Morecambe Promenade railway station: Difference between revisions
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'''Morecambe Promenade Station''' was built by the [[Midland Railway Company]] and first opened to passengers in 1907<ref>[http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/electrif.htm]</ref>. It served as a replacement for the inadequate [[Northumberland Road Station]] (which |
'''Morecambe Promenade Station''' was built by the [[Midland Railway Company]] and first opened to passengers in 1907<ref>[http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/electrif.htm]</ref>. It served as a replacement for the inadequate [[Northumberland Road Station]] (which was ironically situated on the site of the current two-platform station).<ref>[http://www.railwayscene.co.uk/showthread.php?thread=138]</ref> The Promenade Station was built to cater for a large influx of passenger numbers. To this effect, the station comprised of four main platforms and a goods siding.<ref>[http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/electrif.htm]</ref> When the station first opened, there was some controversy over the segregation of passengers into 1st and 2nd class waiting rooms. Many passengers disapproved of this and, as such chose to wait in the station concourse.<ref>[http://www.morecambe.co.uk/gallery/archive.html]</ref> |
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The Midland Railway Company wanted to exploit the potential of moving holidaymakers between [[Morecambe]], [[Heysham]] and [[Lancaster]] as well as providing a speedy and efficient service for workers at the then state-of-the-art 1905 port.<ref>[http://lancasterukonline.net/reviews/video_dvd/pioneer.html]</ref> To do this, the branch line was completely electrified on 13th April 1908.<ref>[http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/electrif.htm]</ref> The scheme was scrapped in 1966 as a result [[Beeching Report]], a mere seven years before what is now known as the [[West Coast Main Line]] from [[Crewe]] to [[Glasgow]] became electrified. [[Beeching]] believed that branch lines were irrelevant, since it was believed car owners would drive and park at mainline stations before taking the train.<ref>[http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic.php?p=178314&sid=319ef2b961b948a10d17ffe1e465bc62]</ref> |
The Midland Railway Company wanted to exploit the potential of moving holidaymakers between [[Morecambe]], [[Heysham]] and [[Lancaster]] as well as providing a speedy and efficient service for workers at the then state-of-the-art 1905 port.<ref>[http://lancasterukonline.net/reviews/video_dvd/pioneer.html]</ref> To do this, the branch line was completely electrified on 13th April 1908.<ref>[http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/electrif.htm]</ref> The scheme was scrapped in 1966 as a result [[Beeching Report]], a mere seven years before what is now known as the [[West Coast Main Line]] from [[Crewe]] to [[Glasgow]] became electrified. [[Beeching]] believed that branch lines were irrelevant, since it was believed car owners would drive and park at mainline stations before taking the train.<ref>[http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic.php?p=178314&sid=319ef2b961b948a10d17ffe1e465bc62]</ref> |
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Revision as of 22:00, 16 February 2008
Morecambe Promenade Station was built by the Midland Railway Company and first opened to passengers in 1907[1]. It served as a replacement for the inadequate Northumberland Road Station (which was ironically situated on the site of the current two-platform station).[2] The Promenade Station was built to cater for a large influx of passenger numbers. To this effect, the station comprised of four main platforms and a goods siding.[3] When the station first opened, there was some controversy over the segregation of passengers into 1st and 2nd class waiting rooms. Many passengers disapproved of this and, as such chose to wait in the station concourse.[4]
The Midland Railway Company wanted to exploit the potential of moving holidaymakers between Morecambe, Heysham and Lancaster as well as providing a speedy and efficient service for workers at the then state-of-the-art 1905 port.[5] To do this, the branch line was completely electrified on 13th April 1908.[6] The scheme was scrapped in 1966 as a result Beeching Report, a mere seven years before what is now known as the West Coast Main Line from Crewe to Glasgow became electrified. Beeching believed that branch lines were irrelevant, since it was believed car owners would drive and park at mainline stations before taking the train.[7]
Promenade Station managed to survive the Beeching Axe, however by the late 1980’s tourism in Morecambe was rapidly declining,[8] which may have led to the decision to close Promenade Station in 1994 and its subsequent replacement. The station building remains intact. It is now being used as a pub/restaurant[9] as well the Platform Arts Centre and Morecambe Tourist Information Centre[10][11].