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

West Kirby to Heswall

On January 30th, 2020 I walked part of the track bed of the former GWR/LMS joint railway, which ran between West Kirby and Hooton, from West Kirby to Heswall.

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.

On the West Kirby to Heswall section the only significant remains of the railway are bridges / bridge abutments, the platforms and the goods loading dock at Thurstaston Station.

In recent years signs have been affixed to several over bridges in the style of the British Railways totem station signs.
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  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    View towards Orrysdale Road, West Kirby where the Birkenhead Joint Railway West Kirby Station Was located. The was built on during the 1970s / 80s.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Start of the Wirral Country Park at Grange Road, West Kirby.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Start of the Wirral Country Park at Grange Road, West Kirby.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Start of the Wirral Country Park at Grange Road, West Kirby.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Start of the Wirral Country Park at Grange Road, West Kirby.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Entrance to Ashton Park, West Kirby which was once bisected by the railway.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Entrance to Ashton Park, West Kirby which was once bisected by the railway.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Ashton Park Footbridge, West Kirby which linked the two section of the park across the railway.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Ashton Park Footbridge, West Kirby which linked the two section of the park across the railway.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Ashton Park Footbridge, West Kirby which linked the two section of the park across the railway.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Church Road overbridge, West Kirby.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Church Road overbridge, West Kirby.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Entrance to Ashton Park near Church Road, West Kirby.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Church Road overbridge, West Kirby. Telegraph insulator bracket remains.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Church Road overbridge, West Kirby.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    View towards Sandy Lane bridge and the site of Kirby Park Station.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    View to Sandy Lane Bridge the site of Kirby Park Station was on the left just before the bridge. Opened on October 01, 1894 the station constructed of wood, closed to scheduled passenger services on July 5, 1954 though school children are believed to have continued to use the station until the closure of the railway.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Sandy Lane Bridge a ramp ran from the road down to the platform located on the left.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Sandy Lane Bidge at the Kirby Park Station site looking south. There was a single freight siding at this location which remained open until final closure.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Sandy Lane Bidge at the Kirby Park Station site looking north.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    York Avenue access point.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    York Avenue access point.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    View taken around the Melloncroft Drive access point.

  • Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    Birkenhead Joint Railway - West Kirby to Heswall - January 30, 2020

    View taken around the Melloncroft Drive access point.

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