Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/460

 discussed, and the scheme having been favourably entertained by a number of affluent gentlemen, the requisite powers were sought from Parliament for its formation. In May, 1861, the desired act received the royal assent, and on the ensuing 4th of September the first sod of the new line was cut by T. H. Clifton, esq., M.P., the son and heir of the lord of the manor, in Lytham Park. The directors of the company were E. C. Milne, esq., (chairman), of Warton Lodge; John Talbot Clifton, T. Langton Birley, Charles Birley, James Fair, Robert Rawcliffe, and Thomas Fair, esqrs. The distance, about 7-1/2 miles, was spanned by a single line, stations being placed at the two termini and at South Shore, in addition to which there was a gate-house at Andsell's road, near the town, where it was proposed to have a booking office. The railway was virtually finished in the autumn of 1862, but the formal opening was postponed until the 4th of April, 1863. At that date, which occurred on Saturday, flags and banners floated from many of the windows, whilst the bells of St. Cuthbert's church rang out merry peals at intervals throughout the day. No further ceremony, however, was observed on the occasion, than the running of a train to Blackpool and back with a select party of invited guests. Regular public traffic commenced on Monday. During 1871 this line was amalgamated with the Preston and Wyre, of which the Lancashire and Yorkshire, and the London and North Western Railway Companies are the lessees. The track was doubled in 1874, by laying down another length of metals, and connected with the Kirkham and Lytham branch. In the same year on the 1st of July, a spacious and handsome station which had been erected according to the design of C. Axon, esq., of Poulton, was brought into service, and the use of the original one belonging to the branch just specified discontinued for passenger traffic, the whole of which, both from Kirkham and Blackpool, is now directed to the recently built central edifice. It is expected that in course of time the coast line thus established from Preston through Kirkham, Lytham, St. Anne's, South Shore, to Blackpool will supersede the old route through Poulton to the last named resort for the conveyance of passengers. Important alterations, it should be noted, were effected in the course of the branch from Kirkham to Lytham immediately preceding its junction with the Blackpool and Lytham line, by which the