Lancaster Green Ayre railway station

Infobox UK disused station| name = Lancaster Green Ayre| locale = Lancaster| borough = Lancaster, Lancashire| platforms = |
| caption = | original = Morecambe Harbour and Railway| pregroup = Midland Railway| owner = London, Midland and Scottish Railway
latitude = 54.0528| longitude = -2.7973| gridref =
years = 1848| events = Opened| years1 = 1966| events1 = Closed| years2 = 1976| events2 = Demolished|

Lancaster Green Ayre railway station was the Midland Railway's station in the city of Lancaster in England. The line between Green Ayre and Morecambe was used for pioneering experimental electrification via overhead cable.

The station closed to passengers in 1966 and there are no remains.

History

Lancaster's first two stations were the Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway's at "Greaves" in 1840 [Vinter, p.127] , and the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway's "Lancaster Castle" station which superseded it in 1846.Bairstow, p.96]

The third station was opened by the Morecambe Harbour and Railway Company (MH&R) on 12 June 1848.Vinter, p.129] Originally called "Lancaster", [Dewick, p.24] it was soon renamed "Lancaster Green Ayre", although timetables incorrectly listed its name as Lancaster Green Area until 1870. The line originally ran from Lancaster to stnlnk|Morecambe Harbour. The MH&R soon amalgamated with the "little" North Western Railway, which continued the line eastward from 17 November 1849, eventually reaching stnlnk|Skipton in 1850. Meanwhile, a short connecting curve was built between the Green Ayre and Castle stations, opening on 18 December 1849.

The station was located on the southern bank of the River Lune, immediately to the north of the city centre. Immediately west of the station was the junction between the connecting curve to Castle station (and Green Ayre's engine shed) and the main line which then crossed the river via "Greyhound Bridge" and continued along the north bank of the river, passing under the Lancaster and Carlisle's "Carlisle Bridge" over the river. East of Green Ayre the line followed the south bank of the river.

The "little" North Western Railway was taken over in 1874 by the Midland Railway (which had previously operated, then leased the line), [Awdry, p.97] and became a significant route for that company, giving access from its Yorkshire lines to the Lancashire coast in an area dominated by its major rival, the London and North Western Railway.

The Lancaster–Morecambe line was electrified via overhead cable from 8 June 1908 (and the curve to Castle station on 14 September 1908).Vinter, p.131] This section of line became particularly busy.

The line between stnlnk|Wennington and Morecambe via Lancaster fell victim to the Beeching Axe. Green Ayre station, along with the line, closed to passengers on 2 January 1966, [Suggitt, p.16] although the line through the station continued to be used for freight until 16 March 1976.. The station was demolished that year.Vinter, p.132]

The line's Greyhound Bridge was converted for use by the A589 road from 1972. [Suggitt, p.23] The site of Green Ayre station is now a public park. Nothing remains of the station, [Vinter, p.138] but a goods crane from stnlnk|Hornby goods shed has been erected in the park near the site. [Suggitt, p.19]

Notes

References

* Awdry, C. (1990), "Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies", Patrick Stephens Ltd, Wellingborough, ISBN 1-85260-049-7.
* Bairstow, M. (2000), "The "Little" North Western Railway", Martin Bairstow, Leeds, ISBN 1 871944 21X.
* Dewick, T. (2002), "Complete Atlas of Railway Station Names", Ian Allen Publishing, Hersham, ISBN 0 7110 2798 6.
* Suggitt, G. (2004 reprint), "Lost Railways of Lancashire", Countryside Books, Newbury, ISBN 1 85306 801 2.
* Vinter, J. (1990), "Railway Walks: LMS", Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd, Stroud, ISBN 0-86299-735-6

rail line one to three
previous=Halton
next1=stnlnk|Morecambe (Northumberland Street) until 1907
next2=stnlnk|Morecambe Promenade 1907–1957
next3=stnlnk|Scale Hall from 1957
route1=Midland Railway "Little" North Western Railway
route2=Midland Railway North Western Branch
route3=London Midland Region North Western Branch
col=964B00rail line
previous=Halton
next=stnlnk|Lancaster Castle
route=Midland Railway "Little" North Western Railway Castle Branch
col=964B00
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