Blackpool South - Blackpool Central

[Crossover]

Having visited Blackpool South station the other week, it appeared that the line would have extended beyond the current terminus (what with tehe bridge like structure and huge bank beyond the buffers).

Reading online later, it seems it did indeed continue beyond this point to Blackpool Central.

I have found a few images and maps showing the look and siting of Blackpool Central, but haven't been able to find anything about the old South station, before it became a terminus.

Does anyone have any info/pictures of how the area was? Any general info on the area in general before the demise of Central would be interesting too...have to say I am now rather intrigued!

 

[yorksrob]

I don't have any pictures, but I believe it was a triangular station with another island platform next to the existing one, but curving south east to the direct line across the Fylde. Both had decent pl;atform canopies.

 

[W230]

A little info here saying that Blackpool South used to be called Waterloo Road. Not sure when it changed but I assume before Central closed in 1964.

Bit more info about Blackpool South though there seems to be quite a lot on Blackpool Central.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

When this station was built in May 1903, its name was Waterloo Road. It was a four-platform junction station with two platforms each on the original line and on the newly opened express line from Kirkham. The name of the station did not change until March 1932 when it was renamed Blackpool South. There were extensive sidings nearby for the use of excursion train services that were heavily used during the Lancashire cotton town's "wakes weeks" holidays.

 

[sprinterguy]

In the amount of time that it has taken me to compose this post, a few other forum members have beaten me to it, but here goes anyway and apologies if I am duplicating some of the things that have already been said:

The old Blackpool South station, despite being comparatively large with four, long through platforms for handling excursion traffic, will always have paled into insignificance compared to the vast dimensions of Blackpool Central, which is why there probably aren’t nearly as many photos of it when Central was just up the road and more interesting in terms of loco movements. Additionally, Blackpool Central station was handily close to Blackpool Tower to allow for aerial photos: You can find some of these aerial photos looking back down the line towards Blackpool South: The resolution is insufficient for Blackpool South to be visible, but the tract of black trailing out from Central station reveals that there were a lot of railway lines in the area. There was a fan of carriage sidings to house the stock off excursion trains directly across the road (To the north) that the exit from the present Blackpool South station lets out onto (Waterloo Road).

Having said that though, here is an Ebay listing for an aerial photograph of Blackpool South station, which gives an excellent overview of the old layout:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACKPOOL...=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

The station was “Y” shaped, and the line sweeping in from the bottom right came from Kirkham via Marton. Much of the course of this line, starting from Blackpool South, is now a major road - Yeadon Way, leading into the M55. The present Blackpool South line leaves the image centre left. If you look towards the top right you can see the carriage sidings that I have described to the north of Waterloo Road.

To give a sense of scale for the former station, it is worth noting that the westernmost of the two island platforms still exists in its’ entirety: The present platform uses less than a quarter of its’ area, and its’ eastern edge faces onto what is now the car park. You can pick out the profile of the old platform on Google maps. The other, eastern, island for the Kirkham line via Marton was located in what is now the car park, and was demolished I believe in 1985. The ticket office was a long brick structure that was situated across the station at street level, on the bridge that carried Waterloo Road over the railway.

 

[Eire Sprinter]

An interesting book with info and photos (there's at least one of Blackpool South in better days) is "Railways of Blackpool and the Fylde" by M. Bairstow.
ISBN 1-871944-23-6

 

[Cliveblackpool]

I have not found it easy finding photos of South Station etc.
The original station before the Marton line was built was opposite Station Road, but was moved to be after the lines met. (Marton Line is now Yeadon Way & M55)
But recently someone posted some photos on a Blackpool Forum
South Station demolition from John Burke
http://www.liveinblackpool.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4884.0.html

More photos including the original Blackpool North Station which used to be closer to the Town Centre & Prom. Reply 11 & 13 and more interesting photos!
http://www.liveinblackpool.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4654.0.html

Closing Central Station was so short sighted. (Beeching said North to close, but Blackpool Council persuaded BR to close Central)
A railway running through the core of the population & jobs.
Should be reopened. Doubt that will be in my lifetime!
Bring a lot of prosperity to a now depressed area.

