Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request West Kirby railway sidings.

Hello to everyone as this is my first post ! Was wondering if anyone has any ariel pictures of the old railway sidings in west kirby ? I am currently working on orrysdale road behind the concourse on a new petrol station project which is behind the tel exchange and we have found the remains of an old sandstone walled building and would like to know what it was used for many years ago ? Thanks in advance, Chris.

Tithe maps may help
zoom in on the area and check out the maps.

make sure you take your camera to work

http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/tithema...8&scale=1.27&tabL=L3&tabR=R1

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/w/west_kirby/index.shtml There's a couple of half-decent photos there, I'll try and find some more.

Here is an aerial from about 1972, before the concourse was built but quite a long time after the sidings closed.

Thanks for the replys so far, here are some pics taken saturday morning and one of the old fence running alongside the road too. The pile of sandstone is what was dug up from the remains of the old building. Chris.

late 1950's

from the bridge in 1938

Not totally sure if I've got my overlay right - but could you be looking at the remains of the station on the line that became the Wirral way

Look at the very top of the photo posted by Phil at 9:42 yesterday - could it be the building before the tunnel?

It might be the old station that was there. There was also a woodyard next to the station. In the woodyard there was a large valve that turned off the water to the water tank that filled up the steam trains.

What memories that picture of the "Push and Pull" train from Hooton brought back to me. I was a fireman at Birkenhead Mollington street depot in 1952, and used to fire that little engine (no 1417 or something like that).On the return journey .the driver would transfer to a driving compartment at what was now the front of the train, and using the Steam control regulator, and the brake, was in charge of the movement and the stopping of the train. The fireman was alone on the footplate, and carried on his job of keeping up the steam, and boiler water levels.He also assisted the driver, by keeping a sharp lookout. Later I transferred to Bidston Motive Power depot, and one of our jobs was the coal train which took the full coal waggons to the sidings between Bidston and West Kirby, and brought the emty wagons back, for eventual return to the Yorkshire coalfields. MY favourite stopping place, where we usually had a half hour break was at Hoylake. We used to stand right next to the fence at the end of Mr&Mrs. Joe Mercer,s -(Man.City-) garden. Mrs. Mercer was great. She used to bring us Fish and Chips from the chippy, and always refused payment for them.Mr.Mercer was also a pleasure to have a chat with, when available. Memories of long ago. Doncha luv ,em.
The picture of the "auto" train is here http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/w/west_kirby/index.shtml