Accrington to Stubbins Lost Rossendale Railway. East Lancashire Rly

An interesting walk exploring a line closed for over 50 years with a lot of the infrastructure in situ.
This line was on the Clifton Junction to Accrington line which had opened in stages between September 1846 and August 1848.
Closing completely on 14th. September 1966.
This section of line was originally promoted by the Blackburn, Bury, Accrington & Colne Extension Railway this was absorbed into the East Lancashire Railway (ELR).
By 1845 the ELR was in the final stages of building a line from Clifton Junction to Rawtenstall via Stubbins. The aims of the ELR and the BBACER were so much in alignment, to create a route from the east Lancashire area to Manchester, that a merger of the two companies was seen as the best way forward. The economy of the local towns & settlements, was expanding as the cotton industry – both spinning and weaving in this town - grew and prospered, promising rich financial rewards for the railway.

Helmshore station opened along with the entire 7.4 mile section of line between Stubbins Junction and Accrington on 17th August 1848, the line from Stubbins to Clifton Junction having opened nearly two years previously on 25th September 1846. The line required heavy engineering works and had severe gradients as it ascended from about 450ft to the summit of 771ft at Rising Bridge in only 2½ miles. From Accrington there was a lengthy climb at 1 in 40, easing to 1 in 47, and then 1 in 100 through Baxenden to Rising Bridge. From Haslingden the gradient was 1 in 76 downhill, slackening to 1 in 97 through Helmshore station, continuing down at 1 in 78 to Stubbins Junction. The goods yard was sited behind the southbound (up) platform and comprised four sidings, one of which passed through the goods shed that backed onto the platform. A 10-ton crane was installed. One of the sidings was private serving the adjacent Albion Mill with direct access into the mill from a small turntable. There were further sidings on the down side of the line, one serving J. Porritt & Sons. The station was located towards the south of the village at Helmshore Road level crossing. The line was double track so the station was provided with two platforms located north-west of the crossing.The passenger facilities were on the Manchester-bound platform, where the building featured paired, round-headed windows and a slate hipped roof, extended forward to provide a small awning. The main entrance led directly onto Helmshore Road.The goods shed was adjacent to the passenger building, a few yards to the north.

Haslingden station was located on the northwest outskirts of the town, at the north end of the 146-yard Haslingden (or North Hag) Tunnel. As the line was double-track the station was provided with two platforms. The main station buildings were located east of the line on the Manchester-bound platform. An approach road led to the main entrance of the station from the junction of Bridge Street and Booth Street.

The main building was a long, single-storey stone built structure, with paired round-headed windows and recessed areas serving as passenger shelters on the platform. The slate hipped roof projected a short distance over the platform to provide an awning. On the Accrington-bound platform a long ridge-roofed timber shelter, amply supplied with windows, was provided. A lattice-pattern footbridge linked the two platforms at the south end of the station. The station also possessed goods facilities including sidings and a goods shed located east side of the line, a little north of the station.

Baxenden station was located some distance south of the village, closer to Rising Bridge. As the line was double track it was provided with two platforms. The main station buildings were located east of the line on the Manchester-bound platform. The main building was a smart single-storey stone structure. The platform elevation featured a recessed waiting area, flanked by wings which were pierced by paired round-headed windows. A slate hipped roof projected forward, supported by wooden brackets, to form a small awning. On the Accrington direction platform a small timber shelter with a slated hipped roof was provided. In later years a lattice-pattern footbridge was added to link the two platforms. There were extensive sidings on both sides of the running lines, south east of the station. The large stone goods shed with its adjacent 10-ton crane was immediately east of the passenger station, and, further to the east, sidings served a cotton mill, later to be taken over for the manufacture of Holland’s Pies. (This firm, now part of Northern Foods, operates from modern premises, the imposing former mill building having been demolished.) To the south west of the running lines sidings served two chemical factories. (Nichol's Chemicals) and other sidings served The Lancashire Brick and Terra Cotta Co, and Baxenden Colliery.

Filmed by Allan Roach