Nine of Bolton's disused and abandoned railway stations

However, in order to progress some railway stations and routes have had to be abandoned.

Some local stations were forced to shut for practical and economic reasons.

The country was hit hard by the Beeching cuts, when thousands of miles of track and stations were closed in the ‘60s.

Some of our readers may still be able to recall stations at Daubhill and Plodder Lane to name a few. Indeed, many of Bolton’s smaller districts also boasted stations.

Other routes simply weren't used enough and couldn't handle the competition that the development of trams and cars brought with them.

Here are nine Bolton railway stations and lines that have been demolished or disused:

Bolton Great Moor Street railway station

(Photo: Bolton (Great Moor St.) Station, entrance remains cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ben Brooksbank - geograph.org.uk/p/1845122)
 

This was the first station in Bolton and it was opened in 1831 by the Bolton and Leigh Railways.

Originally, it was called ‘Bolton’ but was renamed to Bolton Great Moor Street in 1849.

It has taken on many physical transformations over the years and rebuilt according to a classic Italian aesthetic in 1871.

The railway was open for well over a decade but was closed to regular passengers in March 1954.

However, the station still hosted holiday excursions until its last departure on 9 July 1958.

It was a sad day for the historic station in April 1964 when the tracks were lifted and the station demolished in 1966.

The site was, in 1974, being cleared as part of an improvement scheme to the car park, involving levelling of the railway embankment and nearby property.

Plodder Lane Railway Station

Did you ever use this railway station?

It opened in 1875 and closed in 1954, serving southern areas of Bolton.

The station was a simple wooden structure with steps that led down to both platforms.

It was demolished in the winter of 1955-56.

Chequerbent Railway Station (Bolton and Leigh Railway)

(Facebook/My Westhoughton)

This station was in Westhoughton, on the line between Bolton and Leigh.

It opened its doors to the public in 1831 and it was promoted and supported by William Hulton (English landowner and magistrate).

The station was closed in 1885 and replaced by a new Chequerbent Railway Station which was only a short distance away.

This new and improved station had two platforms as well as a goods yard which was capable of handling livestock.

Chequerbent closed to passengers and goods trade (for good) in 1965.

Chew Moor Railway Station

Chew Moor was only open for a brief period in the 1800s.

While it was open, it served the village of Chew Moor between Lostock and Westhoughton.

It was opened I n1848 by the Liverpool and Bury Railway and closed in 1852.

By 2016, no trace of the station could be seen.

Darcy Lever Railway Station

This railway bridge dominates the skyline in the valley at Darcy Lever (Photo: Darcy Lever cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Roger May - geograph.org.uk/p/93794)

This station opened in November 1848, serving the Darcy Lever area of Eastern Bolton.

To the east of the station sat the River Tonge and the line was carried over this river via the Darcy Lever Viaduct.

This viaduct had five stone columns which supported timber lattice spans which were later replaced with steel lattice spans.

By 1985, the timetable showed 24 up and 23 down services which ran Monday-Friday.

In the early 1900s, the Darcy Lever area was well-served by trams and buses, decreasing the station’s profitability.

As a result, it was closed in 1951 and was soon to be demolished, set to be demolished and the tracks lifted.

Horwich Railway Station

This station opened in 1870 and was intended to serve the town of Horwich.

At the time of opening, it had train services to Bolton and Manchester.  

On 20 March, 1901, tragedy struck the station when William Dean Burgham, the landlord of the Egerton Arms Pub in Moses gate, was found dead on the tracks.

It closed to passenger traffic on 27 September 1965 and to goods services the following year.

There was an attempt to re-open the line in 1996 with formation of a campaign group called ‘Horwich Rail Link’. While the campaign wasn’t successful it played a part in getting a station built at Horwich Parkway on the main Bolton to Preston line.

The station has since been demolished and a public park now stands at the site of the station.

Lostock Railway Station

This rurally located station was open for less than 30 years thanks to industrialisation.

It opened in 1846 and closed in June 1879.

By 2015, no trace of the station was left being after it was demolished and flattened.

However, the double tracks through the site are still well used and have been electrified.  

The Oaks Railway Station

The opening date of this railway station is disputed and thought to be either 1850 or 1849.

Over the years, the station has witnessed plenty of renovations and changes. 

In 1859 included a station and cottage attached was built for The Oaks at the estimated cost of £270.

In 1886, the station was expanded to include raised platforms and even a timber waiting rooms.

It closed to passengers in 1950.

Rumworth and Daubhill railway station

In 1885, this station opened as ‘Daubhill’ but was renamed as Rumworth and Daubhill just a few months later.

It wad located at the St Helen’s Road and Dean Church Road junction and ran underneath this intersection.

The station had a small goods yard that was leased to Hulton Colliery for many years.

It closed to passengers in 1952 but some local services passed through the station until 1954.

The station has since been demolished, leaving no trace of its existence.

Do you remeber any of these railway stations?