Proposals to celebrate 200th anniversary of railways in St Helens

With the 50th, 100th, and 150th anniversaries celebrated as part of a national events programme, councillors have said it is vital that we do the same in 2030 to create a "lasting legacy of our proud history".

As Rainhill and Newton-le-Willows have played a huge part in the history of the railways, the proposals suggest that the borough should play a main part in a new national celebration.

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Railway history

The Liverpool to Manchester railway trials took place in Rainhill in 1829 (Image: Rainhill Railway and Heritage Society)
First opening in 1830, the Liverpool to Manchester was the first inter-city railway in the world. The steam-powered trains transported freight and passengers at a time when horse-drawn vehicles were the country's main form of transport.

The railway opening followed the Rainhill trials in 1829, which tested which trains would be used on the nearly-completed railway.

George Stephenson's 'Rocket' was the only locomotive to complete the trials and became the first vehicle to be used on the first modern passenger railway.

An exhibition commemorating this history has been housed inside a converted rail carriage on the grounds of Rainhill Library in recent years, with an ongoing project to give this a more prominent place in the village.

In Newton-le-Willows, George Stephenson also designed the huge Sankey Viaduct which became the first major railway viaduct in the world, while the Vulcan Works produced thousands of steam locomotives for railways across the world.

Proposals

Rainhill Heritage and Railway Society with a Stephen's Rocket replica at St Helens' Heritage Day (Image: Rainhill Heritage and Railway Society)
Proposed by Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron and Cllr Anthony Burns, St Helens Council will aim to designate the Liverpool to Manchester railway anniversary (LMR200) as an event of national significance with the Government.

If the motion is approved, the council will write to the Prime Minister and invite Lord Henry, the Chair of the Railway 200 group and Network Rail, to the borough to foster a partnership and show off the railway heritage in Newton and Rainhill.

There will also be an ask to allocate national funding and community grant schemes to organise a programme of events "equal to or greater than those held previously".

This programme of events is also proposed to be along the entire railway route, holding weekend charter steam services as in 1980, along with displays and exhibitions held around the Universities in Liverpool and Manchester, showcasing the history and potential future of the railways.

The council says it will work with the local City Regions, government, National Museums Group, as well as local community, history, and heritage groups to organise the events.

Anniversary 'important to be recognised'

A view from 1831 of Sankey Viaduct by Henry Pyall (Image: Henry Pyall)
Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron, Ward Councillor for Newton-le-Willows East, said: “LMR200 and the anniversary of the Rainhill Trials in 2029 might seem ages away, but it’s important that this commemoration is recognised as an event of national significance, and so should be funded in a way that allows us to replicate the celebrations of the 1980 event, with events held in our borough, Liverpool and Manchester.

"For almost 180 years companies in Newton-le-Willows, such as the Vulcan and the Viaduct exported locomotives and rolling stock nationally and globally, and we need to commemorate that.

“We hope that the Government pay the respect due to the place that industrialised the railways for export to the rest of the world.

"More opportunities for groups to be involved will become public soon and will be publicised locally”.