Abandoned Railways Poulton to Fleetwood 2020. Preston and Wyre Railway.

Following the full length of the route from Poulton to Fleetwood passing thru Thornton, Cleveleys, Burn Naze and Wyre Dock stations. Network Rail abandoned this line in the late 1990s leaving all the infrastructure still in situ it proved to be a fascinating trip as i witnessed mother nature fighting against the local preservation society (PWRS) who were determined to keep the line clear.
Filmed by Allan Roach.
A brief history
The Preston and Wyre Railway was promoted to open up agricultural land in the Fylde in Lancashire, access a new port at what became Fleetwood and the Lancaster Canal at Preston: it opened in 1840. Passenger business was more buoyant than expected, and the company built branch lines to the nascent resort of Blackpool and Lytham.
The line ran from a terminus at Dock Street on the southern part of the promontory that forms Fleetwood. It continued south in a straight line for two miles across tidal marshes known as Cold Dubbs where it was to be carried on embankment. The intention was to reclaim the marshes which would be contained by the embankment but engineering difficulties were encountered during construction and several sections of timber trestle viaduct were substituted.The line continued to Poulton, Kirkham and Preston. The singe line railway opened on 15 July 1840 for a special train and on 16 July to the public.
Traffic exceeded expectations: 20,000 passengers were carried in the first month, and in the six summer months of 1841 the total was 108,000. The Fleetwood line carried traffic from London to Scotland as there was no through railway line. Trains to Fleetwood to and a steamer to Ardrossan and train for the onward journey took about 27 hours. The route ceased to be significant in 1848 with the opening of the Caledonian Railway, providing a through railway route.
In 1844 seaside excursions were run to Fleetwood from Manchester and it became apparent that the emerging resort of Blackpool was an attraction. Hoteliers arranged road connections to their town from Poulton. The Preston and Wyre Railway decided to build a branch to Blackpool from Poulton. The Preston & Wyre Railway was leased by the M&LR from 3 August 1846. The M&LR was renamed the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway the following year. The London and North Western Railway, that operated of the main line at Preston was then included in the leasing relationship, and by Act of 28 July 1849, the Preston and Wyre Railway was vested in the two railways, a two-thirds share in the L&YR and one third in the LNWR.
The main line was doubled as far as Burn Naze by 10 August 1846. The embankment between Burn Naze and Fleetwood was to be retained as the up line and a single line, some distance from the original, following a two-mile deviation around the shore was built as the down line opening on 13 January 1851. Problems with the embankment and timber trestle sections caused the original line's abandonment at the same time. The deviation line was a single line that ran to Dock Street in Fleetwood, but entered the station from the south-west. A goods depot was built beyond the passenger station. The deviation was doubled in 1875. The Blackpool branch was doubled by an Act of 26 May 1865, paid for by the companies in proportion. Fleetwood Dock was authorised at the outset, but work only started in 1869 and was soon stopped, the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway took over construction and it opened in 1878. The short branch to Wyre Dock was L&YR property.
The L&YR and the LNWR had powers to operate steamer services to Belfast, Londonderry and the Isle of Man and operated through boat trains. On 15 July 1883 a new station opened on the quay at Fleetwood for transfer from boat trains to the steamers, and traffic developed greatly. The old station was closed as the new station better served the promenade for passengers not transferring to the steamers. Some fishing vessels used Fleetwood from 1860, but in 1892 a trawler fishing fleet was established by a Grimsby firm and the town became the largest fishing port on the west coast and the third largest in Britain, with heavy fish traffic sent by rail.
On 1 May 1901 The first L&YR club corridor and dining car express was introduced between Fleetwood and Leeds via Manchester, connecting with the Belfast steamer. Belfast steamer sailings from Fleetwood continued until the improvement of the Heysham service in 1928. The summer service to Douglas, Isle of Man lasted until 1961, when heavy repairs were required to the quay and the expense could not be justified. Fleetwood terminus and the line from Wyre Dock were closed on 18 April 1966. The former Wyre Dock station was renamed Fleetwood, but the passenger service between here and Poulton ceased on 1 June 1970. The line remained open to chemical works at Burn Naze, but beyond that, Fleetwood and the docks were no longer rail-served. The entire branch from Poulton closed in 1992.

