Wednesday 28 October saw the ‘unveiling’ of the second of a new batch of station history posters. Caroline Holden, who joined CRL in April 2020 as a Community Rail Development Officer, took this on as one of her early projects and has been in contact with a number of friends of station groups across our area and Ansdell & Fairhaven’s history poster is the second of the latest batch to be installed.
Peter Fitton, who helped with details of the poster and provided photographs said; “Having been brought up in St. Annes, with my bedroom window overlooking the railway, it was clear that an interest in trains would follow. It has never stopped, so with my collection of photographs taken over the last 60 years and knowledge of the Fylde railway history has made it possible for me to help with the Ansdell Station poster.”
In the right hand photo above are some of the station volunteers; left to right are Peter Fitton, Rob Wilkinson, Karen Cornforth, Paul Rogers and Daphne Rogers.
Tony Ford, Chair of the South Fylde Line CRP said; “I am impressed that volunteers at stations along the South Fylde Line have continued their work where the regulations have allowed. Credit must go to them too for other work going on behind the scenes, the history poster at Ansdell & Fairhaven station is just one example where Community Rail continues to engage with local people. I am sure rail users and station visitors will find the photographs and the text will provide a fascinating insight into the development of the station over time.”
Caroline Holden, Community Rail Development Officer for the line added; “I was delighted to be able to present the new history poster for the station to the group which is now displayed on the station platform. The research the friends have done and the photos really bring the history of the station together for posterity. The group struggled to find a diagram of the track layout from bygone days but the knowledge of Peter Fitton came to the fore and this can now be seen on the poster too.”