THE GARSTANG & KNOTT END RAILWAY
When it opened in December 1870, Pilling station was the western terminus of the Garstang & Knott End Railway (G&KER), a 7 mile single track line that connected to the London & North Western Railway (LNWR) company’s west coast trunk route at their Garstang (Junction) station. The original intention of the G&KER was to have the terminus 4½ miles further west at Knott End but financial issues prevented that from happening.
At the time of opening there were two arrivals and two departures which ran as mixed passenger and goods. The G&KER had only been able to afford one engine which they obtained through a hire purchase arrangement. The engine was an 0-4-2ST locomotive called Hebe.
The line struggled financially and by 1872 the G&KER was having mechanical problems with Hebe (due to inadequate maintenance). When the engine failed passenger services ceased to run on March 11th, 1872. Services started up again after repairs were made but further problems resulted in them ending again on March 29th, 1872. Arrangements were made to purchase an engine and on May 17th 1875 a full service was reintroduced but in 1878 the line was put into the hands of a receiver.
Aspirations of reaching Knott End had not gone away but the G&KER was not able to raise the capital. On August 12th, 1898, the Knott End Railway (KER) was authorised to build a 4½ mile line between Pilling and Knott End.
On July 1st, 1908, the KER bought the G&KER and on July 29th, 1908, the line to Knott End opened. In 1920 the KER introduced a railmotor onto the line.
On July 1st, 1923, the KER was absorbed into the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS).as it's smallest constituent company. Bus competition in the area had become well established by the 1920's and it had a big effect on passenger numbers. On March 31st, 1930, the LMS withdrew the passenger service from the line. Goods services continued to run but from November 1950, by which time the line was in British Railways ownership, the section of line between Knott End and Pilling was closed completely.
On August 1st,1963, goods services ceased running between Garstang Town and Pilling and the line closed completely in August 1965, track removal beginning shortly afterwards.
In it's lifetime, the Railway owned only 8 locomotives, all tank engines. They were:-
HEBE - 0-4-2ST, Black Hawthorn 1870
UNION - 0-4-0ST, Manning Wardle 1874
FARMER'S FRIEND - 0-6-0ST, Hudswell Clarke 1875
HOPE - 0-6-0ST, Hudswell Clarke 1885
JUBILEE QUEEN - 0-6-0ST, Hudswell Clarke 1897 - LMS No.11300
NEW CENTURY - 0-6-0ST Hudswell Clarke 1900 - LMS No.11301
KNOTT END - 0-6-0T, Manning Wardle 1908
BLACKPOOL - 2-6-0T, Manning Wardle 1909
These pictures are published for pleasure/information/research purposes only and are not for sale or copy under any circumstances. Information in captions has been researched as thoroughly as possible but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Read MoreAt the time of opening there were two arrivals and two departures which ran as mixed passenger and goods. The G&KER had only been able to afford one engine which they obtained through a hire purchase arrangement. The engine was an 0-4-2ST locomotive called Hebe.
The line struggled financially and by 1872 the G&KER was having mechanical problems with Hebe (due to inadequate maintenance). When the engine failed passenger services ceased to run on March 11th, 1872. Services started up again after repairs were made but further problems resulted in them ending again on March 29th, 1872. Arrangements were made to purchase an engine and on May 17th 1875 a full service was reintroduced but in 1878 the line was put into the hands of a receiver.
Aspirations of reaching Knott End had not gone away but the G&KER was not able to raise the capital. On August 12th, 1898, the Knott End Railway (KER) was authorised to build a 4½ mile line between Pilling and Knott End.
On July 1st, 1908, the KER bought the G&KER and on July 29th, 1908, the line to Knott End opened. In 1920 the KER introduced a railmotor onto the line.
On July 1st, 1923, the KER was absorbed into the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS).as it's smallest constituent company. Bus competition in the area had become well established by the 1920's and it had a big effect on passenger numbers. On March 31st, 1930, the LMS withdrew the passenger service from the line. Goods services continued to run but from November 1950, by which time the line was in British Railways ownership, the section of line between Knott End and Pilling was closed completely.
On August 1st,1963, goods services ceased running between Garstang Town and Pilling and the line closed completely in August 1965, track removal beginning shortly afterwards.
In it's lifetime, the Railway owned only 8 locomotives, all tank engines. They were:-
HEBE - 0-4-2ST, Black Hawthorn 1870
UNION - 0-4-0ST, Manning Wardle 1874
FARMER'S FRIEND - 0-6-0ST, Hudswell Clarke 1875
HOPE - 0-6-0ST, Hudswell Clarke 1885
JUBILEE QUEEN - 0-6-0ST, Hudswell Clarke 1897 - LMS No.11300
NEW CENTURY - 0-6-0ST Hudswell Clarke 1900 - LMS No.11301
KNOTT END - 0-6-0T, Manning Wardle 1908
BLACKPOOL - 2-6-0T, Manning Wardle 1909
These pictures are published for pleasure/information/research purposes only and are not for sale or copy under any circumstances. Information in captions has been researched as thoroughly as possible but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
