Skelmersdale Branch

The Skelmersdale Branch (SKE) connected the Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway at Ormskirk with Skelmersdale, Rainford Junction with the Liverpool and Bury Railway and the St. Helens Railway. It was built by the East Lancashire Railway which was taken over by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway shortly afterward [ [http://www.skemheritage.org.uk/ackerley/railway.htm Local History Archives] ] . It was locally know as the "Skem Jazzer"

It opened on 1 March 1858. Passenger services ended 5 November 1956, goods to Rainford finished on 16 November 1961 and Skelmersdale on 4 November 1963. Since then Skelmersdale has had no rail connection and has grown considerably. Proposals have been put forward for the reopening of a section of line, reconnecting trains for Skelmersale into the Liverpool - Ormskirk line. [ [http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmtran/782/782ap38.htm Potential Rail Improvements in North Western England] - Evidence presented to the Transport Select Committee, 2002-03]

Route

*Ormskirk railway station
*Westhead Halt railway station [ [http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/w/westhead_halt/index.shtml Westhead halt on Disused Stations] ]
*Skelmersdale railway station
*White Moss Level Crossing Halt [ [http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/w/white_moss_crossing/index.shtml White Moss Level Crossing on Disused Stations] ]
*Hey's Crossing Halt railway station [ [http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/h/hey%27s_crossing_halt/index.shtml Hey Crossing on Disused Stations] ]
*Rainford Junction railway station

References