Index
- Barton Branch Home
- Downholland
- Plex Moss Lane Halt
- Halsall
- New Cut Lane Halt
- Shirdley Hill
- Heathey Lane Halt
- Kew Gardens
- Butts Lane Halt
- Meols Cop
- St Lukes
- Southport Central
- Southport Chapel Street
Meols Cop
(1887 - )
Meols Cop station which opened in September 1887 was situated in a cutting and it had a long single island platform connected to street level by a flight of steps. A large timber building
stood on the platform, its ridged roof extending to form large canopies on either side. It was the largest station on the line as it was designed to serve growing eastern suburbs of Southport.
The building had booking facilities, waiting rooms and toilets for both sexes
On the north-west side of the station was a goods yard with three sidings, later increased to four. In 1904 private sidings nearby served Bates & Co, Meols Cop Corporation and Southport Gas Works
By 1895 there were four weekday stopping services to Downholland and five to Southport. In July 1906, the railway company introduced a ‘railmotor’ onto the Barton branch and they also opened halts to generate more traffic and the railmotor was very successful. By summer 1932, Meols Cop station was served by ten Barton branch services in each direction on weekdays but extra trains ran on Saturdays
By 1938 competition from local bus services had seriously affected business on the Barton branch and the Southport Chapel Street to Downholland service and the service was withdrawn with effect from September 26 1938 but this did not affect Meols Cop greatly as it still had an intensive service of electric trains and services running towards Wigan, and when Blowick station, on the direct Southport and Wigan line into Southport, closed in September 1939 more services were routed via Meols Cop
The station remained a staffed facility until 1990 and following de-staffing the original timber building was demolished, initially it was replaced with temporary wooden shelters. and Bus-Stop style shelters were erected in April 2000. There are still services to Manchester, Wigan and Bolton increasing the use of the station to avoid closure
On the north-west side of the station was a goods yard with three sidings, later increased to four. In 1904 private sidings nearby served Bates & Co, Meols Cop Corporation and Southport Gas Works
By 1895 there were four weekday stopping services to Downholland and five to Southport. In July 1906, the railway company introduced a ‘railmotor’ onto the Barton branch and they also opened halts to generate more traffic and the railmotor was very successful. By summer 1932, Meols Cop station was served by ten Barton branch services in each direction on weekdays but extra trains ran on Saturdays
By 1938 competition from local bus services had seriously affected business on the Barton branch and the Southport Chapel Street to Downholland service and the service was withdrawn with effect from September 26 1938 but this did not affect Meols Cop greatly as it still had an intensive service of electric trains and services running towards Wigan, and when Blowick station, on the direct Southport and Wigan line into Southport, closed in September 1939 more services were routed via Meols Cop
The station remained a staffed facility until 1990 and following de-staffing the original timber building was demolished, initially it was replaced with temporary wooden shelters. and Bus-Stop style shelters were erected in April 2000. There are still services to Manchester, Wigan and Bolton increasing the use of the station to avoid closure