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

My grandfather was a L&YR steam train driver who moved to Fleetwood many years ago. As a child, I rode the line a number of times.The line was originally dual track all the way from Poulton to the Fleetwood terminus which was an imposing building. The sidings alongside the Jubilee Quay used to be full of maroon LMS carriage stock before Wyre Dock became the terminus. We even fished a few times in the engine shed ressie, affectionately known as the 'pudding basin'! Thornton station was also quite imposing in it's pomp. Both platforms had wrought iron canopies and the platform to Fleetwood even had a small siding behind it. Access between platforms was via a fully covered and closed in foot bridge with windows just too high for kids to see through. A signal box stood at the end of the platform to Poulton with old style crossing gates that used to clatter on the locking blocks. The station is a shadow of its former self. The PWR did a lot of work to tidy up the platforms but I guess as they get older and number dwindles, they cannot keep up because it looks a bit unkept now.

[@mikearmour007]

Excellent video and loved the sequence at the end. Thanks for letting me know about your channel (we met on Culcheth Linear Park this morning 😁)

[@richardjellis9186]

What a GREAT thing they did, by electrifying the line to the seaside. It shows that the sector is serious about connecting places like Blackpool to London, using InterCity type trains, rather than it just being a shuttle service between Preston and the coast. 😁😁😁😁😁. LOVE THE VIDEOS🥰. KEEP 'em COMING🥰🥰. RICH (UK) 🥰🥰🥰.

[@richardjellis9186]

I LOVE the fact that they've never closed, or demolished the station at Poulton. LOVE THE CLOCK.!❤️!. It looks GREAT.!❤️!.

[@lynnthrop7544]

One of many unforseen pieces of history within our areas of the North West. :-)

[@croesoycymru]

Hugely enjoyable day 'out' in this what will undoubtedly be remembered 'lockdown' year. Thank you for posting Allan, terrific effort!

[@matthewmiller8048]

Superb that. The Longridge branch is a fascinating one also. Remember trains going to Deepdale coal terminal in the early 90s

[@christinaburton9297]

I must cycle these tracks ! What a treat thank you!

[@staffordshireparanormal]

Great video, well done for battling through the tough areas & great detail in your descriptions it makes me want to get out on the old railways again with my nephew.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Another great video! Love the Driver's Eye View at the end!

[@craiglogistics2092]

Great Vlog Allan, I look forward to the day it reopens to traffic (lots to be done), I usually take my pair of secateurs with me when I walk an old line

[@barrytipton1179]

Craig Logistics take a goat as well

[@oddities-whatnot]

I lived in a rural part of the Fylde near the lines when they did the electrification works. What a nightmare. Constant noise through the night for about two months on the section near me. The one bonus is I saw some interesting trains for maintenance work and those bringing stone etc which ordinarily you wouldn’t see on that line.

[@stewartlancaster6155]

Pity they cannot electrify an entire line in total silence !

[@Northernlad_uk]

Used to walk home from school every day down that line from Poulton to Thornton...There were freight trains running from ICI then so often had to jump for cover.

[@thomaslynas721]

Very interesting. I remember the Fleetwood and Heysham ferries from Belfast. What a pity so much has been kost considering the amount of work and the lives spent and lost in the construction of these routes

[@lynnthrop7544]

So much unseen pieces of history superbly captured:-)

[@anthonysunderland9565]

Excellent video very informative Thank You, I frequently visit Fleetwood and now will explore more and you got a new subscriber

[@michaellupton437]

Wonderful video. My grandfather was the Station Master's Clerk at Fwd retiring just before the knocking down of the main station - a terrible loss to the town. I believe the electrification / new alignment @ Poulton does not allow for points to connect the Fwd line (these were in place before electrification). Great footage at the end.

[@MrGarymcadam]

Not necessarily - there are no masts directly in the way of reinstating the junction if (or hopefully when) it gets reopened. NR did provide passive provision for the route when they wired the Blackpool line.

[@michaellupton437]

@@MrGarymcadam Hi Gary, I'm talking about the alignment of the track (to Blackpool) not the Electrical Stanchions.

