Poulton-le-Fylde 1st railway station (site), Lancashire

Image: © Nigel Thompson Taken: 13 Jul 2018

Opened in 1840 by the Preston & Wyre Joint Railway on the line from Preston to Fleetwood, this station closed in 1896 when it was replaced by the current station. In 1846 a branch had been added to Blackpool curving sharply to the left (behind the camera position), but as this became the major route over time, and since a train was derailed on it on 1 July 1893 killing three people, a new alignment through the town was chosen. This new alignment is some 300m to the right and is where the current station is located. It is closer to the town centre but also eased the curve to Blackpool, allowing excursion traffic to pass through more quickly. The 1840 station survived until 1968 as a goods station. View SE across the old level crossing, where the tracks once were, towards Singleton and Preston. The site has been redeveloped.

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