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8D ASSOCIATION

The 8D Association is dedicated to promoting the history of the railways of South Lancashire, Merseyside and North Cheshire.

Ditton Junction to Weaver Junction

Stations and Signal Boxes

Stations.

Only three stations appear on this section of the 8½ mile line.

Ditton Junction

The station at Ditton Junction was not opened until 1st May 1871, though it would be the largest on the line with six platform faces and was re-built in conjunction with the electrification of the Liverpool to Weaver junction project in the 1960’s when it was reduced to five platforms. The station officially closed by Railtrack (now Network Rail) on 27th May 1994 but had been in a state of neglect for many years.

It was the scene of a strange accident on the 16th January 1881 two trains travelling in opposite directions on the correct lines collided. It was later found that there was insufficient clearance between the two running lines. 

Ditton Junction in 1957 looking towards Runcorn with the guard of a train heading in the Liverpool direction talking to the driver. The lack of signal arms on the posts indicates that the electrification of the line has begun and shortly the station will undergo fundamental changes. The high level booking office with its lantern style roof along with the platform buildings (to the left of the loco) will be replaced by a ‘modern’ set. With the covered stairways also being replaced with open pre-cast concrete stairs.
Photo by JCW Halliday
The Locomotive Club of Great Britain ran two tours on 5th and 12th February 1966 entitled the Push & Pull Farewell. Seen here during a photo stop in platform 1 with Ivatt 2-MT Class 2-6-0 no. 41286 at the head of the train. The main lines through the station have been electrified at this point with the ‘modern’ 1960’s buildings having replaced the LNWR types.
Photo by Richard Mercer.
A direct comparison shot with the JCW Halliday picture above sowing the changes in station infrastructure that electrification of the route brought. The only surviving building on the station was the toilet block located in the centre of the platform. 58 035 is seen passing through the slow lines with a Toton to Garston export coal train. 11th May 1987.
Photo by Terry Callaghan.
A 1988 view of Ditton Junction Station six years before closure. The station was in a state of
neglect with only 4 trains stopping here each day.
Photo by Terry Callaghan.
Ditton Junction ten years after closure and taken in 2004. The waiting room on platforms 3 & 4 have already been demolished as have the platform toilets.
Photo by Terry Callaghan.
The closed Ditton Junction Station from the down fast platform looking towards the main station building on the bridge and heading to Runcorn. 18th June 1999.
Copyright: Doug Birmingham
By 2006 all traces of the street level booking office had been erased with the fenced off level section to the left of the steps marking its site. 30th July 2006.
Photo by Terry Callaghan.
Looking towards Liverpool from a similar spot as the LCGB tour picture earlier. Nature is quickly taking over the platform remains with just the concrete pads marking out the location of the platform buildings. 30th July 2006.
Photo by Terry Callaghan.

Runcorn Station.

Opened 1st April 1869 along with the opening of the line Runcorn station has thrived and is as busy as ever. Now being run by Avanti West Coast the station has been refurbished to a high standard. It has Avanti (ex Virgin) Pendolino expresses, London Northwestern and Transport for Wales trains calling at regular intervals.

A classic shot of an AL1 electric loco at Runcorn station in the 1960’s.
Photo by R W Mercer.
Having travelled on the service from Chester to Runcorn, summer Saturdays onlyParliamentary train at that time (2011), 8D members get a chance to photograph No 150274 at the refurbished Runcorn station.
Photo by Paul Wright.
In West Midlands livery, Class 350, No 350119 arrives at the station with a late afternoon Liverpool Lime St to Birmingham New St train. The station buidings are rather simple affairs being of box type construction. In the background is the Jubilee road bridge under refurbishment. 10th August 2018.
Copyright: Doug Birmingham.
Class 150, No 150245 departing Runcorn Station with a ‘Transport for Wales’ train being 1B17 Liverpool Lime St to Chester operating via the Halton Curve. In the background is another Class 150, No 15213 just arrived on the reverse of the above service. On the right is the stations multi storey car park built on the site of the old warehouse and sidings. 19th Septenber 2019.
Copyright: Doug Birmingham.

Sutton Weaver

The station at Sutton Weaver was an early casualty being closed to passengers on the 30th November 1931 and to goods on the 30th April 1942. Now no trace of the station remains only the station masters house stands as a reminder that there once was a station there.

(for further information, please click on this link )

We have no picture of this station if you have and would like to share it please contact us on 8d.association at gmail.com. It will be published here and fully credited.

SIGNAL BOXES

A section covering the signal boxes that on this section of line but with the exception of two signal boxes, one of which is non operational, they have all disappeared. To view the Ditton Junction boxes, please refer to the Garston & Warrington Railway section on this website.

Runcorn

Further information is sort of the the original signal box but was known to be timber built on a gantry. The present signal box was built in 1939 and opened in January 1940 by the LMS with specifications to Air Raid Percautions (ARP), being one of the earliest in the country to this design. It is located at the south end of the station and controls the main line as well as access to the Folly Lane Branch.

Runcorn Signal Box has a Lever frame consisting of 46 levers and has now been Grade 2 listed. 5th July 1992.
Copyright: Doug Birmingham.

Halton Junction

The first signal box is understood to have opened in 1872 by the LNWR to a Saxby & Farmer design and located to the north of the junction on the up side of the line. In July 1897, a new box was built to a LNWR Type 4 design and located at the junction of the Halton Curve line and the London mainline. The box was equiped with a 25 Lever LNWR Tumbler frame. The Signal Box lasted until May 2018 when the signalling of the line was transferred to the Manchester Rail Operating Centre and it was ultimately demolished.

For further information on the Halton Curve line , please see this link.

Halton Junction Signal Box as seen through the fence on the up side of the mainline. The Halton Curve to Frodsham Junction is behind the box. 29th May 1997.
Copyright: Doug Birmingham.

Weaver Junction

This modern signal box was built and opened in 1961 as part of the British Railways Liverpool to Crewe electrification scheme and was closed before 2012 with control transferred to Winsford Junction Signal Box.

The signal box as taken in July 1997. Note the maroon name board inside the box which had was originally located on the outside right hand wall.
Photograph courtesy of David Allen.
The control panel of Weaver Junction Signal Box as in July 1997.
Photograph courtesy of David Allen.
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