Hooton - West Kirby branch steam railway

[Mogz]

I would be interested to know more about the preservation efforts that were or may have been made for this line, now known as the “Wirral Way” or “Wirral Country Park” path for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

The line closed to passengers in 1956 and freight in 1962. The tracks were lifted in 1964. Platforms remain at Thurstaston. At Hadlow Road (Willaston) the station has been restored with rails re-laid next to one of the platforms.

I was once told that before the line was converted to be a path, there were plans afoot in the late 60s to preserve the line as a heritage line. I would be interested to know if this was true.

Furthermore, there was once a Wikipedia entry from about 2012 which stated that plans had been submitted to Cheshire County Council for the section between the restored Hadlow Road Station and Horton Station (where the disused platform remains) to be reopened as a steam line called the “Wirral Heritage Railway”.

Clearly nothing came of it if true, but I can’t find anything about it online. Does anyone know if serious plans ever existed?

Frankly, I think the disused Birkenhead Dock Railway system would have made a better working steam line and museum (a la Didcot or Buckingham) if so!

 

[Calthrop]

The Hooton -- West Kirby line has shown itself as a bit of a favourite here in recent years, as a line whose imaginable / wished-for revival, probably on a "heritage" basis, has been mused about: one example -- some mentions in the thread "Lines which perished, but their preservation wishable-for", in the "Railway History & Nostalgia" sub-forum: first post 11 / 5 / 2017. Mention made there, of an idea which was had at one time for reinstatement of part of this route, as a narrow-gauge "fun" line.

Attempt of mine online, yielded little more than yours: there's a little bit in an item by the "Friends of Ashton Park, West Kirby". I have no skill with links; but will set out the following:

https:ashtonpark.www.btck.co.uk>History>HootontoWestKirbyRailway

which per my usual form will probably not work as an actual link; but which put manually into browser, may hopefully give access to the not highly detailed, but essentially interesting, item concerned. This item by the "Friends of..." briefly touches on an attempt in the 1960s at floating a preservation scheme for the line, which was thwarted by the extortionate purchase price asked by BR. One is inclined to infer that the part-of-the-line-on-narrow-gauge idea was a different scheme which came along a bit later; and of course, equally came to nothing.

I have a personal fondness for this branch, which early in my life I saw in action -- for passenger in I think 1955, and with freight only in 1961: sadly, never travelled on it. I love this southern, (comparatively) rural part of the Wirral -- my parents came from thereabouts, and my experience of the line was during holiday stays with family members still living in the area. Hence my being biased, so that I personally would back Hooton -- West Kirby over the Birkenhead Dock system, any day of the week !

 

[S&CLER]

The Hooton -- West Kirby line has shown itself as a bit of a favourite here in recent years, as a line whose imaginable / wished-for revival, probably on a "heritage" basis, has been mused about: one example -- some mentions in the thread "Lines which perished, but their preservation wishable-for", in the "Railway History & Nostalgia" sub-forum: first post 11 / 5 / 2017. Mention made there, of an idea which was had at one time for reinstatement of part of this route, as a narrow-gauge "fun" line.

Attempt of mine online, yielded little more than yours: there's a little bit in an item by the "Friends of Ashton Park, West Kirby". I have no skill with links; but will set out the following:

https:ashtonpark.www.btck.co.uk>History>HootontoWestKirbyRailway

which per my usual form will probably not work as an actual link; but which put manually into browser, may hopefully give access to the not highly detailed, but essentially interesting, item concerned. This item by the "Friends of..." briefly touches on an attempt in the 1960s at floating a preservation scheme for the line, which was thwarted by the extortionate purchase price asked by BR. One is inclined to infer that the part-of-the-line-on-narrow-gauge idea was a different scheme which came along a bit later; and of course, equally came to nothing.

I have a personal fondness for this branch, which early in my life I saw in action -- for passenger in I think 1955, and with freight only in 1961: sadly, never travelled on it. I love this southern, (comparatively) rural part of the Wirral -- my parents came from thereabouts, and my experience of the line was during holiday stays with family members still living in the area. Hence my being biased, so that I personally would back Hooton -- West Kirby over the Birkenhead Dock system, any day of the week !

Part of the trackbed has been built on in the Heswall area (Davenport Road), so if walking the whole route you need to deviate off the old formation. It's an enjoyable mostly level walk, with rock cuttings in the Neston area.