[@dizzydevil547]

great blog yet again! ...being a norther lad from Ashton Under Lyne originaly , I spent many a happy holiday as a kid in the 70s and 80s in Blackpool and surounding areas as couldn't afford to go abroad! I remember spending many a holiday at Cala Gran caravan park ( which is where the buffer stop and the track has been lifted on the left in the vid) back then and remember ICI Thornton looming large in the area and the view from cala gran! ...makes me laugh now when i think of it ..i mean who BUT northern folks would have the nerve and fortitude to take a holiday to blackpool / fylde coast in the shadow of a bloody chemical plant! PMSL! ..but i wouldn't change those days and memories ! xx ALSO when you were saying about the original line before the curve was put in ...if you have a look on google maps in sure you can still see some of that original line (trackless obv) running straight on to fleetwood in still existing embankments ect ..but i may be wrong ...have a look and see what you think Allan! just an obvservation from google maps as i said i may be wrong but the bit i have zoomed in on the link looks suspicously like a start of a bridge or sandbank ect to go across that marsh / sanbank area! let me know if you think my suspisions are correct! xx www.google.com/maps/place/Thornton,+Thornton-Cleveleys+FY5+5BU/@53.8984991,-3.007727,118a,35y,39.57t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x487b432afd419303:0x260cf99ff4a41062!8m2!3d53.870523!4d-3.003202

[@Mitch-Hendren]

Definitely you're onto something there its just too straight to be anything else. Love Google earth for following old railways .

[@barrythedieselelectricstea5217]

excellent video👍 nice to see most of the line remains and some disappeared😟 loved to see it run again love the footage at the end how it use to be 😀

[@pook2830]

Nice photos after 30 mins or so. People rarely talk about that part of the railway.

[@levelcrossing150]

A very enjoyable video and what a lovely surprise at the end with the old footage.

[@majorpygge-phartt2643]

Someone in authority should get local anti-social teenage yobs to clear that vegetation on that line as a punishment.

[@barrytipton1179]

I watched it all the way through very good keep up the good work

[@oscarwylder]

Top video as usual finished with a great cabb ride :)

[@d_r_watson]

Great video, I really enjoyed watching it. Hopefully there will be trains or trams on it again in the future

[@chrisevans73]

Highly unlikely because the connection to poluton me fylde was cut off when the electric works where done they also have 3 rail crossings to think off and Network rail don't own the line anymore belongs to PWRS I believe and they aren't doing much with it

[@majorpygge-phartt2643]

This line has been used for testing track maintenance machines, but I don't know how they got on to the line and off again with all that vegetation in the way, unless it was before it grew, or else they must be using low loaders to take the machines there and back.

[@lew832]

That was excellent. Thank you.

[@jackharrison6771]

Apart from 8 or 9 other boxes and leveI crossings in the Fylde area, remember working Poulton No 3 signal box on Saturday nights during the illuminations season. Sometimes drivers of long specials unfamiliar with the curve would hit the brakes, and look like shotton steel works; with the sparks. I worked those boxes between 1978-88, and it was a great time for interesting locos and movements.

[@johnlaw3323]

Great vlog thanks a lot for making this lets hope it comes back.

[@5tanne5on5ea]

My Aunty who lived in Poulton told me the Royal Train had been stabled on the spur on a visit of the Queen to Blackpool in the 60's

[@pook2830]

30:50 The tack was lifted to under fill the bridge on Jameson Road to strengthen it for traffic to the refuse centre.

[@mickd6942]

Excellent videos

[@thelmaviaduct]

15:47 is fluon, back of the stills, high boilers and control gallery.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

Great video, but with so much industrial usage what the hell went wrong? Surprised it’s not still in use today. I did this line on a railtour in 1999 and it was a tad overgrown then!

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

Trains to Fleetwood used to bring passengers for the IoM ferry but when that stopped in the very early 60's, passenger numbers dropped. Fleetwood also used to send fish trains around the country every day. But then it became cheaper to send it by road which resulted in even less rail traffic. Then the Fleetwood power station closed so there was no need for regular coal trains. ICI was eventually sold and chemical prodction switched elsewhere. Once all that happened, there was no use for the rail so it was in a state of disue not fully closed. Network rail had wanted to lift Poulton Junction for years. Eventually the preservation society sold out to them in exchange for licenced ownership of the line. The junction was lifted and in my opinion, will never be re instated.

[@jaxonturner3590]

Fantastic video mate

[@andrewmatley7688]

awsum mate loved it.

[@YouChwb]

Thank you for that very informative vid Allen. Those caravans on the left from that train shot, is that the Cala Gran?

[@69waveydavey]

yes, the first lot is before the bridge, after the bridge that's the other one broadwater park.

