User:PhiH/Merseypage

Warrington
Interests in the Birkenhead docks were aware that they needed a railway connection to wards Manchester and the Lancashire manufacturing districts, to enable them to compete with Liverpool. The Birkenhead, Lancashire and Cheshire Junction Railway was incorporated on 26 June 1846 with capital of £1.5 million, to build a line from Chester to Walton Junction, near Warrington, where it would connect with the Grand Junction Railway, leading to Manchester.

Shortage of money following the Railway Mania period slowed progress considerably. In October 1850 there was a formal opening, but the actual public opening finally took place on 18 December 1850.

Stations

 * Chester; joint station; opened 1 August 1848; still open;
 * Mickle Trafford; opened 2 December 1889; closed 2 April 1951;
 * Dunham; opened 18 December 1850; renamed Dunham Hill 1861; closed 7 April 1951;
 * Helsby; opened September 1852; still open;
 * Frodsham; opened 18 December 1850; still open;
 * Frodsham Junction; divergence of line to Liverpool;
 * Runcorn; opened August 1851; renamed Runcorn Road 1861; renamed Halton 1869; closed 7 July 1952;
 * Runcorn East; opened 3 October 1983; still open;
 * Norton; opened March 1852; closed 1 September 1952;
 * Moore; opened 18 September 1850; renamed Daresbury 1861; closed 7 July 1952;
 * Acton Grange Junction; divergence to lines towards Earlestown;
 * Walton Junction; convergence with lines from Crewe towards Earlestown.