 

[yorksrob]

Another beautiful trainshed lost :cry:

I doubt Blackpool North would have been full to capacity today even had it survived.

 

[PR1Berske]

Oh how people who want to get to Preston quickly would like an alternative way to get from South today

We can dream...

BPS Blackpool South
HAW Hawes Side
LTE Little Marton Parkway
GPL Great Plumpton
KKM Kirkham and Wesham....

 

[Cable Car]

Blackpool Central was massive.
Was in it a few times when it became a Bingo Hall.

 

[Buttsy]

Having been up that way a lot as a cousin lives in Ansdell, it has always been a thought to see a change in how the Fylde is served by rail. My steps would be:

1) Re-open Blackpool Central with 4 platforms, 1 at least long enough to take a Pendo;
2) Double Kirkham - Blackpool Central & electrify (Ansdell & Fairhaven has sufficent room coast side to fit an extra running line and platform with disabled access as the other side of the island has a disabled ramp built over it);
3) Re-design Kirkham junction for faster running to coast line;
4) Re-open Poulton-Fleetwood;
5) Divert all Blackpool North services to Blackpool Central;
6) Close Blackpool North-Poulton to national rail & hand over to trams as they used to run to the front/side of North until closure in the 60s (to ensure that Layton & Poulton retain service to Blackpool & hopefully get round closure procedures);
7) Find a suitable spot for up & down loops so that local services can be overtaken (possibly by Royal Lytham);
8) Instigate an hourly Blackpool Central - St Anne's - Lytham - Preston - London service.

This way, people aren't dumped miles away from the centre of town and I would contend that there is room near Blackpool Central to move the bus station there as well if required.

I know the above is unlikely, but the Fylde is one area that you can't blame everything on Beeching...

 

[Lewisham2221]

Having been up that way a lot as a cousin lives in Ansdell, it has always been a thought to see a change in how the Fylde is served by rail. My steps would be:

1) Re-open Blackpool Central with 4 platforms, 1 at least long enough to take a Pendo;
2) Double Kirkham - Blackpool Central & electrify (Ansdell & Fairhaven has sufficent room coast side to fit an extra running line and platform with disabled access as the other side of the island has a disabled ramp built over it);
3) Re-design Kirkham junction for faster running to coast line;
4) Re-open Poulton-Fleetwood;
5) Divert all Blackpool North services to Blackpool Central;
6) Close Blackpool North-Poulton to national rail & hand over to trams as they used to run to the front/side of North until closure in the 60s (to ensure that Layton & Poulton retain service to Blackpool & hopefully get round closure procedures);
7) Find a suitable spot for up & down loops so that local services can be overtaken (possibly by Royal Lytham);
8) Instigate an hourly Blackpool Central - St Anne's - Lytham - Preston - London service.

This way, people aren't dumped miles away from the centre of town and I would contend that there is room near Blackpool Central to move the bus station there as well if required.

I know the above is unlikely, but the Fylde is one area that you can't blame everything on Beeching...

Unless we're talking about two different Blackpool's, a quick check of a map shows the distance between North station and South station to be about 2 miles. So passengers arriving at North are hardly being deposited miles away from the town centre.

 

[Buttsy]

Unless we're talking about two different Blackpool's, a quick check of a map shows the distance between North station and South station to be about 2 miles. So passengers arriving at North are hardly being deposited miles away from the town centre.

Figure of speech. Having walked to North from the centre of town it feels like miles compared to to the tower from town!!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

With regard to the present site of Blackpool North station, which is now further away from the Promenade than was the case with the original large railway station, one can draw a similarity with the present truncated situation at Morecambe, to the large and now-closed MR and LNWR railway stations that once were both situated in more prime situations for this resort.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Having been up that way a lot as a cousin lives in Ansdell, it has always been a thought to see a change in how the Fylde is served by rail. My steps would be:

1) Re-open Blackpool Central with 4 platforms, 1 at least long enough to take a Pendo;
2) Double Kirkham - Blackpool Central & electrify (Ansdell & Fairhaven has sufficent room coast side to fit an extra running line and platform with disabled access as the other side of the island has a disabled ramp built over it);
3) Re-design Kirkham junction for faster running to coast line;
4) Re-open Poulton-Fleetwood;
5) Divert all Blackpool North services to Blackpool Central;
6) Close Blackpool North-Poulton to national rail & hand over to trams as they used to run to the front/side of North until closure in the 60s (to ensure that Layton & Poulton retain service to Blackpool & hopefully get round closure procedures);
7) Find a suitable spot for up & down loops so that local services can be overtaken (possibly by Royal Lytham);
8) Instigate an hourly Blackpool Central - St Anne's - Lytham - Preston - London service.

