Lancaster railway station (1840–1849)

The first Lancaster railway station was the northern terminus of the Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway, located in the Greaves area of the city of Lancaster, Lancashire, England. It was open from 1840 to 1849, by which time it had been superseded by Lancaster Castle railway station. Some books refer to the station as "Lancaster (Greaves)" or "Lancaster (Penny Street)" to distinguish it from later stations in the city, although whilst open it was known simply as "Lancaster" as there was no other station of that name at the same time.

Lancaster
The station remains in 2019
General information
LocationLancaster, City of Lancaster
England
Coordinates54°02′36″N 2°47′54″W / 54.0433°N 2.7982°W / 54.0433; -2.7982
Grid referenceSD 47818 61132
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyLancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Key dates
26 June 1840Opened
1 August 1849Closed to passengers
?closed for goods
Location
Lancaster is located in Lancaster
Lancaster
Lancaster
Location in Lancaster
Lancaster is located in the City of Lancaster district
Lancaster
Lancaster
Location in the present-day City of Lancaster district
Lancaster is located in Lancashire
Lancaster
Lancaster
Location in present-day Lancashire

History

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Lancaster station opened on 26 June 1840,[1] along with the Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway (L&PJR) between Preston and Lancaster. The building, which also served as the railway company's headquarters, was designed by Edwin Gwyther of Birmingham.[2] It was located near the modern-day junction between South Road and Ashton Road, just south of the Lancaster Canal and the southern end of Penny Street.

The Lancaster and Carlisle Railway (L&CR) opened its own Lancaster Castle railway station on 22 September 1846.[1] Its line joined the L&PJR line a short distance south of Lancaster. On 1 August 1849, the L&CR leased the L&PJR line, on which date Lancaster station was closed to passengers.[1]

Most of the spur line leading towards the station continued to be used to access a goods station until the mid-20th century. The station building survives today as a nurses' home for the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, and is a Grade II listed building.[2]

A section of the platform still remains visible today, the track bed is now a car park for the hospital.

Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Terminus   Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway   Galgate

References

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  1. ^ a b c Butt, R. V. J. (October 1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 138. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. OL 11956311M.
  2. ^ a b Nurses' Home, Lancaster, British Listed Buildings, retrieved 19 November 2011