And in its early days, long before more popular modes of transport, Lancashire had hundreds of stations dotted around the rural areas as well as the cities and towns,.
These pictures wrap up long lost and forgotten scenes of the railways, some which have been lost to the history books whilst others are still cruicial transport links.
They remember the days of steam where people often recall the smell of the smoke as the trains thundered by. Packed platforms and lost scenes of those stations which are long gone. Do you have memories of our railways here in Lancashire?
19. Forgotten Railway Scenes
If your journey from Preston was to the south east there was a railway station at Howick, which opened in June 1889, and following the takeover of the West Lancashire Railway by the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway it was, in December 1897, given the name Hutton and Howick. Gradually, the area around the station grew into New Longton and it became known as New Longton and Hutton station in October 1934 | National World
20. Forgotten Railway Scenes
The Longridge railway line opened in 1840 and was served by this railway station. Along the route to Longridge were many stations, terminating at this one. The Preston – Longridge line closed to passenger traffic in 1930 but a service to Whittingham continued until 1957. You can just about make out the steam train coming into the station | National World
21. Forgotten Railway Scenes
Travelling north on the West Coast railway line you would pass this station at Brock, or perhaps even get off here. The station opened in 1849 and was eventually closed in 1939 | National World
22. Forgotten Railway Scenes
Fleetwood's main railway station. The beer in the refreshment room bar drew customers from far and wide | National World
23. Forgotten Railway Scenes
Still on the Preston - Longridge line you may have passed this station by or even got on or off here. It is the Ribbleton railway station - originally called the Gammull Lane station and opened in 1854 | National World
24. Forgotten Railway Scenes
This map shows the many railway lines in and out of Preston | National World