The Rainford Heritage Railway Trail

The Rainford Linear Park follows the route of the old St Helens to Rainford Junction railway line as it passes through Rainford. After its construction, the line was opened for passenger and goods use in February 1858. It continued to operate for passenger use until 1951and for goods use until 1964, finally closing in 1967. During its operation it facilitated considerable expansion of industrial, coal-mining and farming activity by providing essential transport that allowed such enterprises to expand their scale as well as transporting passengers from St Helens into the further reaches of West Lancashire.

After the 1974 Local Government reorganisation, St Helens Borough Council decided to reclaim the land across which the railway had run and develop it as a linear park for the enjoyment of the whole community. Work began on construction in November 1976. The project was divided into phases starting at Rookery Lane and ending eventually at Rainford Junction in the early 1980s. Although not subject to the same degree of development and planting, the final section of Rainford Linear Park (as it had become) was added. This consisted of a narrow pathway, starting at Rookery Lane and ending at Sandwash Close, that continued to follow the route of the railway line in the direction of Crank and beyond.

Use this map to find and view the information boards

Since the completion of the Rainford Linear Park, a number of enhancement projects have been undertaken. Rainford Heritage Society was pleased to be involved in one to create the Rainford Heritage Railway Trail comprising heritage information boards and replica railway signs installed at key points along the route of the railway line. The project was the culmination of many years of effort to bring to fruition an idea conceived by Parish Councillor Rob Reynolds and Ray Waring, Chair of Rainford Heritage Society. It was made possible by a National Heritage Lottery Fund award made in September 2021 to Rainford Parish Council. Alongside the Parish Council and the Heritage Society, contributors to the project were Rainford in Bloom and Crank Recreation Ground. Support was also forthcoming from Crank and Kings Moss Community Association and St Helens Borough Council.

Except for the board representing Crank Station, all the boards were placed at locations where there had once been railway stations: Old Mill Lane, Rookery, Rainford Village and, of course, Rainford Junction where there remains a station still in use. The Crank Station Board had to be placed at the Crank Recreation Ground some distance from the location of the station which was situated within the nearby Rainford Hall Estate. In addition to these, a further board was created as a memorial to people who lost their lives in industrial accidents in the Parish and installed at the junction of the Linear Park and Old Lane.

Mill Lane Rookery Rainford Village Memorial Board Rainford Junction Crank
This 1920s OS map of Rainford depicts, as a black line, the section of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway line that ran through Rainford. The stations are marked by red dots. If the map is clicked over or very near to a red dot, the board located there will appear on the screen. You will find it hard to read the text on the whole board so further clickable points are provided to take you to sections of the board that are easier to read. After doing so, just click Back to return to this page. Because it is not located where a station was, the Memorial Board doesn’t have a red dot – so just click on a point to the west of Hydes Brow where Old Lane meets the railway line.

The information on the boards was compiled by Joan Dagnall, a local historian, who drew on her own and her late husband Ron’s research, more of which can be found on her website here. Each board was designed to incorporate the story of the railway as a train journey from Crank to Rainford Junction. Starting the journey at Crank Station, the board displays the history of stone quarrying, farming and the local inns. The journey then continues along the line through stations at Old Mill Lane, Rookery, Rainford Village and finally ends at Rainford Junction. Included on each board are descriptions of the industries in that locality. Although no station existed at Old Lane, it was chosen as the most appropriate site to erect the Industrial Memorial Board  and the Memorial Stone which stands nearby.

It was necessary to submit a planning application before the boards could be erected and permission was granted in September 2022. The first five boards were unveiled on 30 November 2022.

Memorial Stone

Further research for the Industrial Memorial Board was undertaken in 2023 alongside the preparation of the Memorial Stone. The latter was kindly donated by the Trustees of J Rosbotham, Bridge Farm, Rainford, on whose land the stone was found. The plaque on the stone was donated by Alan Frodsham who also painstakingly carved the wooden template from which it was cast and then galvanised. Planning permission was granted by St Helens Borough Council in October 2024 and the Board and Memorial Stone were unveiled on 31 January 2025.

The boards provide a fascinating illustrated account of industrial life in Rainford throughout the existence of the railway.

 

The Rainford Heritage Railway Trail project was made possible by the input of many other organisations and individuals not already mentioned, in particular, Sally Powell, who was Clerk of Rainford Parish Council, 1st Northern Signs, architect Keith Swain, stone mason Mark Bowyer, Paul Draper who safely removed the stone from Bridge Farm and transported it to Old Lane, and all those who assisted with its installation.

Further information about the railway stations that were located along the Heritage Railway Trail can be found here, starting with Crank.