the ground. Maybe Wirral Archives can help ??

Thanks Pinz for that info, I was hoping you would notice this thread lol, I have seen them moaning on other forums when people have embedded their Urban Exploration images so I know exactly what you mean.

I think I had a quick read of that book in Moreton library a few months ago whilst waiting to see the CAB, so I must pop down sometime and see if I can loan it out.

Did you yourself ever visit Parkgate station?

Thanks once again

No, sad to say I never visited Parkgate Station. Thurstaston Station was my favourite haunt as a lad. You could blag your way into the signal box depending on which signalman was on duty. Fascinating !

From "Railway Stations of Wirral":

Wow, that is ace Uptoncx, many thanks! I am assuming this photo is the second station, do you know if that is correct or not?

Heh, I love the area by Thrustaston station Pinz, so peaceful when the kids are in school! Its a shame the house was demolished, good that they kept the platforms at least though!!

Also, does anyone know if I am correct in assuming the first station by the scout hut car park, and the second one was by the stationmasters house?

I am thinking that this is the location of the first station:

Yes, it's the second station. You may be interested in the following, also from the "Railway Stations of Wirral":

A view at Parkgate of the platform for Hooton bound trains taken from a train en route to West Kirby. The buildings were a modification of the LNWR standard timber modular design with a tiled roof and red brick chimneys, contrasting with their more usual slate and blue or yellow brick styles. Two unusual features were the signal box, which was incorporated into the building on the West Kirby side, presenting a "bay window" appearance projecting from the last panel; and the provision of a passenger subway between the platforms. This latter feature was normally only found at more "urban" locations. This station is located on the "new" alignment to West Kirby following the extension of the line in 1886. No photographs of the original station have been traced but it is presumed to have been in similar architectural style to it's neighbours at Neston and Hadlow Road. The site of the former station was developed as a goods yard and remained in use until closure of the line. Vehicles using this yard can just be sighted beyond the signal in this view. The principal user of the yard in it's latter days was a local waste oil contractor for tanker traffic.

The pic. above is Parkgate station on the Hooton to West Kirby line. This pic. (also from "Railway Stations of Wirral") is Neston & Parkgate, on the Bidston to Wrexham line. On the Hooton to West Kirby line, there was also a station at Neston, but on the Bidston to Wrexham line, there was only the shared station. I've got a feeling that the old Neston & Parkgate station is at Neston & is now called just that.

The Neston station on the Bidston line was called "Neston North". The one on the Hooton line was "Neston South" as far as I recall. Any 1960's ish OS sheet will clarify.

Sometime after the Hooton-West Kirby line closed, the "North" was dropped from the remaining/current station.

I don't know why they called the single car train a "Motor Train". It was driven by a small (Sentinal I think) steam engine. You can just see the top of the chimney. Protruding from the roof.

Good work uptoncx !

I've got a photo of the old neston south station put can't figure out how to attach it as it keeps telling me its too big(i'm pretty useless at all this computer jiggery pokery)

go to
http://www.shrinkpictures.com/
browse for pic tick the 600 box then resize then download pic to
a folder or desktop on your pc

Thanks for info on how to shrink the picture,this is neston south after the track was taken up,it was knocked down long ago

where was this, am i thinkin it was just near the Cricket Club?

The other side of Station Road

Clicky then click grid reference