Passenger business was more buoyant than expected, and the company built branch lines to the nascent resort of Blackpool and Lytham that opened in 1846.

Passenger traffic in connection with steamer sailings at Fleetwood continued throughout the 19th century and fishing was important but the huge expansion of Blackpool as a holiday and trippers' destination dominated the P&WR network.

The railway carried local pleasure journeys by holidaymakers during their stay, and Blackpool to Fleetwood was a prominent route, served by a frequent railmotor service in the early 20th century.

Before that, a local line had been authorised to connect agricultural districts in the Fylde to a sea harbour in the north-west and the Lancaster Canal at the eastern end.

[1] The Fylde, north of the Ribble estuary and straddling the River Wyre, had agricultural land with rich potential, but the roads were poor and there was no harbour for shipping.

He saw that the estate could be developed if a railway connection could be made to Preston and a harbour created in the sheltered estuary of the River Wyre.

[note 1] It continued south in a straight line for two miles across tidal marshes known as Cold Dubbs where it was to be carried on embankment.

The intention was to reclaim the marshes which would be contained by the embankment but engineering difficulties were encountered during construction and several sections of timber trestle viaduct were substituted.

Stations were built at Wrea Green[note 2] and Moss Side and the line forked to a terminus and a spur to serve the dock.

[21][22][15][23] The P&WR continued as a leased company until it was dissolved on 1 July 1888 under the London and North Western Railway Act 1888 (51 & 52 Vict.

The line was ready by autumn 1862. Leisure traffic was expected to be the main income, and the winter months would be quiet and so the opening was delayed until 6 April 1863.

c. lxiv) of 29 June 1871, amalgamation with the Preston and Wyre Joint Railway was authorised, along with provision for a connecting line at Lytham.

A flat crossing with the West Coast Main Line was built in 1850 when the Preston and Longridge Railway was opened.

Its station was at Maudland Bridge and its line continued westwards to join the P&WR, enabling Longridge traffic to reach Fleetwood, and making an additional flat crossing of the WCML.

In 1885 the flat crossings were removed, the Longridge line making an ordinary southwards junction, which the P&WR already had made.

On 15 July 1883 a new station opened on the quay at Fleetwood for transfer from boat trains to the steamers, and traffic developed greatly.

A lesser-known L&YR residential train for East Lancashire business men ran non-stop from Lytham to Rose Grove, slipping the three rear coaches at Blackburn.

[34] On 1 May 1901 the first L&YR corridor and dining car express was introduced between Fleetwood and Leeds via Manchester, connecting with the Belfast steamer.

The summer service to Douglas, Isle of Man lasted until 1961, when heavy repairs were required to the quay and the expense could not be justified.

[28] The rapid and huge development of Blackpool as a holiday and trippers' destination continued in the latter decades of the nineteenth century, and the line between Preston and Kirkham was quadrupled, opening in the year 1889.

[17][34][35] The approach from Kirkham to Blackpool Central was roundabout, running via Lytham, and a new direct line was authorised by the Lancashire and Yorkshire and London and North Western Railways Act 1896 (59 & 60 Vict.

For some years the slip portion of the 5.10 pm from Manchester ran from Kirkham to Blackpool Central by this route, arriving ahead of the main train.

On 1 October 1913 halts were opened at Burlington Road and Gillett's Crossing when a railmotor service was introduced between Blackpool Central and Lytham.

[38] In 1928 a four-car diesel passenger train was installed on the Preston to Blackpool Central via Lytham service, starting on 25 July.

[40] Blackpool was an extraordinary phenomenon of British seaside holidays, and for decades the railways had struggled to handle the volume of passengers, and the number of train movements, although this was highly seasonal.

Nevertheless, road motor coaches began to handle the traffic in increasing numbers after 1945, as distances from the Lancashire and West Yorkshire industrial towns were not great.

In January 1974 this station was rebuilt on the site of the former excursion platforms, on a smaller scale to suit modern requirements.

For some time local opinion formers have demanded better services, and electrification of the line from Preston to Blackpool North was implemented.

[46] There was a serious accident on 1 July 1893, when a light excursion train returning from Blackpool to Stockport became derailed at speed on Poulton curve.

[47] On 3 November 1924 the 4:40 pm express passenger train from Liverpool Exchange to Blackpool derailed, when a tyre on the engine failed.