The Rail Motor Service, 1913
Newspaper report from the 1913 on the new Rail Motor Service.
NEW RAIL MOTOR SERVICE.
BETWEEN BLACKPOOL AND LYTHAM.
A new rail motor service, between Lytham and Blackpool, came into operation last
Monday, without any formal ceremony of any description. The new service supplements
the ordinary train service every day except Saturday, and there are ten journeys
each way daily. The, service has been so arranged as to abolish many of the long
intervals between trains.
A feature in connection with the service is the establishment of halts at Gillett's
Crossing (near the Old Links Golf Club), and at Burlington Road, South Shore. The
motor train only stops at these halts. Residents on the northerly side of St.
Annes, as well as golfers, will find the halt at Gillett's Crossing a very great
convenience. The fare to Gillett's Crossing is 1d., and from Gillett's Crossing to
Blackpool Central 3d.
Photograph of the motor rail train at Gillett's Crossing. The service came
into operation last Monday, and will be popular as it increases, greatly, the
railway facilities between Blackpool, St. Annes and Lytham.
The absence of ceremony, on Monday, was a contrast to the
original opening of the line from Lytham to Blackpool, on February 16th, 1846, when
there were local rejoicings and passengers were allowed free tickets. St. Annes, of
course, was not even planned in those days, and the nearest station was known as
Stoney Hill, in the neighbourhood of Squire's Gate. The line between Lytham and
Blackpool was started as a private company, in which there were only about eight
shareholders, including the Cliftons and Birleys, and a Mr. Swainson, of
Manchester. There were two engines, eighteen carriages, and two horse-boxes. The L.
and Y. Railway terminus, at Lytham, was situated where the goods station now
stands, and temporary rails were laid along the site of Westby Street, and the
carriages were run along the rails.
St. Annes Express, 1913
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