Tracks of the past: Mold to Chester by rail pre-1962

In the second part of our rail journey between Chester and Denbigh, this week we take the 12-mile stretch from Mold to Chester General.

As mentioned in part 1 - Mold to Denbigh by rail pre-1962 - the line closed to passengers on April 26, 1962.

Mold Station c1960.

Mold Station (image 1) looking in the direction of Chester was opened in 1849, so ending a period of 113 years of rail passenger traffic.

In its heyday the line was used by at least 12 passenger trains each way per day, plus a substantial amount of goods and mineral traffic.

On leaving Mold Station in a south easterly direction, the first junction reached in less than a 1\4 mile would be the Tryddyn junction near Woodlands Road, here the line crossed the road by gated railway crossing before the branch line to Coed Talon and Llanfynnydd is reached.

Llong Station c1960.

The line then proceeds to the first station to be reached after leaving Mold, Llong (image 2) - a small hamlet less than two miles distance, but would still employ full time staff, including a station master and signal man, who would also be responsible for opening an closing of the nearby railway crossing gates, together with the upkeep of the station itself.

Padeswood & Buckley Station is next reached - another small hamlet just one mile distance that also maintained a busy railway station for over a century (image 3).

Padeswood & Buckley Station.

An unusual feature of this station being that the ticket office/station master's office and ladies' toilet were along the bridge which crossed over the line. Note the two waiting rooms and gentlemens' toilets - one on each side of the track.

It was always called Padeswood & Buckley Station, but it was a good mile out of the Buckley town centre. Incidentally, Buckley had three stations in days past - this one, together with Buckley junction on the Wrexham to Bidston line and old Buckley on the Connah's Quay line - they don't do things by halves in Buckley!

Hope and Penyffordd.

Hope and Penyffordd low level, is next reached (image 4) - again ladies' and gentlemens' toilets/waiting rooms/footbridge/signal box and railway crossing gates - all in evidence, this together with the station master's house.

Interesting to note that the small community of Penyffordd had two stations, this one featured and Penyffordd high level a quarter of a mile distant, serving the Wrexham to Bidston clientele, which is still in use.

The railway line proceeds downhill until Higher Kinnerton is reached which was the location of Kinnerton station - a small village concern, not even on the same scale as the stations mentioned previously (image 5). It just looks like a hut/waiting room either side of the line and it's called a Station, but appears more like a halt !

Kinnerton Station c1960s.

Broughton and Bretton is next reached (image 6) crossing the road near to the Glynne Arms in Bretton - after passing across land where Broughton Retail Park is situated today.

This was the station used by many workers from outlying areas who were employed at the nearby De Havilland Aircraft works (now Airbus).

Broughton and Bretton Station.

The line then proceeds on to meet the main coast line at Mold Junction 2 miles distance. Mold Junction was a busy junction, locomotion sheds and goods yard prior to the line closure, and it was at this location that the branch line met the main coastal Chester to Holyhead line, before making its way to Platform 1 at Chester General Station a further two miles distance, which incidentally today is a car park.

I am sure many can recall this old picturesque rural branch line with relish whether for shopping, leisure or employment requirements in an age which seems so distant today. Happy memories.

• My thanks and acknowledgement to the late Ray Davies and Elvet Pierce collections for three of the images.