[@richardjellis9186]

Hi there Mr Man'c. Quick question... Can you tell if the 'filled in' bridge where those GREAT GUYS have their hut, and the track ends, could simply be dug out.? Or has the actual bridge been destroyed under the roadway.? And... Can you remember if the track is actually severed at this point, or does it go straight through the bridge to appear at the other side in one continuous piece.? I watched Gordon's (nodrog's) video on this stretch of line, and although I don't live near(I'm up in Kendal), I LOVE the history of this 'one time' MAIN LINE TO THE NORTH. It's amazing to think, how before there was the section built between Preston and Lancaster, and the line further north, that this little length of track that has sadly been forgotten, was the ACTUAL MAIN LINE to 'bonnie' Scotland, via the steam boats leaving the docks at Fleetwood and sailing to, I guess, places like Stranraer, and port Glasgow etc. I hate the fact that, something that had once been SOOOOOO important, had sooooo un-caringly been scrapped, with no fanfare, retirement 'dooo' or 'blue' plaque🤣, showing any recognition of its once important role. Then in the end, closed with no sympathy by someone who probably never gave this fact a second thought. It's really sad😭.! BUT... There is now a glimmer of hope. A rag-tag bunch of fellow rail lovers have sweated and been cut to bits by the local flora, in an attempt to show that this line IS needed, and, IS important, and by clearing this stretch of line, are showing the powers that be that re-opening the line is worth serious consideration, and I REALLY HOPE they have their wishes granted. LOVE THE VIDEOS🥰. KEEP 'em COMING🥰🥰. RICH 🥰🥰🥰.

[@onemanc]

Hi Rich the bridge is in tact, apparently it was infilled with some kind of foam due to structural issues, the preservation group insisted it remained viable for future recovery, thx for your comments

[@pook2830]

Nice video... I enjoyed that :)

[@mickd6942]

Those boards weren’t crossing markers , looked more like fixed distant signals where as there’s no reason for the signal to show clear it has been replaced with a board showing a distant signal at caution.

[@69waveydavey]

How serious the people in authority are i don't know, when they electrified they didn't think about putting points in. and after boris's promises they are still building on the track bed. They've just built some new industrial units where the track could go but it doesn't matter cos they put a pub there aswell about 5 years ago.

[@davidumpleby9955]

The junction was full relaid with new track and all was looking well. Then the electrification happened and it was ripped up. So as far as I know not a single train went over the junction!

[@andrewmarch7891]

Please move the camera more slowly as it is it tends to make one dizzy.

[@neilbaldwin592]

I thought that efforts were been made to reopen this section.

[@chrisevans73]

Been saying that for ten years it'll never get done network rail don't wanna give it up

[@MrBook123456]

well made video

[@richardjellis9186]

😲😲😲YOU REALLY NEED TO PUT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE ACTUAL FOOTAGE... IN YOUR THUMBNAIL😲😲😲. YOU'D GET FAR MORE VIEWS IM CERTAIN. LOVE THE VIDEO🥰. KEEP 'em COMING🥰🥰. RICH 🥰🥰🥰.

[@pook2830]

28:56.. it's ALL the "preservation" line. There's just a small section of track lifted at this point. It's actually all still there just dumped at the side.

[@shahedmc9656]

I remember Highways Agency building their trunk road over part of the trackbed to Fleetwood during the 90s. There was some opposition at the time. How will the Preservation Society rebuild the line to Fleetwood? Will it take up part of the roadspace?

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

There is still a narrow corridor of land wide enough for a single track alongside the road they could use if the line was ever reinstated. Despite the feasibility reports (there have been 2) I dont think the line will ever be reinstated. They have built a pub plus some recent warehouses to be built right where the line would need to go to get close to the old freeport shopping centre.

[@shahedmc9656]

@@1701_FyldeFlyer thanks for the info. Really hope they overcome all obstacles on way to a reopening.

[@sjaakmcd1804]

All the lines from Preston round to Fleetwood were joint L & Y and LNWR not L & Y. Great video though, cheers.

[@richardjellis9186]

How idiotic and short sighted these planners or designers have been, putting one of the uprights for the electrical system, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of what 'could', one day, be the junction again.!🤬!. I mean... There's PLENTY of room for it. Why the HELL would you go and put it there.? It's as if it's been done on purpose.!🧐🤬!. LOVE THE VIDEOS🥰. KEEP 'em COMING🥰🥰. RICH 🥰🥰🥰.

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

Network Rail know the junction will never be re instated. The PWR should never have agreed to the junction being lifted.

[@anneian1]

At 10-11 he says its a "Bod" box for the P way but it looks like a Location Cabinet for the Signalling Engineers....

