Old Railway Station and Tracks Uncovered

Now, this plot on a busy corner in Poulton is the site of retirement apartments. But when groundworks for them began, an old railway station and tracks, uncovered back in October 2015, made an interesting find.

The site at the junction of Breck Road and Station Road had long been derelict. It’s the plot adjacent to the traffic lights near the entrance to Wyre Council. It was when it was cleared in readiness to erect the assisted living apartments that the 100+ year old railway tracks were uncovered.

The Royal Oak has since been demolished too. More about that here.

Thanks to local rail enthusiast and Visit Fylde Coast contributor Barrie C Woods for these photos and information. 

Old Railway Station and Tracks Uncovered

The site was formerly the goods yard and the original Poulton-le-Fylde railway station for the once main Poulton railway line.

It was closed to passengers after a serious accident in 1893. A train from Blackpool was travelling at excessive speed around a tight curve leading to the station, whereupon it derailed – with fatal results.

This close up shows some very ancient chairs in which the sleepers were held to the rails. The longitudinally placed sleepers in between the rails were probably added after rail traffic had finished, to make easier access for road transport.

More Memories of the Railway Line

Regular reader James Scott (sadly now deceased) added some of his own recollections of local history to this piece, saying:

“The line ran through Preston farmers corn mills. It crossed the road and ran to the old goods and coal yard which was behind the old goods and parcel office. It led to the old Fleetwood platform through an archway.

“A man stood in the road with a red flag, stopping traffic on the Breck whilst they shunted coal wagons to the coal yard. That was at the rear of the old goods station and parcel office too.

“On the right, Reg Gardner had his tinsmiths shop and on the left a Mrs Barlow had a sweet shop. I was an apprentice to Reg Gardner, until he died in the 1960s.

“A public footpath ran alongside the Parcel Office over the Golf Course to Links Gate on Tarn Road, Little Thornton.”

While you’re here…

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