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543 feet above sea level, Brinscall Station was the highest point on the Chorley - Blackburn railway line. It was also probably the busiest in terms of passengers and goods. The line had
originally been built to move coal from Wigan to Blackburn and East Lancs, however, Brinscall became a focal point for more than just coal. It was a centre for goods such as milk,
livestock and other agricultural items. It also had industries close by so items such as textiles, bricks and quarry produce were handled too. The goods yard was situated off Railway
Road around 150 yards north of the station.
Passengers
Click to enlarge
In the early 1920s there were 14 weekday passenger trains each way calling at Brinscall, and 16 on Saturdays. All were destined for Blackburn to the north and Chorley or
Wigan to the south. Today nothing remains of the station, for when the Railway trail was built the embankment on which the station stood was removed. So if you ever walk the
path from School Lane, pause and think of the trains that used to run on tracks 20 feet above you! As to the Goods yard, a very small wall that formed the entry gates remain
(on Railway Rd) .
c1900 This view looking up School Lane from the corner with Railway Road.
The railway bridge is clearly visible. The station was to the right of the bridge.
Trains to Blackburn would come from the left. The shop and house to the right
was converted into a cinema called The Regal around 1920 by a Mr Jimmy
Beaver. It lasted into the 1950s. it was demolished thereafter, and after being
waste ground for a while it was converted into a small car park, which is still
there to this day.
The photo to the right was taken c1948 by Jim Lancaster The hoardings on the wall are advertising the films 'The Fatal Night' and
'Noose' staring Carole Landis. Both films were released in 1948. Click here for Memories of the Regal and here for Memories of
Brinscall
Also well worth a listen is Memories of The Regal on Soundcloud
Click to enlarge
Taken from a slightly different angle, this view shows a little more detail of the bridge and the street. In the early days of photography, word got round if a camera was in the area and
everyone came out to have a look - as happened here by the looks of it!. Note the horse beyond the bridge. The shop on the left is a fish and chip shop now
A cold winter’s day at Brinscall Station c1900 This photo is looking north, with the
Blackburn platform to the left and the Chorley platform on the right. The steps
coming up from Railway Road are between the main building and the small waiting
room where the railway personnel are stood.
This photo was taken on 11th April 1957 by HC Casserley from the window of a Blackburn bound train. This photo is at least 57 years later than the previous photo and there are
many changes. The waiting room has gone, the signal at the end of the platform has gone and the “Brinscall” sign has moved. However, in both photos there’s a goods wagon in
the siding at the end of the platform and obviously still being used as two men are working in it. One last thing to note is the quarry to the right of the main building - still in use to
this day
(© RM Casserley)
This photo, taken sometime between the two above clearly shows the gate giving
access to the steps down to Railway Road. There are notices on the board and the
cabin has been removed
Click to enlarge
This is the only photo I have with a view looking south, with the rooftops of School Lane, Brinscall beyond. The 2nd and 3rd coaches are on the bridge above School Lane.
This engine is a Stanier 2-6-4t No 42632 and it was based at Wigan (27D) in the late1950’s, so this was a common route for it. Below is my colourised version
The railway through Brinscall was on an embankment for the most part. It began near Brinscall
Hall and got higher as it ran parallel with Lodge Bank. It crossed School Lane some 20 feet
above on a stone and iron bridge. 150 feet beyond the bridge, and also built on the
embankment stood Brinscall Station. Three paths gave passengers access to the station.
There were two sloping paths from School Lane leading up to either platform, and there was
also a path from Railway Road, which culminated in a sharp climb up some steps to the
platform. Vehicle (and before that horse and carriage) access was by means of the Goods
entrance where a driveway did a sweeping curve to the northern end of the Chorley platform
(see map). As was the case at all four stations the main buildings were on the Chorley bound
platform and there was a stone built shelter on the Blackburn bound platform. Brinscall was
however the only station on the line that was single tier, possibly because it was built on a man
made embankment.
Taken from the bottom of Well Lane, the large building in the centre of the photograph is Brinscall Railway Station. Some freight wagons are visible to the right of the buildings.
The Regal cinema is the white building (see above for more info)
The railway line runs across the centre of the photo - running behind Lodge Bank and then across the bridge on School Lane. The station is on the far right at the top of the ramp. Taken
Between 1910 and 1919. (courtesy of Friends of Brinscall and Withnell Villages FB page)
Accidents at Brinscall
The cutting below is taken from the Northern Daily Telegraph of 3rd November 1906
The date of the press cutting below is not known but I would think it would be
before 1900
(courtesy of Friends of Brinscall and Withnell Villages FB page)
The cutting below is taken from the Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser
of 4/12/1883
(courtesy of Friends of Brinscall and Withnell Villages FB page)
(courtesy of Friends of Brinscall and Withnell Villages FB page)
This photo is from a postcard produced in 1911 or 1912. It’s taken from a similar location to the photo above it, but this is clearer and clearly shows the railway bridge
This photo is from a 1911 postcard - one of the adverts is for the White Star Line - owners of
the Titanic and the noticeboard is headed up Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway
Click either of these photos to enlarge
Not a regular sight on the line, an Ex War Department Austerity 2-8-0 This one is 90351 running light engine through Brinscall
Colourised version
