Working on the level crossing in 1950

My brothers and I remember going over this footbridge. However, in 1968 it had to be removed. My father Eric, his brother Herbert, and others, worked through the night with a large mobile crane to dismantle it.  The job had to be carried out between 12 midnight and 6.00 am,  in time for the first trains to start coming through again.

(Photo hand coloured by Herbert Miller-Crook)

Hoghton Station in the 50's

Hoghton Station was situated on the East Lancashire Line between Preston and Blackburn. It was closed by British Rail in 1963.  They dismantled and removed the buildings that had stood on the station.  In 1966 my uncle and father bought the Station and converted it into a depot for selling ex-MOD vehicles - Crook Brothers.

The station looking towards Blackburn

Another view, showing the opposite side. The signal box would be on Station Road. New Bridge had not yet been built of course. 

The Railway pub would be on the right (later known as The Sirloin) 

My great-uncle, Tom Windle, was a booking clerk at Hoghton Station.  He married the stationmaster's daughter, Annie Crankshaw. 

Victorian group waiting for the train

From the clothes the people are wearing, I would estimate this photo to have been taken around 1900? This is the "Sirloin Pub side" The signalman's box, for operating the gates of the level crossing, would be just off the photo to the left. The footbridge is just visible.