Pilling railway station

53°55′21″N 2°53′41″W / 53.9224°N 2.8946°W / 53.9224; -2.8946Grid referenceSD413477Platforms2Other informationStatusDisusedHistoryOriginal companyGarstang and Knot-End RailwayPre-groupingKnott End RailwayPost-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish RailwayKey dates5 December 1870Opened11 March 1872Closed17 May 1875Reopened31 March 1930Closed

v t e Garstang & Knot-End Rly
Legend
Knott End-on-Sea Preesall salt mines Preesall Carr Lane Pilling Garstang Road Halt Cockerham Cross Halt Cogie Hill Nateby Garstang Town Garstang and Catterall
LNWR (former L&PJR)

Pilling railway station served the villages of Pilling and Stake Pool in Lancashire, England.

Under the Garstang and Knot-End Railway

The station opened on 5 December 1870 as the terminus of the Garstang and Knot-End Railway when it opened the 7 miles 1 chain (11.3 km) long line from Garstang.^[a][1][2][3]

The station was located on the southern edge of Stake Pool village to the east of the road running south (now Bradshaw Lane), and was sometimes called Stake Pool station by the local press.^[b] Although called Pilling station, it was about 1,500 yards (1,400 m) from Pilling village across country, or about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) by road.^[4]

The line was a single track, and a passing loop, which appeared to cross the adjacent road on the level, was provided at the station to enable the locomotive to run round the train. At this time there was one platform to the south of the running line and a small building between the platform and the road.^[4] A small goods yard was to the south and east of the station. Able to accommodate most types of goods including live stock, it was equipped with a half-ton crane.^[5] The initial service was for four trains in each direction.^[6]

Under the Knott End Railway

The railway company was bought out by the Knott End Railway and the line was extended to Knott End on 30 July 1908, at which time a second platform was built, so that the platforms were either side of the passing loop, the goods yard was extended and a goods shed provided. A substantially larger station building was constructed immediately south of the southern platform.^[3][7]

In 1922, the service had increased to six trains each way, with an extra train on Fridays to and from Knott End. There were no services on Sundays.^[8]

LMS and closure

The station closed to passengers on 31 March 1930.^[2] Despite being closed, the station was still available for goods and parcels, by 1938 the crane had been upgraded to 1 ton capacity.^[9] The line and station closed for freight on 31 July 1963.^[10] In 1981, it was reported that the station goods yard was now a small industrial estate and the former station house had become a private dwelling.^[c][11]

Preceding station		Disused railways		Following station
Cockerham Cross Halt		Garstang and Knot-End Railway 1870 – 1908		Terminus
Cockerham Cross Halt		Knott End Railway Garstang and Knot-End Railway 1908 – 1921 Amalgamated		Preesall
Cockerham Cross Halt		Knott End Railway Garstang and Knot-End Railway 1921 – 1923		Carr Lane New station
Garstang Road Halt New station		London, Midland and Scottish Railway Knott End Railway 1923 – 1930 Grouping		Carr Lane

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

Further reading

• Rush, R.W.; Price, M.R.C. (1964). The Garstang & Knott End Railway. Oakwood Press.

External links

• "Pilling station". Disused Stations. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
• "The Garstang and Knott End Railway – Part 1". Roger Farnworth. Retrieved 21 September 2020.