Did I find the Abandoned Knott End to Garstang Railway Line
Vložit
- čas přidán 15. 08. 2019
- The dream started in December 1863, a prospectus was produced naming six directors of the Garstang and Knot-End Railway. Two years after the line was opened the only steam locomotive broke down.
The railway company did not have enough funds to repair the engine so they had to suspend the service and for the next few years you were carted by horse along this section. Huge losses of income overshadowed the railway causing it to be in arrears however, goods services resumed on 23 February 1875 using a new engine, called Union. Passenger services followed on 17 April 1875.
Learning from the failures a replacement engine, called Farmer's Friend, was bought in December same year. This engine adopted the name locally as the Pilling Pig on account of the squeal made by its whistle. In railway terms Knot End was a tad late for the party before they saw a station being built 1898, when the separate Knott End Railway (KER) Company was incorporated, to extend the line 4 & half a miles from Pilling to Knott End opening on 29 July 1908.
KER took over the Garstang and Knot-End Railway in 1923 grouping, the KER being the smallest constituent of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.
Just south of Knot End station a small section in 1908 connected to a 1 1⁄2-mile siding to salt mines near Preesall boosting the viability of the company. This made a large contribution to the financial success of the railway mainly funding the line to remain open but the death nail was looming.
In 1920 nearly 54k tonnes of salt was moved on the line but KER had a dispute over haulage rates with the mine owners, the United Alkali Company built a brine pipeline under the River Wyre to United Alkali's Burn Naze plant. This was a severe blow to the railway causing it to close to passengers on 29 March 1930.
The line continued to be used for general goods until 13 November 1950 and the whole section eventually closed to Garstang Town until 16 August 1965. Today the main café in Knott End is on the original site of the station, some of the line is a footpath, about a mile of it near Knott End Several crossing keepers' cottages along the line survive as private homes and apart from a few bridges and hedge rows you’d never know it was here.
Whats the status of this line, is it totally forgotten?
Well no, a team of transport enthusiasts was to see parts of the route of the former Garstang to Knott End Railway being re-tracked and used by local passengers and tourists.
More content: www.nodrog.uk/blog/knott-end-...
Drone Footage: CDWILS86
Nodrog ©️
Nodrog, I can assure you that the Knott End Cafe WAS the old original railway station building. It has just been given another storey and greatly extended and covered in render etc. If you go inside, it has many photos and you can then compare to prove it IS the old original building, just much altered.
I've always wanted to walk this line. I live in Preston and it's only a bus up the A6. Maybe you've given me inspiration to follow your footsteps :)
Been following your blogs for a while now. Having a connection with Garstang I too have been tracking the line and old crossing keepers cottages etc.
If your interested in my fire brigade career I was at the summit tunnel fire in littleborough in its early stages. Later on was on a fire in the woodhead tunnel where overhead power lines went through the old single track tunnel.
I also was part of a major exercise on the standedge tunnel driving through the old single track tunnels from diggle to Marsden was just amazing. Visiting the canal tunnel along the way . Fantastic engineering I had the good fortune to see from the inside
Great stuff. Really interesting and who would have ever known that Knott End had a station? Enjoyed every second Nodrog. Thanks for sharing :)
Little bit late to the party but I walked down the Garstang stretch last weekend from where Garstang town station used to be to the main line and along the track there's an old original bridge and a load of sleepers too.
Yet another example of an ideal home for a 142 to ramble through retirement.
I've been aware of the Garstang and Knott End since about 1961. In those days, Knott-End station still existed although was a dilapidated cafe. It finally disappeared in about 1975.
Those bungalows you walked around are directly on the old alignment and had been built by 75.
I have memories of 8Fs at Garstang Town in 1965 shunting as they crossed the A6 just north of Garstang centre on the now demolished bridge.
What truly brought the end to the line and the "Pilling Pig" (a Lostock Hall trip working, target 14 from memory) was the electrification from Preston to Carlisle.
Great video Gordon
Nice one Gordon. We had intended to do this line when we filmed the Ingleton Branch line videos. Ran out of time unfortunately!
.....and yup you certainly burn some calories doing these!
Out of all the lines this one was more taxing. 🔦Such a varied history and so difficult to retrieve any evidence on the line. 🚂 Glad you liked it, hope your both grand as owt’ must catch up soon 👍
@@nodrog definitely. Just back from hols, big catch up, then we will get the diary out!
