The 8D Association is dedicated to promoting the history of the railways of South Lancashire and North Cheshire.


 The society is open to any person who has an interest in the area.
The Association covers lines within a ten mile radius of the
Widnes Locomotive Depot (8D).




Of particular interest to the society are the Garston and Warrington line, the St Helens & Runcorn Gap Railway, the Cheshire Lines Railway main line and the Great Central & Midland Railway Joint Line (the Widnes Loop), the LNWR Widnes Deviation, the LNWR Ditton Junction to Weaver Junction Line, the Birkenhead Railway Warrington and Chester Line, the Cronton Colliery Branch and the Liverpool and Manchester Railway between Liverpool and Parkside.

New pages added

The LNWR Deviation in pictures

Intersection Bridge to Reginald Road
Feature page on Visits 2013

Industrial and Private railways:-
The Folly Lane Branch &
Pilkington Brothers St Helens

&

The Low Level in pictures

Latest updates

Site visits 2013

Photo Gallery

CLC stations new pictures

&

CLC signal boxes new pictures


Moore Station in the early 20th century.
Early 1900's.
Photographer unknown.





Widnes Station was originally named Farnworth until 5th January 1959 when it became Widnes North. With the closure of the Central station on the Widnes Loop line the station was renamed plain Widnes on 6th May 1968. The station is seen here looking west.
1970's.
Photo by John Mann.




       8D member John Wilson at the controls of D9009 Alycidon awaiting the road at Warrington Bank Quay with a return working to Crewe.
6th April 2013.
Photo by Mike Byrne.




  • The Cheshire Lines Committee

                  
    Widnes East box was originally a CLC box dating from 1891 this box controlled the eastern junction of the CLC and the Great Central and Midland Joint line (The Widnes Loop). The box stood until being replaced by a BR LM15 type box on 18th April 1956.
     This box stood until being destroyed by fire in April 1987.

    Picture left by Gordon Howarth shortly before closure of the CLC box.

    Picture right by Terry Callaghan in April 1987 after the fire which led to the closure
    and demolition of the LM15 type box.


  • St Helens & Runcorn Gap Railway


    A diverted Liverpool to Preston DMU passes the site of Farnworth and Bold station. The station opened in June 1852 and closed to passengers on 18th June 1951 it remained open for goods finally closing completely on 1st June 1964. The line remained open for goods until 1st November 1981 when the section north of this point was closed through to Sutton Manor. With the opening of a connection to Tanhouse Yard from a point on the Deviation line near Carterhouse Jct on 18th April 1982 the section from Widnes No7 to Farnworth and Bold finally closed. The whole site has been lost with the building of Watkinson Way and no trace of the station now remains. Photo by Bevan Price 18th January 1976.


The Great Central & Midland Railway Joint Line.
In 1964 a Class 5 locomotive emerges from the Liverpool Road Tunnel in Widnes on a Liverpool Central to Manchester Central stopping service. Within a few minutes the train would have called at Widnes Central station.

Dedicated to promoting the history of the railways of South Lancashire and North Cheshire.
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