View source for Lancashire Union Railway

{{Short description|UK railway company}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Lancashire Union Railway}}
[[File:Adlington, Blackburn, Cherry Tree, Chorley, Hincaster Ingleton & Wennington RJD 103.jpg|thumb|300px|Lines around Chorley and Blackburn in 1903 ''(right of diagram)'']]
[[File:Boar's Head, Haigh, Hindley, Pemberton, Plank Lane, Strangeways & Wigan RJD 77.jpg|thumb|Lines around Wigan in 1907]]

The '''Lancashire Union Railway''' ran between [[Blackburn]] and [[St Helens, Merseyside|St Helens]] in Lancashire, England. It was built primarily to carry goods between Blackburn and Garston Dock on the [[River Mersey]], and also to serve collieries in the [[Wigan]] area.<ref>{{harvnb|Marshall|1970|p=27}}</ref> Most of the line has now been closed, except for the St Helens-to-Wigan section that forms part of the main line between [[Liverpool]] and the North.

==History==
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Lancashire Union Railways Act 1864
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = 
| year                  = 1864
| citation              = [[27 & 28 Vict.]] c. cclxxiii
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 25 July 1864
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/27-28/273/pdfs/ukla_18640273_en.pdf
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Lancashire and Yorkshire and Lancashire Union Railways Act 1865
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to vest in the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company and the Lancashire Union Railways Company jointly certain Portions of Railway near Blackburn.
| year                  = 1865
| citation              = 28 & 29 Vict. c. xxi
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 26 May 1865
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = {{visible anchor|Lancashire Union Railways Act 1865}}
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to empower the Lancashire Union Railways Company to construct an Extension Line to Saint Helens and other Branches in the County of Lancaster; and for other Purposes.
| year                  = 1865
| citation              = [[28 & 29 Vict.]] c. cxciii
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 29 June 1865
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
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| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
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| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/28-29/193/pdfs/ukla_18650193_en.pdf
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = {{visible anchor|Lancashire and Yorkshire and Lancashire Union Railways Act 1868}}
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = 
| year                  = 1868
| citation              = 31 & 32 Vict. c. cxiv
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 13 July 1868
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
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| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
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| millbankhansard       = 
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| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
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| collapsed             = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Lancashire Union Railways Act 1868
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act for authorizing the Abandonment of a Portion of the Undertaking of the Lancashire Union Railways Company, and for extending the Time for the Completion of other Portions thereof; and for other Purposes.
| year                  = 1868
| citation              = [[31 & 32 Vict.]] c. cxv
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 13 July 1868
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
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| millbankhansard       = 
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| collapsed             = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = {{visible anchor|Lancashire Union Railways Act 1871}}
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act for the abandonment of a portion of one of the authorised Railways of the Lancashire Union Railways Company; and for other purposes.
| year                  = 1871
| citation              = [[34 & 35 Vict.]] c. x
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 25 May 1871
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
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| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
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| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/34-35/10/pdfs/ukla_18710010_en.pdf
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = {{visible anchor|Lancashire Union Railways Act 1877}}
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = 
| year                  = 1877
| citation              = [[40 & 41 Vict.]] c. lvii
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 28 June 1877
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/40-41/57/pdfs/ukla_18770057_en.pdf
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
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}}
The Lancashire Union Railway (LUR) was authorised by the '''{{visible anchor|Lancashire Union Railways Act 1864}}''' ([[27 & 28 Vict.]] c. cclxxiii) of 25 July 1864, to build a line from the [[Blackbrook, St Helens|Blackbrook]] branch of the [[St Helens Railway]] to [[Adlington (Lancashire) railway station|Adlington]] on the Bolton-to-Preston line of the [[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]] (LYR) near [[Chorley]]. This connected with the existing lines between {{stnlnk|Garston Dock}} and [[St Helens Central railway station|St Helens]]. A further act of Parliament, the '''{{visible anchor|Lancashire Union Railways Act 1868}}''' ([[31 & 32 Vict.]] c. cxv) of 13 July 1868, authorised an extension from {{stnlnk|Chorley}} to {{stnlnk|Blackburn}}, and the '''{{visible anchor|Lancashire and Yorkshire and Lancashire Union Railways Act 1865}}''' ([[28 & 29 Vict.]] c. xxi) vested the section between {{stnlnk|Boar's Head}} (on the [[North Union Railway]] (NUR) north of [[Wigan North Western railway station|Wigan]]) and {{stnlnk|Cherry Tree}} (on the {{abbr|LYR|Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway}} near Blackburn) jointly with the {{abbr|LYR|Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway}}.<ref name="Awdry86">Awdry, p.86</ref>