Really nice video you showed things and areas nearby that l haven’t been familiar with! Interesting stuff thank you very much…
Glad you enjoyed!
Good video. Hope the railway can run again, and others across the country.
Nateby station was the next one after Pilling, and there was also a station called Garstang Town; much nearer to the town centre than Garstang and Catterall, which was in Barnacre.
Thanks for roaming the ends g
I was only reading about this branch off to the salt mines the other week in the local paper . I used to go to school not far from the bridge in preesall so have always found it interesting. The salt mines look pretty terrifying places to work.
Knott End Cafe IS the station building, albeit converted/added to...
Hey there @Nodrog
Just found this vid. Real shame I didn't know you were visiting my neck of the woods, I would have gladly given you a Clarkey style guided tour.
Couple of little hints for ya incase you get the opportunity to visit K.E. again.
You weren't far off the right trail. Off the far end of the golf course, you can find Hackensall Woods, this is where the line came from the station (which I got few good photos of btw) at K.E. heading towards Preesall, where next you find the old bridge (now more of a lump you drive over to/from Preesall village).
The bridge sides were dismantled a good few years ago now, after it was rotting away.
Along side this 'lump' (former bridge) you will find the long established egg packing factory.
Now I believe alongside here in the overgrowth, you will find small reminents off an old platform.
Beyond here the line heads off towards Pilling.
Now just a mile up the main road (head dyke lane), you will come across Green Dicks Lane (yes seriously it's real name, lol).
Just a 1/4 mile down there, you will actually cone across the named "Crossing Cottage".
Then it heads off cross country towards where you have already visited, the caravan site where the Saddle Tank loco sits proudly (looks fab lit up at night).
Afraid i'm going to leave you on a cliff hanger here, as bed is calling.
P.S. Tell Clarkey (Radar) next time you see him, that Hawkeye says "on ya bike, and get peddling" lol.
Ta'ra for now 👍☺️
Brilliant comment. Thank you for your support. I’ll tell Clarke just that. All the best.
Gordon - how about doing a search on the Lytham dock line as well
My dad always just to say look at that steam train every time we past it. He can remember it running
Nice piece. I wonder how long it will be before someone gets that loco back up and running? Last time I was up that way we went water skiing at Knot End! (I was in my early 20's I'm 55 now lol) ,
Gordon, pay a visit to the Great Harwood Loop Line and Martholme Viaduct. It was built as a bypass for Accrington Junction and closed around 1963.
Nodrog, its a wonder no-one else locally has mentioned this as i am a foreigner to the west coast, i come from east Lancs. Anyway, the Pilling Pig that you saw is not the original, as this one was built in 1955 as shown by the makers plate and came from a colliery.
The platform I was shouting pantomime stile it's behind you lol
Ha Ha - I did the same...!
my great grandma and grandad ran the level crossing gates at knotted end.one day they didn't open the gate the train just ploughed through.
knott end I meant
where you saw the black post opposite it was a brick building with stone roof.inside wad a fire grate presumably for the workman to shelter have lunch.It was pulled down in the 1980s or around that time.The roof remaind in the grass, still virtually intact. Four in thick concrete, over grown now.The building was not dangerous it was solid, probably flattened to deter kids tramps etc.
Hebe was the Greek goddess of youth, cup bearer to the gods serving them nectar and ambrosia.
If U wanna come to ClayCross - I can show You abandon narrow gauge railway to Ashover.
Some infrastructure still in place. But because of creation Ogston Reservoir, some rail bead is currently underwater...
There is an abandoned railway in willenhall the tracks are up but it goes from willenhall memorial park to beyond willenhall fire station. I could meet up with you and show it you and show you all around
The Main Road up to Fleetwood is called Amounderness Way don’t know if thats any relation to that book .
Gordon as you go under the bridge they are old gates I think
You should come to Shoreham by sea to Steyning line
Bet that book is worth a bob or two
Have a look at the abandoned railway called the 'wirral way' between west kirkby and hooton but there's a replica station and abandoned platforms
Shut three years after surely not in three years
Where are the remains of the pipeline?
Apart from the salt extraction, there's nothing that side of the Wyre or, enough population to make a railway sustainable.
Why was this line closed after only just three years Gordon
The engine broken down. 🚂
No money no repair.
18:30 is that a tunnel
No. It’s just the tree line in the back ground. 👍
Call Chase Bank credit card holders need to call chase bank and asked them for their forgiveness on their balance like they just did for all Canadians card holders