Monument record 15354/0 - The West Cheshire Railway (WCR) Helsby to Northwich Line

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Railway line shown on 1st edition OS maps

<2> Griffiths. R.P, 1947, The Cheshire Lines Railway, P2 (Book). SCH6824.

The West Cheshire Railway was incorporated by an Act of 11 July 1861 to construct a line from Northwich on the Cheshire Midland to Helsby (14m 50ch) forming a junction there with Birkenhead railway (GWR and LNWR). The Line was opened on 1 September 1869.

<3> Bolger. P., 1984, An illustrated history of the Cheshire Lines Committee, P24 (Book). SCH6823.

A railway line between Helsby and Mouldsworth was opened in 1869 as part of the West Cheshire Railway's line from Helsby and Alvanley to Northwich. The West Cheshire Railway (WCR) formed part of the Cheshire Lines Committee in 1865, prior to the opening of the line. The Helsby & Alvanley and Helsby Goods line opened to goods in 1869 and passengers in 1870. It closed to passengers in 1875. It had intermittent use as a passenger line from 1936 before its final closure for both goods and passengers in 1964.

<4> Dyckhoff, N, 1984, The Cheshire Lines Committee: Then and Now, p.8 (Book). SCH6825.

In 1861 the West Cheshire Railway Act authorised the construction of a line from Northwich to Helsby (WCR) where it formed a junction with the Birkenhead Joint Line (Great Western and London & North Western). The following year, further powers were obtained to construct the Winsford and Winnington Brannches. Northwich to Helsby opened for passengers on 22 June 1870 .