
Sankey Bridges station viewed from the footplate of a freight
working.
1968.
Photo by Les Fifoot.

A light engine Class 25 is seen passing the platforms of Sankey Bridges station. The platform nearest the loco would be swept away during engineering works to relay the track.
22nd May 1971.
Photo by J M Tolson.
Reproduced with kind permission from Sankey Canal Restoration Society.
To view the societies very interesting site click here

The remaining eastbound platform at Sankey Bridges.
22nd March 2006.
Photo by Terry Callaghan.

Platform fencing in situ over 50 years since closure.
22nd March 2006.
Photo by Terry Callaghan.

66095 brings up the rear of the Ferry Go Round tour heading towards Fiddlers Ferry Power Station for a tour around the loop. A write up of the tour can be seen in the Events special feature page.
20th October 2012.
Photo by Robert Callaghan.
Whitecross.
This was to be the temporary terminus of the line and opened on 1st February 1853 due to engineering works associated with the rebuilding of Warrington Bank Quay (LNWR) taking longer than expected. The rebuilding involved the station being raised on an embankment to allow the low level line to pass beneath it. The station closed on 1st May 1854 when the final section opened through to the joint terminus at Arpley. Today no trace remains as the sprawling Lever Brothers works occupies the site.

The temporary terminus would have been in the area of the Lever
Brothers plant.
22nd July 2012.
Photo by Terry Callaghan.
Warrington Bank Quay Low Level.
Opened by the LNWR on 16th November 1868 as an interchange station with the West Coast Main Line. The possibility of changing between local and main line services made this a busy station. It was a short sighted move therefore to withdraw the intermediate stopping points in the 1950's as people could not change from local services to the main line ones and vice versa.The passenger service was withdrawn on 10th September 1962. The station though did not close but it was used by one service per week, The Night Mail Sundays only. This service was rerouted in 1963 as the cost of opening all signal boxes along the line for one single train was deemed prohibitive. So the station finally closed on 10th September 1963. Today no trace remains of the station.

A great over view of Warrington Bank Quay Low Level. The LNWR station can be seen in the background before rebuilding.
1950's.
Photo by Harry Arnold MBE/Waterway Images.
View more of Harry's Waterway Images here
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Ivatt Class 2 41213 from Dallam shed at Warrington Bank Quay Low Level departing with a train for Manchester Oxford Road.
May 1961.
Photo by Harry Arnold M.B.E./Waterway Images.
View more of Harry's Waterway Images here

A train for Ditton junction prepares to depart from Warrington Bank Quay Low Level in the summer of 1961. The train was being propelled by an Ivatt Class 2MT number 41288 which was fitted for push pull operation. The loco was withdrawn from Dallam shed in October 1962, shortly after passenger services along the line ceased.
1960's.
Photographer unknown.
From the Les Fifoot collection.
Warrington Arpley.
The impressive terminus was opened on 1st May 1854 and was a well used centrally located station. The station was not favoured by the LNWR and was closed on 16th November 1868 with the company feeling that passengers should use the nearby Low Level station. Local residents disagreed and mounted a legal challenge and the LNWR was forced to reopen the station. The station was to enjoy a long life and finally closed to passengers on 15th September 1958 and to goods on 14th June 1965. The large station building has since been demolished and no trace remains on the site today.

The impressive building that was Warrington Arpley station at this point the station was closed for passengers but still open for goods.
11th January 1959.
Photo by Peter Norton.
Reproduced with permission from David Long.
To see more of David's pictures please click here