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Photographs from along the Chorley - Blackburn line

The line was very rural and not that many photographs are available, but many of those that are, give us an idea of the line. It was a difficult line to build, for I'd say 95% of it is on an embankment or in a cutting, only near Brinscall is there a section that is on the normal lay of the land. Below are some photos of the line and engines on it, both before and after closure.

An aerial view showing the Preston Bolton line and the Chorley to Blackburn line. Note the signal box at the Dacca Street crossing on the Preston line.

After leaving Chorley Station and climbing to the top of Thornhill, the line crossed 9 Arches Viaduct. Beyond the viaduct is Canal Mill as it used to be named and its chimney. The chimney has been demolished but the mill is still there. The viaduct was blown up in 1968 to make way for the M61

Last days! Preperations being made for the demolition of the viaduct. (Courtesy John Feenan)

Click to enlarge the photo

And after the viaduct was blown up this sorry sight remained (Courtesy John Feenan)

Derailment east of Blackburn Brow bridge. The wall of 9 Arches viaduct is just visible through the bridge. (Courtesy John Feenan)

This is the bridge shown in the photo above. The derailment was to the far right of the cutting.

Bridge west of Tithebarn Lane, Heapey

This and the following bridge are located between Blackburn Brow bridge and the bridge on Tithe Barn Lane, Heapey

The 11th April 1957 was a nice sunny day as HC Casserley and his son RM Casserley took the train from Chorley to Blackburn, here passing under Tithebarn Lane bridge as it nears Heapey. The train is being pulled by 42473, a Stanier 2-6-4T built in Dec 1936 for the LMS. Mr Casserley was a prolific railway photographer and wrote many Railway books. (This photo courtesy of the HC Casserley collection - © RM Casserley, and whom I wish to thank for allowing me to use his Father’s photographs)

The track bed as it approaches Brinscall about 40 yards north of the Brinscall Hall Printworks siding. The wall and window sill are from an old house built before the railway came through

This short tunnel goes below Bury Lane, Withnell. The photo was taken in 1977, eleven years after closure of the line. The school on the left of the bridge was knocked down and today it is the entrance to a residential estate. Photo courtesy of Steve Williams - Local Historian

Looking through the tunnel back towards Brinscall

CLICK TO ENLARGE

1967 - the view from Bury Lane Bridge. By 1967 the line had closed and the Chorley bound track had been lifted (Photo courtesy of Steve Williams - Local Historian)

This photo shows the cutting of the siding that went to Abbey Mill in the distance. The siding track had long since been lifted when this photo was taken Click to enlarge

This large 3 arched bridge is near Withnell Station. This was taken in 1977. Note the lattice framework in front of the viaduct. Withnell Station is in the distance

This was the bridge in April 2013. The bases for the framework are still there (see picture above), but looks more like it did when it was built

This is the trackbed today, viewed looking north from the bridge at Withnell Stn

After leaving Withnell Station, trains would cross this bridge as they headed towards Roddlesworth. This bridge is at New Close Farm, Withnell.

Roddlesworth 1867 (not my photo :-) ) This is two years before the line opened. It was this stretch of line that caused delays to the opening. Crossing the many brooks and valleys in this area caused several engineering problems

The line then ran through green fields towards Withnell Brick Works. The concrete railway fence posts are still there

Feb 1967 The line is officially closed now. In this picture No 48320 is pulling an engineers train. Bottom right is a pile of sleepers from the lifted Chorley bound track 48320 was a Stanier 2-8-0 design. Built at Crewe works - it came into service in February 1944 and was withdrawn in March 1967, making this journey one of its last workings. It was scrapped in October 1967 ( © Tony Gillett )

1967 and 48320 is stationary whilst the driver is in conversation with a man on trackbed ( © Tony Gillett )

48320 pulls away with its engineering train towards Withnell Brick Company. Note the three chimneys behind the train ( © Tony Gillett)

Looking back (south) to the bridge in the photo above. The trackbed here is excellent

Suddenly a fence crosses the trackbed. On the other side the trackbed becomes overgrown as it crosses a high (50' ) embankment. It’s approaching the M65.

The base of a signal post in situ (Grid ref SD647 242) on the high embankment . The embankment now ends abruptly with the M65 crossing the track bed. In doing so the cutting that followed the enbankment has been in filled up to the bridge at SD648246.

This is the bridge at SD648246. Infill can be seen under the arch

Between the bridge and Feniscowles Station half a mile to the north are the remains of Jed's Hut (see last photo on this page). It had a brick built hearth at the back.

Another old signal post

Old telegragh pole found between Jed's Hut and Feniscowles Station

Not sure what this is - but looks like an old sign or cover.

All that remains of the bridge at Feniscowles Station where it crossed Livesey Branch Road. Access to the station was by the lane to the left of the bridge

After crossing Livesey Branch the railway then crossed the Leeds Liverpool canal. Like at Feniscowles Station, a wall is all that remains of this bridge.

This fine example of Victorian engineering carried the line over the A674 on a high embankment which swung round to join the Blackburn and Preston Railway's line at Cherry Tree junction. Click to enlarge photo.

On the 14th April 1955 Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Train used the line, Here seen leaving Cherry Tree Station and just beginning the climb at Cherry Tree Junction on the Chorley Line. The leading engine is 45571 South Africa which entered service on 17th September 1938. It was withdrawn on 15th June 1963 and cut up at Crewe on 31st July 1963

Cherry Tree Junction 2nd June 1972 - after the signal box, points created a four track stretch. Just after the signals in the far distance the Chorley line swung left behind the embankment.

This view is looking east towards Cherry Tree Station. A Chorley bound train would have been over to the right where the grass and bushes are. There were 4 tracks here

Now looking west, the Chorley line peeled away to the left beginning the long climb to Feniscowles, Withnell and Brinscall stations