Crank Halt railway station

Crank Halt was a railway station serving the village of Crank, Merseyside, England on the St Helens to Rainford Junction[2] then Ormskirk line.[3]

Crank Halt
LocationRainford, St Helens
England
Coordinates53.48160°N 2.75370°W / 53.48160; -2.75370
Grid referenceSJ501987
PlatformsTwo[1]
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companySt Helens Canal and Railway
Pre-groupingLondon and North Western Railway
Post-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
1 February 1858 (1858-02-01)Opened as Crank
9 September 1940Renamed Crank Halt
18 June 1951Closed to passengers

History

The station was named Crank railway station from its opening for passengers on 1 February 1858 until 9 September 1940 when it was renamed Crank Halt.[4]

The station was operated by the St Helens Railway, LNWR, the London Midland and Scottish Railway from 1923 and finally British Railways (London Midland Region) until it closed in 1951 for scheduled passenger services. However, the line remained open for goods services and for passenger excursions and diversions up until 1964.

Location and facilities
1911 map of the Ormskirk to St Helens area showing the location of Crank station, lower centre right

The station was located at the foot of the hill up to the village just east of the level crossing with the minor road from St Helens to Crank which later became the B5201. It had distinctive wooden buildings on each platform with curved overhanging roofs[5][6] to provide protection from inclement weather. Some other stations on the line had buildings of the same pattern.

Services

In July 1922 thirteen "Up" (southbound) trains called at the station on weekdays, with an extra on Saturday evenings. All originated at Ormskirk, several with connections from Southport. Ten Up trains called on Sundays. All trains continued all stations to St Helens. The "Down" (northbound) service was similar.[7]

The trains all consisted of "Motor Cars – One class only". Please note that 'Motor Cars' then did not have their modern meaning, but consisted of a single railway coach joined to a dedicated steam locomotive. Their generic type is summarised in L&YR railmotors. Photographs appear in Bob Pixton's work on the line.[8]

In 1951 the Up service consisted of five trains on weekdays with three extra on Saturdays, all stations to St Helens. The rolling stock was "Third Class Only". No trains called on Sundays. The Down service was similar.

All local trains plying between Ormskirk and St Helens called at Rainford Junction, entailing a reverse. None used the 'direct line' between Bushey Lane Junction[9] and Randle Junction[10] which formed the third side of the triangle shown near the top of the route diagram. That stretch was the preserve of goods trains, diversions and occasional specials.[11]

Private sidings

Crank Colliery had its own private siding which left the line immediately south of the halt. The colliery company was wound up on 30 January 1880 and the colliery was dismantled. No trace can be seen in the 6" OS Map surveyed in 1892.[12]

Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Moss Bank
Line and station closed		   London and North Western Railway
St Helens Canal and Railway		   Old Mill Lane
Line and station closed

References
  1. http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/c/crank/index.shtml
  2. ELR and mileages via railwaycodes.org.uk
  3. Smith & Turner 2012, Map 45
  4. Butt 1995, p. 70
  5. Fields, Gilbert & Knight 1980, Print 25
  6. Pixton 1996, p. 100
  7. Bradshaw 1985, p. 485
  8. Pixton 1996, pp. 87–90 & 101
  9. Pixton 1996, p. 92
  10. Pixton 1996, p. 98
  11. Pixton 1996, p. 102
  12. Townley & Peden 2002, p. 520

Sources
  • Bradshaw, George (1985) [July 1922]. Bradshaw's General Railway and Steam Navigation guide for Great Britain and Ireland: A reprint of the July 1922 issue. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-8708-5. OCLC 12500436.
  • Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199.
  • Fields, N; Gilbert, A C; Knight, N R (1980), Liverpool to Manchester into the Second Century, Rochdale: Manchester Transport Museum Society, ISBN 978-0-900857-19-5CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Pixton, Bob (1996), The Archive Photographs Series Widnes and St Helens Railways, Stroud: The Chalford Publishing Company, ISBN 978-0-7524-0751-7CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Smith, Paul; Turner, Keith (2012), Railway Atlas Then and Now, Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing, ISBN 978-0-7110-3695-6CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Townley, C H A; Peden, J A (2002), Industrial Railways of St Helens, Widnes and Warrington, Part 2, Whitby: Industrial Railway Society, ISBN 978-1-901556-25-4CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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