EPW026375 ENGLAND (1929). Ainsdale Hills sand dunes, Ainsdale-on-Sea, 1929

The full title of the original railway was the Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway. It opened on 9th June 1901.

The Cheshire Lines company was actually a joint operation between the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and The Great Central.

It was a competitor to the LMS

The Southport & Cheshire Lines Railway opened, for passenger services only, on the 1st September 1884 and for goods services from the 1st June 1885. Ainsdale Beach station, initially named "Seaside", was opened on the 19th June 1901. From 1923 both the LNER and the LMS ran their own locomotives, manned by their own footplate staff. In 1936 the LMS withdrew their locomotives and footplate staff, but the following year took over the permanent way and signalling departments from the LNER.