Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History The railways of Wirral, 1830s to present day.

Being a fairly big geek when it comes to matters of these sorts of things I found it surprising that there wasn't a single topic on something like this so I felt as though I had to correct this! What can people reveal about the history of our railways? Through whole lines closing such as the line formerly incorporating the current Wirral Way to the current Kingsway tunnel approach, formerly home to two stations. What about our grand former terminus at Woodside and its older brother at Monks Ferry? Perhaps you can help enlighten us about the Mollington Street sheds or provide us witn an insight to the former docks railway?

My own memories are pretty short, given I'm only 26 and most of the changes had already occurred, but I do still remember the trains travelling along the docks in the late 80s and the three-platform layout of Birkenhead Park, a remnant of the days when you had to change here if you wanted to travel to Liverpool or, in the opposite direction, to West Kirby or New Brighton, you can still see the big heap of spoil taken from the rationalisation of it if you look left as you're pulling into Park station going towards Liverpool.

Anyway, I'm sure people will have their own memories of using the trains or of pulling into a station that no longer exists, or can you point out remnants of one that others may not notice?





Some tickets I bought a while back from eBay, I do ask though that they aren't watermarked, they're for use by anyone.

Theres a topic called parkgate station which has some good photos on.I've added one of mine which is of neston south in 1956.Its part of the wirral way now which runs from the top of station road towards willaston.My grandad worked there as a porter before it shut down

As part of my Story of Wallasey website I do intend to tackle the history of it's railway. At the moment I am working on the Electric Tramways of Wallasey. Then it's Theatres. Then it's Churches...so much to do, not enough hours in the day!

Paul do you know out about St Peters and Paulls in New Brighton by any chance?

Thanks for sharing stuey

Are you referring to the demolished church that stood on the corner of Hope Street / Rowson Street (St Peter and St. Paul's) that was built in 1881 but was bombed in the Second World War and demolished or the "Dome of Home" (Ss Peter and Paul) that still stands on the heights on Atherton Street and was opened in 1935?

The dome mate, thats the one still standing

Stuey

Im just doing a page on Wirral railways now mate. Got lots of old photos of rail tickets and baggage tickets. I'll see if i can get some over to you mate if your interested in that sort of stuff.

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/

Without trying to make two topics in one thread.. if you go to my site you can read up Pre-church history - "Sand Rock"

http://...co.uk/wallasey/mansions_around_albion_street/index.html

thankyou, sorry about interupting

Stuey,
I'm new here but I am just completing an article on the early history of Mollington Street loco sheds and the nearby railway lines - until the early '60's that is - will post shortly - probably over the weekend.

I have got a lot of photos of Mollington St. sheds in steam days. I even have a photo of myself looking out of a carriage window at Woodside behind a tank loco on the Paddington train.
The only surviving piece of Mollington St. shed is the loco rostering board which we retrieved when the shed closed & took to Southport Railway Museum. It is now at the Ribble Steam Railway in Preston, but is damaged as they accidentally put it into a container with a leaking roof. They also have the large 'Birkenhead Woodside'enamel sign from the front of the signal box.

Bob.

That's cool about the Woodside sign, I know there's very little left of the station itself so any preservation of it is always welcome in my eyes I've got a fair few books on the railways themselves, not so much the locos as they've never really grabbed me, my books are:
Liverpool and Manchester Railway by David Singleton.
British Railways Atlas 1947 - ISBN 0-7110-2438-3
A Portrait of Wirral's Railways by Roger Jermy - ISBN 0 907768 17 2
Railways Around Lancashire by A.C. Gilbert & N.R. Knight
Paddington to the Mersey by Dr. R. Preston Hendry & R. Powell Hendry - ISBN 0-86093-442-X
Railway Stations of Wirral - ISBN 1-899241-02-7
The Hooton to West Kirby Branch Line - ISBN 0 904582 04 3

I've got another couple somewhere, one green one with Mersey in the title but it eludes me and one on railway junction diagrams from 100 years ago or so.

disused stations was my main foray into the whole business, it's a wonderful site that will hopefully keep memories fresh. I did manage to find a couple of pictures of Birkenhead Park station during the war if anyone's interested? I can't find the site I took them from but once I do I'll gladly remove them at the owner's behest.




You can make out the war damage to its station building.

I had a brief visit to Wirral yesterday & took some pics of a few disused stations, mostly on the B'head-Chester line. I'll post them here soon.
A couple of books I like, which aren't on your list both by John Gahan:
The Line Beneath the Liners; Story of the Mersey Railway.
ISBN 0 907768 40 7 or ISBN 0 905446 57 8
Seventeen Stations to Dingle; Liverpool Overhead Railway.
ISBN 0 907768 20 2 or ISBN 0 905446 54 3

Cheers, Chris.

Always wondered why the got rid of the classy old station building at Birkenhead Park, it makes sense now....bomb damage, good pictures.