Notes: Farnworth & Bold 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

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 station was opened originally being named Farnworth.

On 2.1.1890 it was renamed Farnworth and Bold as by that time another Farnworth station had opened on the CLC Line (1873) nearby.

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 Farnworth and Bold closed as a passenger station. At the end of 1981 the line closed as a through route and it was lifted during 1982.

Ticket from Michael Stewart

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