Horwich train station relics find place in Old Station Park

Local interest group Horwich Heritage has been refurbishing a set of railway buffers from the former train station in Horwich town centre, which closed in 1966.

The buffers were found buried in Old Station Park, the park on the former site of the station, amid work to create a flood basin in the area.

A buffer, or buffer stop, is the device which aims to prevent trains from going past the physical end section of a track.

The buffers are believed to be more than 150 years old, having been installed at the station between 1866 and 1867, according to Horwich Heritage.

Buffer being installed (Image: Horwich Heritage)

Now, they have been put in place in the park, ready for its reopening following flood basin works.

The £1.8m Environmental Agency-funded plans are said to protect around 200 homes and businesses in an area that has been badly affected by flooding in recent times.

Deputy chairman of Horwich Heritage, Roy Davies, said: “It’s been on hold so long as they couldn’t get the park finished because of the weather.

“The actual structure was finished in February, but it has been on hold until last week the road inside the park had been finished, which allowed us to get in.

“We arranged it for this morning (Monday) and away we went.”

The work to restore the buffers took place at a workshop at J.Dickinson & Sons’ recycling facility in Horwich.

The buffers had to be transported to and from the park using a mobile crane due to their weight.

Roy continued: “It was easier to transport in one piece. Before, we had to transfer it in pieces, taking multiple trips.

The buffers being installed in the park. L-R: Iain Shoebridge of Bolton Council, Julian Johnston of Eric Wright Group, Roy Davies of Horwich Heritage, Ben Finch and Jake Ingram of Ingram Contractors, and James Dickinson (Image: Horwich Heritage)

“We could have weighed it on the weighbridge but we didn’t have much time, but I’m convinced that it would weigh around the three tonne mark.

“They had to be substantial, trains only approach at slow speeds, but of course they were there for a purpose, they had to take the impact of a steam locomotive, they were very sturdily built.

“I think there were six altogether, in various places in the station. Now you can see them in one place and see how they operate.”

He added: “Two lads from the council will be relaying the cobble setts between the two sleepers, then when all that’s finished, I’ll go and give the metalwork another lick of paint.

“Then we’ll have to wait for the park to be fully open.”

The buffers will be available to view when Old Station Park is reopened, which is estimated to be in around a few weeks time.