Wennington to Morecambe and Heysham

A new Middleton Press album takes a look at the former main line from Wennington to Morecambe and Heysham. This area west of Lancaster, covering approximately nine square miles, has over time boasted two competing railway companies, two harbours, ten stations, over a dozen signal boxes and extensive freight and passenger services. On the approach to Lancaster, the line passed a carriage and wagon works, munitions factory and a power station that were all rail-served. Across the River Lune there was another munitions factory, an oil refinery and chemical plant, two gasworks and a nuclear power station, again all rail-served. The area was host to an electrified suburban rail system for over half a century from the early 1900s and, later, pioneered overhead line electrification that became the national standard.
   Much of the network and infrastructure have disappeared, save for one or two prominent landmarks. Today the area is served by regular passenger workings from Leeds, Skipton and Lancaster, one of which is the daily boat train to Heysham Port.

Reviews:

'Features a more eclectic mix of traction than the other titles reviewed including, as it does, the early 6.6kV 25 Hz AC overhead electric system around the Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham area... A very interesting book.'
(The Journal of the Stephenson Locomotive Society,
No.931 Vol.97, Sept/Oct 2021)

'Whiffs of Morecambe Bay (good and less so) pervade a Middleton Press album that covers a relatively tiny area of railway lines that is well remembered for its pioneering suburban electrics that evolved into the national standard.'
(Howard Johnston, Steam World, Issue 413, November 2021)