The whole line between St Helens and Blackburn opened to passengers on 1 December 1869.<ref name="Butt">Butt</ref> Most passenger services were local between Blackburn and Wigan. [[London and North Western Railway]] (LNWR) trains travelled to the station later known as {{stnlnk|Wigan North Western}} via Chorley and Boar's Head, but {{abbr|LYR|Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway}} trains used an alternative route between Chorley and the station later to become {{stnlnk|Wigan Wallgate}} via {{stnlnk|Hindley}}.<ref>Suggitt (2003), p.131</ref>

The LUR also built a line, the "Whelley Loop", that bypassed Wigan to the east. It opened in 1869, mainly for freight.<ref>Suggitt (2004), pp.62&ndash;64</ref> Stations at {{stnlnk|Whelley}} and [[Amberswood railway station|Amberswood]] were open for only three months between 1 January and 1 March 1872.<ref name="Butt"/> Additional connections were made to the {{abbr|NUR|North Union Railway}}'s [[West Coast Main Line]] north and south of Wigan in 1882 and 1886 respectively, and to other lines radiating from Wigan, thus allowing many trains to bypass Wigan.<ref>Suggitt (2004), p.64</ref>

The LUR company was vested jointly between the {{abbr|LNWR|London and North Western Railway}} and {{abbr|LYR|Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway}} from 16 July 1883, until the two parent companies merged on 1 January 1922.<ref name="Awdry86"/>

The Blackburn-to-Chorley line closed to passengers on 4 January 1960<ref>{{harvnb|Marshall|1981|p=155}}</ref> and to goods in 1966, although a short section between Cherry Tree and {{stnlnk|Feniscowles}} continued until 1968. The Chorley-to-Wigan line also closed to passengers in 1960, and to goods on 25 May 1971.<ref>Suggitt (2003), pp.132&ndash;6</ref> The Whelley Loop survived until 1976.<ref>Suggitt (2004), p.65</ref> The Wigan-to-St Helens section is still in use as part of the [[Liverpool to Wigan Line]].

==Route==

The line began at [[Blackburn railway station|Blackburn]] and followed the [[East Lancashire Line]] to [[Cherry Tree railway station|Cherry Tree]] where the line branched to [[Feniscowles railway station|Feniscowles]]; there remnants of the bridge that carried the railway over the A6062 Livesey Branch Road can clearly be seen. From there the line is more or less undeveloped except that gravel and rails are missing; the line carries on where the [[M65 motorway]] is now, towards {{Stnlnk|Withnell}}.

The line between Withnell and [[Brinscall railway station|Brinscall]] now forms Railway Park. Leaving Brinscall the line ran parallel to Lodge Bank Road and has been built on. At Brinscall Hall there is an old bridge carrying the railway over a footpath which is still intact. The line of the railway is still evident as it passes [[Wheelton]] Plantation towards Heapey. Before [[Heapey railway station|Heapey]] the line passes the former ROF Heapey site where there were sidings serving the plant. Heapey Station is now a private residence. The line had another siding which intersected two of the [[Black Brook (Chorley)|Heapey reservoirs]] before serving the Heapey Bleachworks; half of the bridge carrying the line over Higher House Lane to the works is still in situ. The line continued under a bridge under Tithe Barn Lane toward the Blackburn–Chorley road (again under an existing bridge) towards the arched viaduct at [[Botany Bay (Chorley)|Botany Bay]] which carried the line over the [[Leeds and Liverpool Canal]] towards Chorley. The viaduct was demolished in 1968 to make way for the [[M61 motorway]].

