AFTER we published an old photo of Hall Road station, in Blundellsands, one Memories reader provided some details about its history.
John Lloyd, from Childwall, writes: “The picture of Hall Road railway station reminded me of the days when the carriage shed and sidings were still in regular daily use.
“General train maintenance and cleaning was carried out during the daytime and often as many as eight six-car trains would be present during the day.
“Sadly these facilities have, in the main, now been transferred to Birkenhead North and Kirkdale.
“It is also worth noting that Hall Road station was the scene of a terrible rail accident on July 27, 1905.
“Twenty people were killed and many others injured when a Southport-bound express struck an empty train.
“At this time electric trains on the line were comparatively new, having been introduced little more than a year earlier.
“Also of interest is how Hall Road station came into being. In the early 1870s, when the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company operated the line, a Mr Joseph Gardner, timber merchant, lived in a house by the railway but some 15 minutes walk from the nearest station, which was Blundellsands and Crosby.
“Mr Gardner felt that a station much closer to his home should be built. He therefore wrote to the railway company with his suggestion.
“The railway company refused, saying it was not prepared to build a station just for use by one customer.
“They did go on, however, to suggest that if a further five houses, close to Mr Gardner’s, were to be built, the request might be considered.
“What did Mr Gardner do next?
“Yes, you’ve guessed it. He had the five houses built, informed the railway company of what he had done and in 1874 Hall Road station duly opened.”

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