Date: 04/02/2017

The Pilling Pig or, to give it its correct name, the Garstang and Knott End Railway, had a very chequered history indeed. Built to take the agricultural produce of Over Wyre to the local markets at Garstang and Preston, much of the money to fund the line was provided by local farmers and landowners. [From Mark Bartlett]

External links

All aboard Lancashire's long lost railway

Blackpool Gazette

Author Dave Richardson is researching a new book about life on tracks of one of Lancashire's smallest railway lines

Related images

Cogie Hill Halt (SD 446468) opened in 1870 and closed in 1930. The line crossed the road on a diagonal and goods trains to Pilling continued to pass through until 1963 [See image 60670]. The halt was situated just beyond the fence. Level crossing gate posts are still in situ at the road side although the track bed formation towards Pilling has disappeared here.
Location: Cogie Hill
Company: Garstang and Knot End Railway
16/02/2008 Mark Bartlett

An old picture of Nateby Crossing Cottage, on the Garstang & Knott End Railway, at the turn of the last century, [see image 18317] recently submitted to a local newspaper in North Lancashire. [Courtesy Mrs Soar of Pilling].
Location: Nateby
Company: Garstang and Knot End Railway
//1900 Mark Bartlett collection

This Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST (1885/1955) has been cosmetically restored and is displayed at the entrance to the caravan site that is built on the Knott End line trackbed in Pilling. The loco has been named Pilling Pig, an unofficial name for all trains on the railway which originated with the 1875 loco Farmer's Friend which had a particularly squealing whistle. The number 11302 was actually carried by Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST Knott End, built in 1908 and scrapped by the LMS in 1925. The Pilling Piglet behind may be a representation of the ex-LNWR Railmotors that plied the line from 1923 to 1930.
Location: Pilling
Company: Garstang and Knot End Railway
29/01/2015 Mark Bartlett