[@itsonlyme9938]

The fish train from Fleetwood called in at Manchester Victoria and had its own unloading bay.

[@gramps6718]

I enjoyed that

[@stephenharper9961]

My guessing why the link is missing is because the preservation group maybe relaying it

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

They'll never get it reinstated. Other presevartion societies have had short sections of track laid so they can run something on. The PWR have not done this and are no closer to doing so 15 years later.

[@angelsone-five7912]

Now and then....wot a contrast!

[@600joe]

Thanks for hacking through. Your other British railway explorers give up when the route gets bad. Plus they don’t narrate.

[@lynnthrop7544]

Excellent captures:-) x

[@ThatCoalSoul]

Steady on ...the Whitewicks own waders!

[@pook2830]

17:30 That section is often used by Hargreaves to test road rail equipment. Nothing to do with signal engineers.

[@chrisevans73]

Sadly i don't think this will ever reopen be nice to see it happen. But can't see it happening

[@pook2830]

16:42 It's just stuff Hargreaves has left on the line, as they use that section to test road/rail equipment.

[@MM0IMC]

Fleetwood Docks, containerisation probably killed it as a port.

[@toxictony4230]

On the contrary. The RORO kept the port operational when fishing declined. The problem was that the link to the motorway was very poor for the amount of traffic on it and the port authority got greedy and charged too much to dredge the river. P&O refused to pay and up sticks and moved to Hesham even though that port can only operate at high water.

[@bayans344]

Welcome to an all automobile and de-industrialized world.

[@ThatCoalSoul]

33:26 Do you mean tramway? Like what was in Weymouth.

[@onemanc]

No it was a track, the bypass was built in the late 70s taking advantage of the straight railway alignment.

[@Rylee.Barnard]

It’s re opening 😊

[@chrisevans73]

What's your source? It's still nowhere near i don't think it'll ever reopen

[@Rylee.Barnard]

@@chrisevans73boris j pledged to reopen it and there is information on lancs county council page

[@chrisevans73]

@@Rylee.Barnard boris johnosn is no longer prime minister

[@richardjellis9186]

VERY DISAPPOINTED that 'they' didn't leave a set of points in at the junction with the main Blackpool line.!🤬!. It wouldn't have cost all that much to do, and would OBVIOUSLY make any future plans to re-open the line to Fleetwood FAR easier. The organisations, that over the years, have been in charge of keeping our network up and running, have had a MASSIVE detrimental impact on future-proofing it. I don't know how many pieces of track and sets of points (like we have here) across the network, COULD HAVE either of being LEFT in place and cut off at a point where it could easily be re-connected and new track be re-laid to the closed or brand new stations, or the WHOLE line mothballed, ready for the day when it becomes viable again. Surely in a lot of cases 'they' could have seen that certain places had more than just potential for new housing to be built in these areas. I mean.. where I live(Kendal), is in a small valley and over the years, new builds have gone up in places where they were OBVIOUSLY going to. There was nowhere else to put new housing. If it was going to be built, it HAD TO BE in 'these' places. And, if I was a town planner, or in a position where 'I' decided if an old, disused section of easily re-connectable line was going to be abandoned, permanently DIS-connected, severed, and built on, or left clear whether disconnected or not, because I KNEW that ONE DAY some people living in brand new housing, along the old route, would NEED a train ride to work and back. Now I understand that not EVERYWHERE would be as obvious as the situation in Kendal, but, there MUST HAVE BEEN some REALLY OBVIOUS stretches of track that used to go to outlying towns and villages, which are now suburbs, that were closed and permanently severed, where it was totally obvious that ONE DAY there would come a time where this old, unprofitable stretch of line would again be an important asset and a money maker, connecting these new homeowners, to work and play. We humans, are terrible at looking forward to see what OTHER PEOPLE may need in the future. We want things to work for us NOW. We want to make money NOW. We don't want to spend money NOW that will benefit someone who we don't know in years to come. We are naturally selfish (in varying degrees🤣), which is NOT conducive to making SOMEONE ELSE'S life, or, another businesses task, easier in the future. We NEED to learn quickly that WE are NOT the be all and end all.!🧐!. LOVE THE VIDEOS🥰. KEEP 'em COMING🥰🥰. RICH 🥰🥰🥰.

[@simonrelf1671]

there were two ground frames

[@pook2830]

23:00 Correct... it did go straight on. I'm not sure waves woudl have been lapping at the loco though :) i.imgur.com/KqxRX2l.jpg