© RM Casserley
© RM Casserley
( © RM Casserley)
( © RM Casserley)
BLACKBURN
23rd April 1954
Fowler class 4f No 44460 passes Blackburn East signal box as it pulls into Blackburn Station with the 5.33pm train from Colne. The engine was
built in May 1928 at Horwich and withdrawn in October 1964.
Bridge Water Mill is behind the signal box
The ornate roof was torn off to be replaced by a space like perspex bubble. covering a hundred yards of the centre platforms. However, my page is only concerned with the station till 1966 when the Chorley - Blackburn line closed. Again I am indebted to Mr RM Casserley who has granted me permission to use photo’s his father, HC Casserley took in the 1950s and 1960s and which, as far as I am aware, have never been published or been put on the internet till now. The photos show just how busy Blackburn station was.
4th September 1955
Fowler Compound No 41102 stand with a returning Northern Dales Railtour at the west side of the station. See this link for details about the Railtour.
Built at Derby, this engine came into service in October 1925 and was withdrawn in December 1958
Click to enlarge
23rd April 1954
A nice sunny spring day as the 12.15pm train awaits departure to Wigan. This train would have stopped at Cherry Tree, Withnell, Brinscall, Heapey and
Chorley, before continuing on to Wigan. The train is in the bay platform which is still used today (Platform 3) for trains to Bolton and Manchester. Note the roofing and the four chimneys at the front of the station. Today the roof has gone  - but the original frontage remains.
23rd April 1954
42154 stands in the bay platforms on the east end of the station. This view is looking west towards The Dolphin Hotel on Mount Street.
( © RM Casserley)
© RM Casserley
© RM Casserley
11th April 1957
Fowler Compound No 41101 with the 9.10am from Liverpool. This is pictured at the east end of the station looking towards the main station
entrance. 41101 was built at Derby and entered service in September 1925 and was withdrawn in August 1959.
11th April 1957
Another view of 41101 with the church and school on Mount Street behind the engine. Beyond that is Foundry Hill Mill
11th April 1957
Two coaches stand in the Chorley bay platform awaiting an engine
Blackburn Station lay out
© www.white-coppice.co.uk 2022
Made with Xara
A station has stood at the location of Blackburn’s present day station since 1846 when the Blackburn - Preston Railway opened. With more lines being built, including the Chorley to Blackburn line, the original station struggled to cope with the increased demand,and between 1886 and 1888 the station underwent improvements that increased the number of platforms to accommodate the extra traffic. Four platforms were covered with ornate roofing , but by 2000 these were in need of replacement. In a £35m project the heart of the station was ripped out.