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  1. Railway Remains and Relics
  2. West Kirby to Hooton - GWR and LMS Joint Railway

Heswall to Parkgate

On February 06, 2020 I walked track bed of the former GWR/LMS joint railway, which ran between West Kirby and Hooton, from Heswall to Parkgate.

On the Heswall to Parkgate section the only significant remains of the railway are again bridges / bridge abutments. At Parkgate there is a small display featuring a narrow-gauge wagon close to the Station Road overbridge.

The railway opened in two stages. Hooton – Parkgate on October 01, 1866 and Parkgate to West Kirby on April 19, 1886.

Serving a low population are of Wirral services were never frequent and by the 1950s British Railways decided to close the line to passenger services. Closure to passengers was on and from Monday September 17, 1956, with the final passenger trains running on Saturday September 15.
During 1961 the line was regularly visited by Diesel Multiple Units for driver training purposes.

Freight traffic continued until the final freight train ran on May 7, 1962.

Track and fittings were left in situ until 1964. There had been attempts to preserve the line, but these came to nothing.

However, in 1968 it was announced that the track bed was to become Britain’s first linear Country Park – “The Wirral Country Park – Wirral Way”.

The Wirral Country Park, which opened in 1973, runs from near the site of the joint station at West Kirby through to Hooton Station on the Chester to Liverpool line. Building on the track bed around the site of Heswall station and Neston has resulted in a break in continuity in places.
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  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    View north along Davenpory Road, Heswall looking towards West Kirby. The Railway goods yard would have been on the right. Heswall Station was to the rear of the photographer.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Riverbank Close which was built on the site of Heswall station.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    The start of the southern section of the Wirral Country Park at River Bank Road Heswall.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    The start of the southern section of the Wirral Country Park at River Bank Road Heswall.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    The start of the southern section of the Wirral Country Park at River Bank Road Heswall.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    The start of the southern section of the Wirral Country Park at River Bank Road Heswall.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    View north from the track bed which once continued straight ahead to Heswall Sttaion. It now swings to the left beyond the tractor and exits on to Riverbank Road.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    View from near Riverbank Road south towards Parkgate.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    View north towards the site of Heswall Station.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Vi9ew south towards Cottage Lane Bridge.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Cottage Lane overbridge, Heswall. The bridge appears to have been strengthened since the line closed as evidenced by the recent concrete beams.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Cottage Lane overbridge, Heswall. The bridge appears to have been strengthened since the line closed as evidenced by the recent concrete beams.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Cottage Lane access point, Heswall.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Cottage Lane overbridge, Heswall. The bridge appears to have been strengthened since the line closed as evidenced by the recent concrete beams.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    heading south from Cottage Lane bridge.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    View across Dee Estuary across Heswall Golf Links.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    View across Dee Estuary across Heswall Golf Links.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    View north towards Heswall by the Heswall Golf Links.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    View towards Heswall

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Site of a removed accomodation bridge at the southern end of Heswall Golf Course.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Site of a removed accomodation bridge at the southern end of Heswall Golf Course.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - February 06, 2020

    View to the Dee Estuary

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