TO THE WIRRAL

So, we've left Chester behind and our first stop is the station at Blacon, as photographed by Ben Brooksbank in 1961.

We're taking a rather convoluted route towards the Wirral - take a look at the map to see the journey. Now we're a place called Mickle Trafford, which was the home of Lofty's Coaches.

To the north is Stanlow Point, with the Manchester Ship Canal running alongside the Mersey.

We now fly across the Mersey and reach John Lennon Airport at Speke. This AEC Swift was used as an internal transfer bus.

Other buses to be found around Speke in 1993, photographed by Richard Huggins.

Next - a contrast in size of steam locomotives at Speke Junction MPD.

Not far away, the former Cheshire Lines Committee station at Halewood, with a Great Central 4-4-0, no. 270 passing through.

Time for a pint! A good place for beer is the Storrsdale, a former Tetley house, at Allerton.

Garston is our next stop, where we find LMS 0-6-0 tank loco no. 27496 in 1936.

Garston station was once operated by the CLC.

In 1979, Garston was the terminus of the Liverpool electrified network. The route has since been extended to Hunts Cross.

The short lived North Western bus company could be found in Garston in 1990.

A former North Western (the earlier version) Alexander Y type, AJA147B. seen in Garston in 1981 operating for Halewood Coaches.

We cross the Mersey estuary again to Bromborough station in 1961 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons).

Sadly, the Archers pub in Bromborough is no longer seeing pints pulled.

Back to 1961 and we're at Bebington and New Ferry station (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons).

Coming forward to 1992 and Crosville/PMT fleet no. MDC915 is seen in Bebington.

These days, Ember Inns run the Three Stags at Bebington.

Heswall station, on the former Birkenhead Joint, is some distance from the town of the same name.

In Heswall town centre itself, it's the 1930s and we see the bus station and Telegraph Road.

Crosville once had a depot in Heswall.

In 2000 Arriva were operating into Heswall.

Avon Buses also served the town.

Happy Al's could also be found here.

We'll let Happy Al's transport us to nearby West Kirby.

On the approach to West Kirby station, 47293 is on engineering duty in March 1982.

A class 508 EMU stands at West Kirby terminus.

Here are a couple of postcards of West Kirby from my collection.

Just of West Kirby is Hilbre Island - more info here.

For our last stop on this post, we head inland to the Irby Mill pub at Greasby. I've heard good reports recently.

Next time, we'll explore more of the Wirral.