This way, people aren't dumped miles away from the centre of town and I would contend that there is room near Blackpool Central to move the bus station there as well if required.

I know the above is unlikely, but the Fylde is one area that you can't blame everything on Beeching...

Spot on!
Beeching wanted Central station to be a transport hub.
North station is anything but a transport hub, with just 2 buses an hour - No 16. Several minutes walk to shops, via an underpass. (Not very inviting at night ) and 8 minutes to the Prom, with delays crossing roads.
Central Station was next to the Blackpool Tower, close to Shops & the Prom, handy for the LRT trams and buses.
Central - new stn at Bloomfield Rd BFC - South - Pleasure Beach - Squires Gate - St Annes on Sea - Ansell & Fairhaven - Lytham - Moss Side - Kirkham & Wesham - Preston
A population & employment corridor.
The traffic from South is very much suppressed by only 1tph and often packed 2 coach 142 Pacer.

 

[PR1Berske]

Tram-Train running of Blackpool South - Preston could solve a lot,as could tram and/or tra-train running of Fleetwood-Kirkham.

The site of Blackpool North can't be resolved, unfortunately, so the cards we were dealt in the 1960s have to be used today.

 

[Penmorfa]

Is'nt there a plan to run a new tram line to North station? I noticed a new triangular junction by north pier on my last visit.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Tram-Train running of Blackpool South - Preston could solve a lot,as could tram and/or tra-train running of Fleetwood-Kirkham.

The site of Blackpool North can't be resolved, unfortunately, so the cards we were dealt in the 1960s have to be used today.

If the tram-trains can go 70 mph, and 90 - 100 mph in the future, or they will slow the North mainline down between Kirkham Junc & Preston.

Change at Kirkham?? That would add to the journey time considerably - be quicker by Stagecoach!

 

[lancastrian]

An interesting book with info and photos (there's at least one of Blackpool South in better days) is "Railways of Blackpool and the Fylde" by M. Bairstow.
ISBN 1-871944-23-6

There are also a couple of Foxline Books which will not only give you a lot of pictures of Blackpool South, there is a good track plan from Central to Blackpool South. The books are "Scenes from the Past" Part 3 'Preston to Blackpool Central' and Part 4 'Return from Blackpool Central via St Annes and Lytham.

Both these books are by Stuart Taylor.

 

[Buttsy]

There are also a couple of Foxline Books which will not only give you a lot of pictures of Blackpool South, there is a good track plan from Central to Blackpool South. The books are "Scenes from the Past" Part 3 'Preston to Blackpool Central' and Part 4 'Return from Blackpool Central via St Annes and Lytham.

Both these books are by Stuart Taylor.

You could also try 'The Railways of Blackpool and the Fylde' Volumes 1 and 2 by Barry McLoughlin, published by Silver Link books

 

[lancastrian]

You could also try 'The Railways of Blackpool and the Fylde' Volumes 1 and 2 by Barry McLoughlin, published by Silver Link books

You are right, I bought them this September from Grosmont Book Shop, (I receive no money for this endorsement), both these books are excellent books about the Fylde Area, covering the Garstang & Knott End as well.

 

[PR1Berske]

If the tram-trains can go 70 mph, and 90 - 100 mph in the future, or they will slow the North mainline down between Kirkham Junc & Preston.

Change at Kirkham?? That would add to the journey time considerably - be quicker by Stagecoach!

Fair point, well made.

