c.1895 opposite Sutton Road (steam engine no. 8 and passenger car no. 6)
History of Sutton in St.Helens, Lancashire
Sutton Beauty's History & Heritage Pages
Part 8) Transport in Sutton Timeline
Written and researched by S.R.Wainwright for Sutton Beauty & Heritage © MMVIIITransport in Sutton Photo Album Heritage Home Main Site Home
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A 1911 postcard which visitors to Sutton and St.Helens would send to their family and friends back home. This timeline examines developments in the transport infrastructure which allowed people and goods to get in and out of Sutton and be transported within the town of St.Helens
• 1757 First stretch of the Sankey Brook Navigation opened
• 1770s Sankey Brook Navigation reaches north Sutton
• 1828 Ellen Hughes agreed to sell land at Lea Green so the planned Liverpool to Manchester railway could cross her Sherdley estate.
• 6th October 1829 First day of the Rainhill Trials held on a two mile stretch of level line between Sutton at Lea Green and Rainhill. The competition was won by Robert Stephenson’s 'Rocket'.
• 15th September 1830 Liverpool and Manchester line opened at a cost of £739,165. Lea Green station also opened (originally known as 'Kendrick’s Cross' station and briefly 'Sutton' station)
• 21st February 1833 St.Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway officially opened
• 1833 St.Helens Junction station opened
• 1852 Sutton Oak station first appeared in timetables
• c.1852 Clock Face station opened (reduced to halt status from July 1926)
• 1878 Three groups approach St.Helens Corporation with proposals for horse powered tram services
A crash at St.Helens Junction station (undated)
• 24th July 1879 an Act of Parliament incorporated ‘The Saint Helens and District Tramways Company’ with an authorised capital of £70,000 in £10 shares. The legislation also authorised tramways to Sutton at the corner of Robins Lane and Marshalls Cross Road.
• May / June 1882 After numerous disputes between the tramways company and St.Helens Corporation, a through service from Dentons Green to Peasley Cross terminus at the corner of Sutton Road began (exact date uncertain). However for unknown reasons it ended 32 chains short of the authorised terminus at Robins Lane. The open top double-deckers with a capacity of 36 persons, would travel to Peasley Cross via Church Street returning to St.Helens via Shaw Street, Corporation Street and Cotham Street.
• 16th July 1883 The Saint Helens & District Tramways Act authorised an extension from the Peasley Cross terminus to St.Helens Junction station via Sutton Road, Worsley Brow, Ellamsbridge Road and Junction Lane although the finance could not be found to construct it. The Act also authorised steam traction but, again, the company could not afford it.
Sutton Oak station photographed on 14th May, 1939 - it closed in 1951
• February 1887 The Saint Helens and District Tramways Company were accused of poor management of its services and after commissioning a report, the shareholders sacked the directors at a meeting. It was alleged that crews were often drunk and rude to customers and would routinely let their friends travel for free. Delays in return journeys at termini meant that tram cars would often be left idle for a considerable time while the staff enjoyed themselves in a local pub!
• July 1888 The Saint Helens and District Tramways Company went into receivership
• 22nd October 1889 From the ashes of its predecessor, the St.Helens & District Tramways Company Limited was registered.
• 3rd April 1890 The short-lived era of steam powered trams began on the St.Helens Junction line (9 locomotives in total were purchased)
• 9th December 1891 Two coal trains collided near St.Helens Junction, causing the engine of one from Lea Green to roll down the embankment. The Times reported it was a "serious" collision and the engine-driver had a "marvellous escape".
• 1894 Consideration was given to extending the Peasley Cross tram line to St.Helens Junction but, again, nothing happened.
• 1st April 1897 St.Helens Corporation purchased the tramways for £23,000 but the existing tram company continued as operator.
• October 1897 St.Helens Corporation decided to electrify, a bold move considering the few existing electrified tramways in the country.
• 12th August 1898 An Act authorised electrification and yet another proposed extension from Peasley Cross to St.Helens Junction but following a different route.
• 1st October 1898 The Corporation awarded a 21 year lease to the existing tram operator.
Times ad of 5/12/1898 promoting the New St.Helens & District Tramways Company share issue
• 4th November 1898 After control of the operating company had changed hands, the new Board decided to form another new company and the New St.Helens & District Tramways Company Limited came into being with a capital of £150,000 in £1 shares.
• 19th September 1900 After months of work building the extension to St.Helens Junction, public services began although the new terminus was at Peckers Hill Road instead of the actual station. (Ellamsbridge Road initially)
• 1st October 1919 St.Helens Corporation refused to extend the lease and took over operations of the tramways.
• 4th August 1921 The St.Helens Corporation Act authorised the operation of motorbuses and trolleybuses.
• Autumn 1921 Two motorbuses were used on the St.Helens Junction line to maintain the service whilst tram tracks were being re-laid, probably the first use of motorbuses in Sutton. This was some years prior to regular bus services being established.
• 1927 A new tram terminus was opened at St.Helens Junction station extending the existing Peckers Hill Road terminus, albeit by only 110 yards.
• 21st June 1931 The long-standing through service from Denton’s Green to St.Helens Junction ended. The Junction tram service from St.Helens town centre costing 2½d, now left from Sefton Place.
• 28th July 1933 Part IX of the St.Helens Corporation Act formally authorised the abandonment of tramways.
• 1st May 1935 Trolleybuses replaced trams on the St.Helens Junction route. By the end of the year there were only 8 tramcars still in service in St.Helens, with 36 trolleybuses and 28 motor buses in use.
• 12th October 1936 Robins Lane Halt rail station opened on the line that connected the Widnes & Runcorn Gap railway with the Liverpool & Manchester line.
• 31st December 1936 The Times announced that a new station was to be built at Marshalls Cross which would replace Lea Green station nearby. only to close in September 1938.
• 26th September 1938 Robins Lane Halt station closed through lack of passenger traffic.
• 1951 Clock Face station closed.
A Class 40 (D354) arrives at St.Helens Junction station
• 18th June 1951 Sutton Oak Station closed.
• 2nd February 1952 St.Helens Junction trolleybus service ceased operations with a replacement motorbus service commencing the following day.
• January 1955 St.Helens Corporation’s fleet was now 100 motorbuses (8 single-deck) and 39 trolleybuses.
• 15th September 1958 Lea Green station completely closed. It had closed to passengers on 7th March 1955. A new station was opened in September 2000.
To Be Continued - Please contact us if you can add to our transport timeline or spot any errors. Thanks! - Also see our Transport in Sutton page
Research Sources, References & Bibliography for History Pages
Sutton Beauty & Heritage's History Pages:
1) Township of Sutton & St.Helens; | 2) Sutton's Lords & Masters;3) Michael Hughes of Sherdley; | 4) Religion and Education
5) Rev. Henry Vallancey (1st vicar of Sutton); | 6) Mineworking;
7) Industry in Sutton Township; | 8) Sutton Transport
9) Transport Timeline; | 10) Health & Sanitary Conditions;
11) Sport in Sutton; | 12) Leisure & Entertainment in Sutton;
13) Origins of Sutton Street & Placenames; | 14) Pudding Bag;
15) Crime & Tragedy; | 16) 'Picturesque' Sutton - How it's Changed
17) Sutton True Facts! | 18) Research Sources and Bibliography;
Plus 5 Photo-Albums: Sutton's Lords & Masters; Religion & Education
Transport in Sutton; Sport, Leisure & Entertainment; Sutton Streets
Also See Our Pages on: Sutton Manor Colliery; Clock Face Colliery;