Lancaster Green Ayre railway station

Former station in Lancashire, England

Lancaster Green Ayre

Old goods crane on the station site (2005)

General information
Location| Lancaster, City of Lancaster
England
Coordinates| 54°03′09″N 2°47′50″W﻿ / ﻿54.0526°N 2.7973°W﻿ / 54.0526; -2.7973
Other information
Status| Disused
History
Original company| Morecambe Harbour and Railway
Pre-grouping| Midland Railway
Post-grouping| London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
12 June 1848| Opened as Lancaster
1 June 1850| Incorrectly listed as Lancaster Green Area
1 November 1870| Listed as Lancaster Green Ayre
3 January 1966| Closed
1976| Demolished

Location

Lancaster Green Ayre

Location in Lancaster city centre

Show map of Lancaster city centre

Lancaster Green Ayre

Location in Lancaster

Show map of Lancaster

Lancaster Green Ayre

Location in the present-day City of Lancaster district

Show map of the City of Lancaster district

Lancaster Green Ayre

Location in present-day Lancashire

Show map of Lancashire

Lancaster Green Ayre railway station was the Midland Railway's station in the city of Lancaster in England. The line between Green Ayre and Morecambe was used for pioneering experimental electrification via overhead wires.

The station closed to passengers in 1966 and there are no remains.

## History

[edit]

Lancaster's first two stations were the Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway's at Greaves in 1840,[1] and the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway's Lancaster Castle which superseded it in 1846.[2]

The third station was opened by the Morecambe Harbour and Railway Company (MH&R) on 12 June 1848.[2][3] The station building was designed by Edmund Sharpe.[4][5] Originally called Lancaster,[6] it was soon renamed Lancaster Green Ayre, although timetables incorrectly listed its name as Lancaster Green Area until 1870.[3] The line originally ran from Lancaster to Morecambe Harbour. The MH&R soon amalgamated with the "little" North Western Railway, which continued the line eastward from 17 November 1849, reaching Skipton in 1850.[2] A connecting curve between Green Ayre and Castle opened on 18 December 1849.[2][3]

The station was on the southern bank of the River Lune, adjacent to Skerton Bridge and immediately to the north of the city centre. Immediately west of the station was the junction between the connecting curve to Castle and Green Ayre's engine shed and the main line, which then crossed the river via Greyhound Bridge and continued along the north bank of the river, passing under the Lancaster and Carlisle's Carlisle Bridge over the river. East of Green Ayre the line followed the south bank of the river.

### Take-over by the Midland Railway

[edit]

Railways around Lancaster and Morecambe in 1913

The "little" North Western Railway was taken over in 1874 by the Midland Railway, which had previously operated, then leased the line,[7] and became a significant route for that company, giving access from its Yorkshire lines to the Lancashire coast in an area dominated by its major rival, the London and North Western Railway.

The Lancaster-Morecambe line was electrified in 1908. This was the first high-voltage overhead electrification in the United Kingdom and was at 6,600 volts AC 25 Hz; it was the pioneer for such systems. It was intended to be a test bed for further mainline electrification by the Midland Railway. In 1952 the original rolling stock was life expired and was withdrawn. Steam traction took over for a short while and then the power supply was upgraded to 50 Hz and some new stock provided; this was to act as a test-bed for further main-line electrification in the UK.[8] This section of line became particularly busy.

### Run down

[edit]

The line between Wennington and Morecambe via Green Ayre fell victim to the Beeching Axe. It closed to passengers on 2 January 1966,[2][8][9] although the line through the station continued to be used for freight until 16 March 1976.[2] The station was demolished that year.[10]

The Greyhound Bridge was converted for use by the A589 road from 1972.[10][11] The site of Green Ayre station is now a public park. Nothing remains of the station,[12] but a goods crane from Hornby goods shed has been erected in the park near the site.[10][13] The site of the adjacent locomotive shed is now occupied by a supermarket.

