Wirral Railway - Grouping

Grouping

The Wirral Railway became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) at the Railways Act 1921 Grouping. After being absorbed by the LMS in 1923 operations continued much as before for the next 15 years, although the steam locomotives were slowly changed over to LMS standard types. In addition, a once-daily through train was introduced from New Brighton to London Euston. This ran along the former Wirral Railway lines via Bidston and West Kirby, where the Hooton line station was used rather than the former Wirral station, and then via Hooton (reverse) and Chester, where it was attached to a through train via Crewe to London. Thet train left New Brighton after breakfast and returned there in the evening. It was withdrawn in 1939 and never reinstated.

Steam locomotives continued operation to West Kirby until 1965, on a once-daily freight train which served the coal depots at Moreton, Hoylake and West Kirby, the Cadbury chocolate factory at Moreton, and the gas works at Hoylake.