Kirkham and Wesham railway station
Encyclopedia
The Lancashire
towns of Kirkham
and Wesham
, in England, are served by one railway station, Kirkham and Wesham. It is managed by Northern Rail
, who operate most of the passenger services that call there (although some First TransPennine Express
services also serve the station).
Fast by pass lines still run from Kirkham North Junction (located a half a mile to the west of the station) to what was known as Kirkham South Junction - just east of the station allowing through trains to pass without running through the platforms. These being the last vestige of the four track (2 fast and 2 slow lines, arranged from the north boundary of the railway Up Fast, Down Fast, Up Slow, Down Slow) railway that ran from Preston to Kirkham North Junction. The signalbox
at Kirkham North Junction was opened in 1903 and had over 70 levers and was worked by two signalmen and a train recorder. A framed summary in the box detailed the total number of train movements there in a 24 hour period in July 1936 as 656 - the vast majority of these would have been connected with the Blackpool holiday trade.
In 1890, it was rebuilt on the east side of the road and later renamed Kirkham and Wesham. Historically the "Wrangway Brook", beside which the railway was laid, has always been the boundary between Kirkham and Wesham, and the station buildings are all situated in Kirkham.
Two tracks were built on the northern side of the line for a platform planned but never built due to the outbreak of World War II
.
Kirkham Station signalbox which was located in between the Up (Salwick bound) Fast and the Down Fast line was demolished during resignalling operations in 1977. The same scheme also abolished Treales signalbox.
To the west of the station, Kirkham North Junction is where the suburban branch line to Blackpool South
follows the Fylde coast through Lytham, Ansdell and Fairhaven, St Annes on Sea; the main line to proceeds via Poulton
. Between 1903 and 1965 there was a third express line, the “Marton Line”, which went straight to and beyond to . This junction involved a flyover to allow Preston bound trains to access the Up Fast line from the Marton line. Although the Marton line closed in 1965, the disused flyover bridge was not removed until the 1980s.
In March 2011 the station was given a makeover with a major modernisation and refurbishment of the staircase.
now calls here in addition to those between Manchester Victoria & Blackpool North and Colne
& Blackpool South
. Trains run hourly on all three of these routes Mondays to Saturdays. TransPennine Express services between Blackpool and Manchester Airport
stop only during the morning and evening business peaks.
On Sundays there is an hourly service to Manchester Victoria & Blackpool North and to Blackpool South & Preston from March to early November.
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
towns of Kirkham
Kirkham, Lancashire
Kirkham, or as it once was known, Kirkam-in-Amounderness is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Fylde in Lancashire, England, midway between Blackpool and Preston and adjacent to the smaller town of Wesham. It owes its existence to Carr Hill upon which it was built and which was the location...
and Wesham
Wesham
Medlar with Wesham is civil parish on the Fylde in Lancashire, England. It lies within the Borough of Fylde, and had a population of 3,245 in 1,294 households recorded in the 2001 census....
, in England, are served by one railway station, Kirkham and Wesham. It is managed by Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
, who operate most of the passenger services that call there (although some First TransPennine Express
First TransPennine Express
First TransPennine Express is a British train operating company. It is a joint operation between First Group and Keolis . It operates regular passenger services in northern England, including services linking the west and east coasts across the Pennines...
services also serve the station).
Description
There are two platforms, and fairly obvious signs of the former size of the station by way of disused sidings areas and blocked-off arches. The station ticket office is at street level with a wide staircase leading down to the platforms. Originally a cast iron and glass roof covered the platforms similar to Poulton-le-Fylde station. This was removed in the 1960s.Fast by pass lines still run from Kirkham North Junction (located a half a mile to the west of the station) to what was known as Kirkham South Junction - just east of the station allowing through trains to pass without running through the platforms. These being the last vestige of the four track (2 fast and 2 slow lines, arranged from the north boundary of the railway Up Fast, Down Fast, Up Slow, Down Slow) railway that ran from Preston to Kirkham North Junction. The signalbox
Signalling control
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
at Kirkham North Junction was opened in 1903 and had over 70 levers and was worked by two signalmen and a train recorder. A framed summary in the box detailed the total number of train movements there in a 24 hour period in July 1936 as 656 - the vast majority of these would have been connected with the Blackpool holiday trade.
History
The station, opened in 1840, was originally located to the west of Station Road and named Kirkham Station.In 1890, it was rebuilt on the east side of the road and later renamed Kirkham and Wesham. Historically the "Wrangway Brook", beside which the railway was laid, has always been the boundary between Kirkham and Wesham, and the station buildings are all situated in Kirkham.
Two tracks were built on the northern side of the line for a platform planned but never built due to the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Kirkham Station signalbox which was located in between the Up (Salwick bound) Fast and the Down Fast line was demolished during resignalling operations in 1977. The same scheme also abolished Treales signalbox.
To the west of the station, Kirkham North Junction is where the suburban branch line to Blackpool South
Blackpool South railway station
Blackpool South railway station is a single platform stop at the end of the Fylde coast branch line from Kirkham, in Lancashire, England. It is unmanned and has an hourly service daily, except winter Sundays....
follows the Fylde coast through Lytham, Ansdell and Fairhaven, St Annes on Sea; the main line to proceeds via Poulton
Poulton-le-Fylde
Poulton-le-Fylde is a market town in Lancashire, England, situated on the coastal plain called the Fylde. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 18,264. There is evidence of human habitation in the area from 12,000 years ago and several archaeological finds from Roman...
. Between 1903 and 1965 there was a third express line, the “Marton Line”, which went straight to and beyond to . This junction involved a flyover to allow Preston bound trains to access the Up Fast line from the Marton line. Although the Marton line closed in 1965, the disused flyover bridge was not removed until the 1980s.
In March 2011 the station was given a makeover with a major modernisation and refurbishment of the staircase.
Services
The station has seen a modest service improvement since the new 2008-09 timetable began operating, as the service between Liverpool Lime Street and Blackpool NorthBlackpool North railway station
Blackpool North railway station is the main railway station serving the seaside resort of Blackpool in Lancashire, England. It is the terminus of the main Blackpool branch line from Preston....
now calls here in addition to those between Manchester Victoria & Blackpool North and Colne
Colne railway station
Colne railway station serves the Lancashire mill town of Colne which is situated close to Pendle Hill. The station, which is managed by Northern Rail, is the terminus of the East Lancashire Line. Trains from Blackpool South run through Preston and Blackburn to Burnley and Colne.Currently the...
& Blackpool South
Blackpool South railway station
Blackpool South railway station is a single platform stop at the end of the Fylde coast branch line from Kirkham, in Lancashire, England. It is unmanned and has an hourly service daily, except winter Sundays....
. Trains run hourly on all three of these routes Mondays to Saturdays. TransPennine Express services between Blackpool and Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport railway station
Manchester Airport railway station is the railway station that serves Manchester Airport and is built into the airport's terminal buildings. The station was opened together with the second airport terminal in 1993.- Description:...
stop only during the morning and evening business peaks.
On Sundays there is an hourly service to Manchester Victoria & Blackpool North and to Blackpool South & Preston from March to early November.