Work started on the tunnels in September 1875. The first train ran through the tunnels on 1st July 1880. The specification stated that the tunnels should accommodate four tracks, but that only two tracks would be laid initially. The Cheshire Lines specified this so that, at a future date, they would not have to undertake expensive works widening the route through the tunnels. To facilitate future widening the rock cutting at Selwyn Street was partly excavated to the east of the line from street level to about tunnel-roof height on the east side of the line. At Liston Street space was kept free from development on the east side of the line to facilitate widening to four tracks. At the Kirkdale end Hawthorne Road tunnel was partly built as a double tunnel. The bore at the southwest end was a double bore, but on the east side of the line it did not continue quite as far as the Selwyn Street cutting. It ended at a big slab of sandstone. It was not fully excavated to floor level either - only at the point where the sidewalls had to be constructed.

 

At Walton On The Hill two sections of parallel tunnel were excavated on the east side of the line, but neither extended into the open at either Liston Street cutting or Walton on the Hill station, the only access being connecting passages from the Walton On The Hill tunnel. Although the line became very busy, traffic levels never justified widening the route, so the works on the 2nd tunnel were in vain.



The primary purpose of the line had been to move goods, but from 1880 to 1 May 1885 passenger trains between Huskisson and Walton On The Hill passed through the tunnels. The line became very busy, handling all manner of goods and materials, but by 19 June 1966 traffic had declined, and the line through the tunnels was singled. Goods trains continued to pass through the tunnels until August 1975, by which time only one train per day was running between Edge Hill and Huskisson. The single line remained until spring 1979 when it was lifted by a demolition train, which was the last train ever to pass through the three tunnels.



By the early 1980s the northern portal of No.1 tunnel was bricked up and a metal door was fitted to prevent access, the door was soon broken down. In the late 1990s and palisade fencing was erected across the tunnel mouth, the cutting at Liston Street was filled with domestic rubbish thrown down from the street for over three decades, it had been so bad during a visit in August 1995 that it was not possible to pass from Walton On The Hill tunnel to Breeze Hill tunnel without having to climb through rat infested rubbish that reached almost tunnel roof height. High fencing was erected at Liston Street and the cuttings where cleared out of all rubbish by February 2010 the condition of the tunnels appeared to be quite good, although drainage works have been carried out inside No.1 tunnel. Spoil and other material had also been dumped inside No.1 tunnel, lifting the level of the tunnel floor by a few feet. Tunnels 2 and 3 are relatively clear. Brickwork at the portals was in poor shape at Liston Street cutting and at Selwyn Street cutting, in November 2012 this brickwork had been repaired. A more substantial steel door had also been fitted to the north portal of Walton Hill tunnel.

Stations Along Walton Tunnels Branch

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