“Where exactly was the station?” I often hear people ask when we talk about Cross Lane. This was once a bustling railway station in Salford. It played a significant role in the early days of rail travel.
Cross Lane railway station opened in September 1830. It was one of the original stations on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Initial facilities were basic but functional. The station was initially known as Cross Lane Bridge. It was renamed Cross Lane around 1831.
The London and North Western Railway rebuilt it later. By the late 19th century, Cross Lane had platforms on all four lines. These lines passed right through the station. Imagine the scene. Trains arriving and departing. Passengers bustling about. The air filled with steam and the sounds of industry.
Cross Lane’s story took a turn in July 1959. British Railways closed the station to passenger traffic. Goods traffic ceased in January 1963. The station was subsequently demolished. Today, no trace remains. Much of the former site is now under the M602 motorway.
However, the original Liverpool and Manchester line still exists. It is now a double track and electrified since 2013. The line still passes through on its way to Eccles and Liverpool Lime Street.
Cross Lane witnessed a tragic event in April 1916. Private John Francis Kelly was murdered at the army barracks here. He was killed by Private Walter Taylor. Taylor was later found to be criminally insane. Kelly was buried with full military honors at Weaste Cemetery.
Cross Lane also had a drill hall. It served as the headquarters for the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. The hall was opened in December 1899. The unit evolved into the 7th and 8th Battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1908. These battalions mobilized at the drill hall in August 1914. They were then deployed to Gallipoli and the Western Front. The drill hall was decommissioned and demolished in the 1960s.
So, while Cross Lane may seem like an anonymous street today, it holds many stories. It was a vital transport hub and a site of both industry and tragedy. Its history is etched into the very fabric of Salford. Remember Cross Lane. A place where railway history and human stories intersect.