## See also

[edit]

* Lancashire portal

* List of architectural works by Edmund Sharpe

## References

[edit]

Citations

Maps showing
Lancaster Green Ayre Station

NPE Maps (1948)
Vision of Britain
OS 1:2500 Map on MARIO (about 1893)
Other maps

54°03′09″N 2°47′50″W﻿ / ﻿54.0526°N 2.7973°W﻿ / 54.0526; -2.7973

1. ^ Vinter, p. 127
2. ^ a b c d e f Bairstow, p. 96
3. ^ a b c Vinter, p. 129
4. ^ Price, p. 90
5. ^ Hartwell and Pevsner, p. 386
6. ^ Dewick, p. 24
7. ^ Awdry, pp. 97-98
8. ^ a b Vinter, p. 131
9. ^ Suggitt, p. 16
10. ^ a b c Vinter, p. 132
11. ^ Suggitt, p. 23
12. ^ Vinter, p. 138
13. ^ Suggitt, p. 19

Sources

* Awdry, C. (1990), Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies, Patrick Stephens Ltd, Wellingborough, ISBN 1-85260-049-7.
* Bairstow, M. (2000), The "Little" North Western Railway, Martin Bairstow, Leeds, ISBN 1-871944-21-X.
* Butt, R. V. J. (October 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. OL 11956311M.
* Dewick, T. (2002), Complete Atlas of Railway Station Names, Ian Allan Publishing, Hersham, ISBN 0-7110-2798-6.
* Hartwell, Clare; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2009) [1969]. The Buildings of England. Lancashire: North. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-12667-9.
* Price, James (1998). Sharpe, Paley and Austin: A Lancaster Architectural Practice 1836–1942. Lancaster: Centre for North-West Regional Studies. ISBN 1-86220-054-8.
* Suggitt, G. (2004 reprint), Lost Railways of Lancashire, Countryside Books, Newbury, ISBN 1-85306-801-2.
* Vinter, J. (1990), Railway Walks: LMS, Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd, Stroud, ISBN 0-86299-735-6

Preceding station  |  | Disused railways  |  | Following station

|
|
|
|

Halton |  | Midland Railway
"Little" North Western Railway |  | Morecambe (Northumberland Street)
until 1907
| Midland Railway
North Western Branch |  | Morecambe Promenade
1907-1957
| London Midland Region
North Western Branch |  | Scale Hall
from 1957
Halton |  | Midland Railway
"Little" North Western Railway
Castle Branch |  | Lancaster Castle

* v
* t
* e

Closed railway stations in Lancashire

Ribble Valley line|

* Turton and Edgworth
* Spring Vale
* Goosehouse
* Lower Darwen
* Blackburn Bolton Road
* Daisyfield
* Wilpshire
* Chatburn
* Rimington
* Gisburn
* Newsholme

Lancashire Union Railway|

* Feniscowles
* Withnell
* Brinscall
* Heapey
* White Bear

Blackpool branch lines|

* Blackpool Central
* South Shore
* Gillett's Crossing Halt
* Lytham (Station Road)
* Wrea Green
* Fleetwood
* Wyre Dock
* Burn Naze Halt
* Thornton–Cleveleys
* Ramper Road
* Poulton Curve Halt
* Singleton
* Lea Road
* Maudlands

Copy Pit line|

* Holme
* Towneley

East Lancashire line|

* Bott Lane Halt
* Reedley Hallows Halt
* New Hall Bridge Halt
* Padiham
* Simonstone
* Great Harwood
* Helmshore
* Grane Road
* Haslingden
* Baxenden
* Hoghton Tower
* Hoghton
* Todd Lane Junction

Rawtenstall to Bacup Line|

* Bacup
* Stacksteads
* Waterfoot
* Clough Fold
* Ewood Bridge and Edenfield
* Stubbins

Rochdale–Bacup line|

* Bacup
* Britannia
* Shawforth
* Facit
* Whitworth

Furness & Midland Railway|

* Melling
* Arkholme for Kirkby Lonsdale
* Borwick

Glasson Dock branch|

* Ashton Hall
* Conder Green
* Glasson Dock

Lancaster & Preston Railway|

* Lancaster (1840–49)
* Galgate
* Bay Horse
* Scorton
* Garstang and Catterall
* Brock
* Roebuck
* Barton and Broughton
* Oxheys
* Maxwell House

Garstang & Knot-End Railway|

* Knott End-on-Sea
* Preesall
* Carr Lane Halt
* Pilling
* Garstang Road Halt
* Cockerham Cross Halt
* Cogie Hill Halt
* Nateby
* Garstang Town
* Garstang and Catterall

Preston & Longridge Railway|

* Maudland Bridge
* Deepdale
* Deepdale Street
* Ribbleton
* Grimsargh
* Whittingham Hospital
* Longridge

