The History of Littleborough Station
1836 Manchester & Leeds Railway incorporated by Act of Parliament
3rd July 1839 Gala opening
1st March 1841 Summit Tunnel , then the longest in the world, opens
1840s Edmondson ticket system introduced at Littleborough
1847 Manchester & Leeds Railway becomes Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway
1872 Littleborough Local Board complains about the inadequacy of passenger accommodation at the Station
1870s New station buildings erected
1882 Interlocking of signalling & points completed
1892 Subway under the tracks opens
1897 Signal box opens
1914-18 War Troops stationed in the Army camp at Ealees set out for the front via Littleborough
1922 Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway combines with London & North Western Railway
1923 London & North Western Railway becomes part of London Midland & Scottish Railway
1926 First aerial photograph of Littleborough Station
1930s Atlas Artificial Silk Mill closes down & Littleborough’s sidings and good yards begin to decline
1948 Britain’s rail network is nationalised. London Midland & Scottish becomes London Midland Region
1951 Commemorative plaque installed on outer wall of booking office in Stephenson Square
January 1971 Signal box closes
1973 Littleborough Civic Trust adopts a derelict site at the Station to make a garden
December 1984 Summit tunnel fire closes the line for eight months
April 1986 Littleborough Viaduct & entrance to summit tunnel are given Grade II British Listed Building status
1994 Britain’s rail network is privatised
March 1997 First North Western is awarded the franchise for passenger services
December 2004 Northern Rail is awarded the franchise for passenger services
2005 Friends of Littleborough Stations is formed
2006 Littleborough Viaduct is repaired
April 2012 Littleborough Historical & Archaeological Society re-open the Station buildings as Littleborough History Centre
November 2012 Access ramps are opened
4th July 2014 175th ANNIVERSARY