To Crosby, Southport and Ormskirk
Merseyrail and Cheshire Lines
© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2019
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
13 May 2019
A not-too-energetic day out, using a day return to Liverpool
and a Merseyrail rover.
There’s a bit of a time-warp at Crewe: a well-loved 37 and a
47 are rundling about at the south end, but there’s no time to
find out what they’re up to, as our Liverpool train is coming
in. From Liverpool South Parkway, we take a ride up the coast
as far as Crosby, where we’ll spend an hour or so wandering
along the beach (see “Another Place”). Continuing to
Southport, we’ll need to get some lunch.
“We should check out the Cheshire Lines” suggested my
friend. The CLC railway is long gone - but there’s a splendid
little pub of that name which does us proud. Afterwards, we
need another leg-stretch, firstly to check out the former CLC
Lord Street station, then some lesser railway interest nearer
the sea.
Returning to Merseyrail, we’re heading south again, but only
as far as Sandhills. At the other side of the island platform is
an Ormskirk train, so now we’re riding along what was the
main line from Liverpool Exchange to Preston. Orkskirk is an
odd station now - there are buffer stops halfway along the
platform, splitting the route into two disconnected sections.
Curiosity satisfied, we’re homeward bound, after an
enjoyable day full of railway interest.