The line continued past the North Gate estate and past the rear of St. Joseph's Church where it crossed Highfield Road and ran parallel to the [[Manchester to Preston Line]] on an embankment (now a footpath). The line headed towards where Friday Street car park now stands where it merged with the main line and entered [[Chorley railway station|Chorley station]]. The {{abbr|LUR|Lancashire Union Railway}} uses the main line to [[Adlington, Lancashire|Adlington]] where the line branched off and under the [[A6 road (England)|A6]] along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and on to [[White Bear railway station|White Bear Station]]. On leaving the station the line continued parallel to the canal bypassing the town of [[Blackrod]] to the east.

The line followed the canal to the [[Red Rock railway station|station at Red Rock]]. It continued south and split as it neared Pendlebury Lane. The first route – the [[Whelley railway station|Whelley]] Loop which bypassed Wigan – was built to serve collieries and iron works before the loop split at De Trafford junction joining the [[Manchester to Southport Line]] just before [[Hindley railway station]] to the East and to [[Amberswood railway station|Amberswood]] to the West, before re-joining the {{abbr|LUR|Lancashire Union Railway}} at [[Bryn railway station|Bryn]] or heading further south to [[Warrington Bank Quay railway station|Warrington]] via the {{abbr|NUR|North Union Railway}}. The second route headed over a viaduct, the 13 bridges which carried the railway over the [[River Douglas, Lancashire|River Douglas]]. The bridges are known locally as the dominoes due to the position and shape of the pillars and are the only parts left standing. After the viaduct the line continued to [[Boar's Head railway station|Boar's Head]] before connecting with the Blackpool to Liverpool Line. The line then continued through [[Wigan North Western railway station|Wigan North Western]] before heading towards Bryn and {{Stnlnk|Garswood}} before eventually joining the [[St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway]] and continuing to that line's southern terminus at {{Stnlnk|Garston Dock}}.

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*Awdry, C. (1990), ''Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies'', Patrick Stephens Ltd, Wellingborough, {{ISBN|1-85260-049-7}}.
*{{Butt-Stations}}
*{{Daniels-NoMore |edition=1st }}
*Dewick, T. (2002), ''Complete Atlas of Railway Station Names'', Ian Allan Publishing, {{ISBN|0-7110-2798-6}}.
*{{cite book |last=Marshall |first=John |author-link=John Marshall (railway historian) |title=The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, volume 2 |year=1970 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-4906-6 }}
*{{cite book |last=Marshall |first=J. |year=1981 |title=Forgotten Railways: North-West England |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-8003-6 }}
*Suggitt, G. (2003, reprinted 2004), ''Lost Railways of Lancashire'', Countryside Books, Newbury, {{ISBN|1-85306-801-2}}.
*Suggitt, G. (2004), ''Lost Railways of Merseyside and Greater Manchester'', Countryside Books, Newbury, {{ISBN|1-85306-869-1}}.
*{{Wignall-Atlas}}

==External links==
*[http://www.white-coppice.co.uk/chorley_blackburn.htm Chorley to Blackburn Railway] www.white-coppice.co.uk

{{LMSconstituents}}
{{Blackburn with Darwen culture}}
{{Borough of Chorley culture}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Closed railway lines in North West England]]
[[Category:Historic transport in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Chorley]]
[[Category:Transport in Blackburn with Darwen]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:History of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan]]
[[Category:History of St Helens, Merseyside]]
[[Category:Transport in St Helens, Merseyside]]
[[Category:Historic transport in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1864]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1869]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 1883]]
[[Category:1864 establishments in England]]