History - 'Railway Days'
| Culcheth Linear Park lies on a section of the former Wigan to Glazebrook Railway Line. The line was constructed by a consortium of rail companies including the LNER and Great Central. It first opened to goods in 1878. After a short extension linking the line to Wigan Central Station was built the first passenger train ran in 1884, calling at Glazebrook, Lowton St Mary and Culcheth.
In 1939 Newchurch Halt was built to service the naval camp sited in Culcheth. A railway line extension ran into the Royal Ordnance Factory at Risley - this closed after the War. The post war years saw the national decline in railway use leading to the infamous Lord Beeching Report of 1964, which indicated the unprofitability of many branch lines. The Culcheth line was no exception and finally closed on 22nd April 1968. The Culcheth railway lay derelict until 1974 when Warrington Borough Council acquired a section of the line and undertook initial landscaping works. In 1983 the Ranger Service took over management of the site. Working with the local community the Rangers continue the development of the park. The Ranger Cabin is located on the site of the old station. |
