Subterranea Britannica: SB-Sites:Appleton Station

Station Name: APPLETON

Date opened:

1852 (first appeared in timetable)

Location:

At the end of Saddler Street (site now lost)

Company on opening:

St. Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway

Date closed to passengers:

18.6.1951

Date closed completely:

18.6.1951

Company on closing:

British Railways (London Midland Region)

Present state:

Demolished. The station was for many years a wood yard but is now lost under the site of the A557 Watkinson Way.

County:

Lancashire

OS Grid Ref:

SJ522862

Date of visit:

18.1.1976 & Early 1981 and 8.7.2005

Notes: Appleton Station was on the St. Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway which ran from St. Helens in the north to the banks of the Mersey at Widnes in the South, with no intermediate stations. On opening (21st February 1833) the line was owned by the St. Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway Company. It was absorbed into the LNWR in 1864. Initially the line

was goods only but local people asked for a passenger service with a horse drawn service being introduced between the junction and St. Helens.

When built the line had a number of very steep gradients the steepest of which was on the climb out of Widnes up to the point where Farnworth and Bold was later sited; originally this incline was rope worked. Eventually a locomotive hauled service was introduced with one carriage running from the St. Helens to the bottom of Sutton Incline and the other from the top of the incline to Runcorn Gap. Passengers had to walk up the incline but if there were only one or two passengers they were able to ride in the

locomotives tender.

From 1845 the gradients were eased for locomotive working and at about this time the Appleton station was opened.

The line was always more heavily used by goods trains but over the years a steady service between St. Helens and Widnes developed latterly running to Ditton Junction where connections to Liverpool, Crewe, Manchester and even London could be made.

The service lasted until 16th June 1951 when Appleton closed as a passenger station. At the end of 1981 the line closed as a through route and it was lifted during 1982.

Tickets from Michael Stewart

To see the other stations on Widnes - St. Helens line click on the station name: Ann Street, Farnworth & Bold, Union Bank Farm Halt, Clockface, Sutton Oak & Peasley Cross

A northbound coal train hauled by a Jubilee Class locomotive passes through the closed Appleton Station in the 1960's. The picture gives a clear view of the station which appears to be remarkably intact considering it had been closed for over a decade. The station building and its platforms appear to be in good condition and the Appleton signalbox is still very much in use controlling traffic movements along the main line and into neighbouring factories. Also at this time the route of the Widnes to St. Helens line is still double track. It was singled through the site of Appleton Station in 1975. Coal trains were typical of this line right up to its closure as a through route in November 1981
Photo from Catalyst Museum in Widnes

Appleton Station in 1976
Photo by Bevan Price from his St. Helens and South Lancs Rail and Bus web site

Appleton Station in early 1981
Photo by Paul Wright

Appleton Station in November 1985 thirty four years the station had closed and four years after the line had closed. The station building on the left of the picture had been heavily modified by this time and was in use as a wood yard. The picture shows the southbound platform, on the right of the picture, to be still largely intact and the northbound platform can also be made out.
Photo by Ian Lifford - copyright Halton Borough Council - reproduced with permission

The site of Appleton Station in July 2005 - taken from the same viewpoint as the 1976 picture and from a similar viewpoint to the 1960's picture.
Photo by Paul Wright

A 1958 drawing prepared by British Railways in relation to the sale of the sawmill sidings which were no longer required
Received from Catalyst Museum in Widnes

Click on thumbnail to enlarge

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Last updated: Monday, 30-Jun-2008 16:49:28 BST