"Little" North Western Railway|

* Middleton Road Bridge Halt
* Morecambe Harbour
* Morecambe Promenade
* Morecambe (Northumberland Street)
* Scale Hall
* Lancaster Green Ayre
* Halton
* Caton
* Claughton
* Hornby
* Wray

Lancaster & Carlisle Railway|

* Bolton-le-Sands
* Hest Bank
* Morecambe Poulton Lane
* Morecambe Euston Road
* Kirkby Lonsdale

Leeds & Bradford Ext Railway|

* Foulridge
* Earby
* Barnoldswick

West Lancashire Railway|

* Preston Fishergate Hill
* Penwortham Cop Lane
* New Longton and Hutton
* Longton Bridge
* Hoole
* River Douglas
* Boat Yard Crossing Halt
* Tarleton Halt
* Hesketh Bank
* Hundred End
* Banks

North Union Railway|

* Farington
* Euxton (L&NW)
* Balshaw Lane and Euxton
* Coppull
* Rawlinson Bridge

Ormskirk branch line|

* Midge Hall
* Cocker Bar
* Westhead Halt
* Skelmersdale

SCLER|

* Mossbridge
* Altcar and Hillhouse
* Lydiate

L'pool, S'port & Preston Railway|

* Altcar and Hillhouse
* Barton
* Plex Moss Lane Halt
* Halsall
* New Cut Lane Halt
* Shirdley Hill
* Heathey Lane Halt

Bolton and Preston Railway|

* Euxton (L&Y)

* Merseyside
* Greater Manchester
* Cumbria
* Open stations

* v
* t
* e

Culture and infrastructure of the City of Lancaster

Transport|

* Carnforth MPD
* Furness and Midland Joint Railway
* Heysham Port
* Heysham to M6 Link Road
* Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
* Lancaster bus station
* Lancaster Canal
* Lancaster Carriage and Wagon Works
* Lancaster Corporation Tramways
* Leeds–Morecambe line
* "Little" North Western Railway
* Morecambe branch line
* Morecambe Tramways

Railway
stations|

* Bare Lane
* Carnforth
* Heysham Port
* Lancaster
* Morecambe
* Silverdale
* Wennington

Disused
stations|

* Arkholme
* Ashton Hall
* Bay Horse
* Bolton-le-Sands
* Borwick
* Caton
* Conder Green
* Claughton
* Galgate
* Glasson Dock
* Halton
* Hest Bank
* Hornby
* Kirkby Lonsdale
* Lancaster (1840–49)
* Lancaster Green Ayre
* Melling
* Middleton Road Bridge Halt
* Morecambe Euston Road
* Morecambe Harbour
* Morecambe (Northumberland Street)
* Morecambe Poulton Lane
* Morecambe Promenade
* Scale Hall
* Wray

Parks &
reserves|

* Arnside and Silverdale AONB
* Forest of Bowland AONB
* Leighton Moss RSPB reserve
* Trowbarrow Quarry
* Williamson Park

Sport|

* Christie Park
* Mazuma Stadium
* Lancaster City F.C.
* Lancaster Cricket Club
* Lancaster RFC
* Lune Road Ground
* Morecambe RFC
* Morecambe Cricket Club
* Morecambe F.C.
* Roses Tournament
* Vale of Lune RUFC

Media|

* Bailrigg FM
* Beyond Radio
* Diversity FM
* Heart North West
* The Visitor

Politics|

* Council elections
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* Morecambe Bay Independents
* Municipal Borough of Morecambe and Heysham

* Constituencies: Lancaster
* By-elections: 1928
* 1941
* Lancaster and Fleetwood
* Lancaster and Wyre
* Morecambe and Lunesdale

Education|

* Bailrigg
* Cowan Bridge School
* Lancaster University
* Ruskin Library
* St Martin's College
* Wennington Hall
* Wennington School

* v
* t
* e

Schools in the City of Lancaster

Comprehensive|

* Bay Leadership Academy
* Carnforth High School
* Central Lancaster High School
* Morecambe Bay Academy
* Our Lady's Catholic College
* Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy

Further Education Colleges|

* Lancaster and Morecambe College
* The Adult College

Grammar|

* Lancaster Girls' Grammar School
* Lancaster Royal Grammar School

Independent|

* Lancaster Steiner School

Former|

* George Fox
* Greaves Secondary Modern School
* Skerton Community High School

* Geography
* Buildings and structures

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