 

[Squaddie]

Closing Blackpool Central was an inexplicable decision, leaving the town with two inconveniently-located terminus stations (and, possibly, contributing to its sad and seemingly unstoppable decline). I think I once read that Blackpool Central was the largest station ever to be closed in the UK - can that be true? (Bigger than Glasgow St. Enoch?)

I remember Blackpool South in the mid-70s, when its platforms and station buildings were still intact, albeit hardly used. I seem to recall that there was a permanent exhibition model railway on one of the disused platforms.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I believe Blackpool Central was the largest by number of platforms to close (14 I think). Second was Nottingham Victoria (13).

 

[Cliveblackpool]

There have in recent years been many schemes / plans/ alterations regarding the South Fylde Railway.
Knock down Lytham Road skew bridge and move the station South to a point near Station Road or Pleasure Beach. This would save rebuilding the brige at several million, and make a road joining Station Road to Yeadon way and release a quantity of land.
The cost of moving fibre optic cables etc has made demolition not a cheap option.

Replace the trains with trams as far as Lytham.

As PR1Berske mentioned - Convert the railway to trams (and making a transport hub at Kirkham)
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse...responses/s/sintropher - consultation d2f.pdf

Blackpool Council are grant hunters! We will get schemes where the biggest pot of money lies, be it industrial, leisure, university which dried up so switched to housing (Rigby Road)!!

Converting the South Line to trams seems pointless imo, lowering platforms, etc etc. A passing loop is urgently required (£5m), and eventually double track most of the way.
I would like to see the South Line extended to Bloomfield Road, close to BFC.
A prevision to preserve a route to a 4 platform Central Station.
An alternative would be run trams which would cross the prom by Coral Island, and follow the disused rail route/ Seasiders Way, and terminate at South Station.
Pontins site next to Squires Gate Station (destined for housing) should become Park & Ride, and possibly extend to tramway to that site along the road from Star Gate. A transport Hub for St Annes area.

Tramway to North Station? I expect it will be extremely expensive to move all the services in the streets.
At present no buses serve this route!!! The No 5/11 could be altered to do so, but they haven't.

 

[snail]

Closing Blackpool Central was an inexplicable decision, leaving the town with two inconveniently-located terminus stations (and, possibly, contributing to its sad and seemingly unstoppable decline).

It's a 10 minute walk from North to Central. Do you really think that has stopped people travelling to Blackpool? It was the decline in excursion services that contributed to Central's closure. The direct link to the motorway encourages people to drive, they are the ones more likely to be put off by out-of-centre parking.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

It's a 10 minute walk from North to Central. Do you really think that has stopped people travelling to Blackpool? It was the decline in excursion services that contributed to Central's closure. The direct link to the motorway encourages people to drive, they are the ones more likely to be put off by out-of-centre parking.

The Town Centre area itself has not been affected by the closure of Central Station.
Imo passenger numbers from Blackpool have been affected. A town with a low car ownership.
Access to, and parking at North station is not good.
Public transport to North Station is poor. Best method is Taxi.
Bloomfield and South Shore has landed up with a very poor rail service. This has disadvantaged tourism and poor access to rail in this corridor.
Imagine the main station at Central, running to South Station, with sidings converted to huge car parking, Pleasure Beach, Gov. offices etc at Lytham St Annes, and on to Preston Manchester etc.
Stagecoach No 68 bus running every 20 minutes on this route.
North Station? Close it, the Council can play trams on it!
Create a transport hub at Central as Dr Beeching suggested.

 

[Tiny Tim]

Closing Blackpool Central was an inexplicable decision, leaving the town with two inconveniently-located terminus stations.

Quite. Does anyone know what the reasoning was for this decision? It seems perverse to close the most central and convenient station. And who made the decision? Surely the downsizing of South and Central would have sufficed? And if one station had to go, why not South?

 

[PR1Berske]

Quite. Does anyone know what the reasoning was for this decision? It seems perverse to close the most central and convenient station. And who made the decision? Surely the downsizing of South and Central would have sufficed? And if one station had to go, why not South?

The logic of the 1960s.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

IIRC the local council wanted the land for other development (which never properly materialised), so asked for Central to close in lieu of North - Beeching recommended North close and Central remain.