HB1 Dam Lane Junction HB2 Glazebrook West Junction As you look over the bridge parapet down the line towards You are standing on Dam Head Lane bridge No.182 looking west towards , you are almost looking due west across Rixton and Liverpool. In the post war era this was one of the busiest goods lines in the Risley Moss with the cooling towers of Fiddlers Ferry visible in country, mainly transporting coal from the Yorkshire and coal the distance. Birchwood Station is two miles Halt, and Liverpool. Prior to 1964 you would have been able to see all three junctions from this point that connected the main line to the Wigan Factory which had a railway of its own, although little remains of this today. controlled this busy junction – Dam Lane, Glazebrook Moss and Glazebrook Turning around and looking over the bridge behind you to the West. east you can see the outline of where the branch line swept Today from this vantage point the curve of the disused railway to Culcheth north east. The small quaint row of station cottages follow the and Wigan is clearly visible. The triangular field in between was bounded by start of the Wigan Junction line heading off North East on a the three junctions which collectively made up Glazebrook West Junction. tight 37 chain (745m) curve to Moss junction. Looking eastward over the other side of the bridge the wooded area you see today was once part of the expanse of Glazebrook West Junction.

HB3 Wigan Junction Railway You are now looking at the disused Wigan Junction Railway which joined the main line behind. Built in 1879 the line to Wigan and St. Helens was principally to access the rich Lancashire coal fields. However, there were HB4 Bank Street Bridge also regular passenger services, the busiest being from Wigan to , Looking east you see Glazebrook Station. Now fenced which was scheduled to suit the times of the shift changes at the Irlam the station sidings to the right are lifted and overgrown Steel Works. Looking North West, the disused line is clearly visible today and the ten points and crossovers that once allowed as the 37 chain (730mtr) curves towards Glazebrook Moss Junction shunting in and around the station removed. On your where it meets the north east curve from Dam Lane Junction. This would right would have been the sidings and a 5 ton crane for have been just visible with its traditional Lines Committee signal off-loading goods. A hundred yards to the left would box at the point where the line from Dam Lane Junction joined, forming have been the turntable for turning locos around.

in November 1964 and finally to freight in 1968. The tracks were lifted and the land sold to the adjoining farms.

Plan of Walk

HB5

HB3  HB6  HB4

HB2

 Glazebrook Village Green

HB1 Glazebrook5212 B Lane

HB6 Glazebrook Station HB5 Glazebrook East Junction passengers and goods and is identical to Padgate and Station just over a mile away. Before that, just over the River many other Cheshire Lines stations. In its heyday Glaze, is Glazebrook East Junction which was the start of the Glazebrook was a very busy place with passengers

In 1893 the line was realigned following the construction of the For a small village and station it offered a surprisingly and served the coaling basin as well as Irlam Steel Works. The station closed to passengers in 1964 and to freight in1981, but remains a protected route engines, machines on wheels and eventually passenger and could be reopened in the future. The line, sidings and cars. By 1938 the list had grown to include horse boxes branch line to the North canal coaling basin remained in use and cattle vans, a very similar capability to the much servicing British Tar Products until 1996. larger station a mile down the line at Irlam. During WWII The signal box, clearly visible, lies just over the three arches Cenotaph the station was heavily used to service the military camps on River Glaze bridge. The signal box was replaced when the Bank Street. canal opened in 1895 and used to have 80 levers to control

Start Point

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 Return to Glazebrook Lane and turn right. In In right. turn and Lane Glazebrook to Return There is a surprising amount of railway history in in history railway of amount surprising a is There

 The walk starts from the Black Swan pub  Leave the bridge and retrace your steps back car park on Manchester Road. As you to Hollingreave Farm at the junction with Dam meander through the quiet country lanes Head Lane. Turn left up Dam Head Lane and in Lane towards the station. In 110m, a and footpaths, it is hard to imagine that 350m, just past Rose Cottage, ascend the hill up delightful Glazebrook once had one of the busiest to Dam Head Lane bridge. Pause here on the left railway junctions in the country. It used cottages is afforded as you reach the to have two junctions — the West in history [ref:HB2] before carefully crossing the lane the main line to the east where Glazebrook East Glazebrook and the East Junction sited to look over the bridge to what is today a just over the River Glaze in Cadishead, signal box is clearly visible just beyond where the but carrying the name Glazebrook. The the start of Glazebrook East Junction. [ref: HB5] map and numbered Heritage Boards  Continue along Dam Head Lane as it bears (HB) over page provide a snapshot of the right to a second bridge, No WJN01. This bridge  Carefully re-cross the road, turning left downhill areas railway history, whilst guiding you once crossed the now disused Wigan Junction gently on a lovely scenic walk. and then cottages as you approach Glazebrook Station. The rear of up to Glazebrook Moss Junction ahead. [ref: HB3] the station, incorporating a more modern extension,  From the car park turn left down Manchester Road is in a state of disrepair. However, the view from metal gate. Cross next stile in 30m into  Continue along the lane for a further 160m to the platform reminds one of bygone times with the field and follow path, keeping hedge and then the corner of Bank Street and turn right. Looking carved barge boards and finely detailed windows. fence on your eastwards over the bridge to your left step then continue along edge of clear view of the platforms on Glazebrook Station the end of the Liverpool platform. Across the track, field towards the houses, keeping hedge and ditch on the main line towards Irlam, just before the on the Manchester platform, stands the original on your right. After 220m emerge onto Dam Lane Glazebrook Lane bridge. [ref: HB4] Looking to the and turn right of the expanse of Glazebrook West Junction.

 range on your right, to the at Hollingreave Farm. Keep straight on up

the railway line from Manchester to Liverpool. At to reference some railway history over page [ref:HB1] before Glazebrook Station and original Glazebrook Station Sidings Drinking Fountain Dam Lane Junction Signal Box