Subterranea Britannica: SB-Sites:Widnes South Station

Station Name: WIDNES SOUTH

[Source: Paul Wright]

Date opened:	1.3.1870
Location:	On the east side of Victoria Road
Company on opening:	London & North Western Railway
Date closed to passengers:	10.9.1962
Date closed completely:	31.3.1969
Company on closing:	British Railways (Midland Region)
Present state:	Booking office and Westbound platform demolished. Eastbound platform still present as are the access steps and other part of the support structures for the platforms which where situated in an elevated position.
County:	Lancashire
OS Grid Ref:	SJ513848
Date of visit:	1977, 1986 and 4.01.2005

Notes: The station was originally called Widnes and was renamed Widnes South on 5.1.1959. This Station was situated on the Widnes Deviation which was built by the LNWR (opened 1870) to ease the movement of traffic at Widnes where a line from Garston to Warrington (Opened 1853 by St. Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway) crossed the St. Helens to Widnes line (Opened 1833 by St. Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway) on the level. The Deviation went up and over the St. Helens line but had a connection to it. This allowed a new station to be opened which could serve both lines.

The line was mostly used by the LNWR as a freight route to Manchester but a passenger service did operate. Some services ran from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Oxford Road but mostly services ran from Ditton Junction to Manchester Oxford Road via Warrington Bank Quay Low Level (the line is referred to as the Low Level Line today).

Services also operated from Ditton Junction to St. Helens Shaw Street. This service was provided by a push pull set of two coaches. It finished in on 18.06.1951.

The Ditton Junction to Manchester Oxford Road service continued until 10.09.1962. In the second half of the 20th century the service was provided by push pull sets of four coaches. DMUs were introduced to line in the late 50's but the service reverted to Steam sets for its final years. It is known that Rugby League specials used the station after its closure. Also a York express used the line until 1965 stopping only at Warrington Bank Quay Low Level.

The platforms stood remarkably intact until recent years as did the booking hall which was for many years a Mini garage.

To see the other stations on the Ditton Junction to Skelton Junction Line click on the station name: Ditton, Cuerdley, Fidlers Ferry & Penketh, Sankey Bridges, Warrington Bank Quay Low Level, Warrington Arpley, Latchford, Thelwall, Lymm, Heatley & Warburton,
Dunham Massey & Broadheath.

A staff photograph taken on the eastbound platform looking towards the east in the early 20th century. At that time the Railway companies employed hundreds of thousands of workers and as can be seen from the picture Widnes station (it was not renamed as Widnes South until 1959) had what today would be considered a large compliment of staff for a station of its size. This picture gives a good view of the platform buildings that were situated on an embankment. In the background Widnes Number 7 Signalbox can be seen. This box controlled the junction between the Ditton to Skelton Junction and the Widnes to St Helens lines. A signal that would have controlled trains coming off the St Helens line can be seen on the left of the picture
Photo from Catalyst Museum in Widnes