I used Stanlow & Thornton last month when travelling to Derby via Warrington Bank Quay and Crewe. I bought an off-peak return earlier in the morning from Ellesmere Port station as I was returning to Little Sutton via Hooton.
I read your post with interest as I've never heard from anyone else on these forums who has visited Stanlow & Thornton (SNT).
Although I've passed through on the train quite a few times, I've only directly visited the station in person twice.
Once a few years back, I walked from the Ellesmere Port end all the way down Oil Sites Road to the station. This was shortly after the road was permanently closed to through public traffic. It was one of the most intimidating walks I've ever done in my life. With "Private Road" and "No photography" signs all over the place, coupled with the fact I had a bag full of compact cameras (strictly for station photographing of course) and inquisitive looks from Stanlow security staff occupying the various gatehouses along the road. They did not however approach me. Also, the constant stream of oil tankers flew past at quite a pace, nearly knocking me off my feet in their wake as I walked hurredly along the narrow pavement. I did not catch a train on that day, (being about 4 hours too early) but after leaving the station, I walked back the way I came just a few minutes later, which perhaps appeared even more suspect.
When I later contacted Cheshire West council with a query on how a pedestrian might legitimately walk from Ellesmere Port to the village of Ince. (Option 1 the private Oil Sites road through the refinery & under the surveillance of the tight security. Option 2 along the busy 60mph A5117 road with no pavement for over a mile. Option 3 through the fields of Gowy Meadows occupied by Longhorn cattle etc.. ) - the ranger service only advised Option 3 as doable - which does not go near the station, and also does not feel any less dangerous!
Anyway the second time, I arrived at SNT by train, photographed the station and departed on the return working, back to Ellesmere Port. This was a much more relaxing and enjoyable experience although I did not leave the confines of the station on that occasion.
I would very much like to go back to the station with the newer cameras that I have now. I do very much like to visit quieter backwater stations. I always think though if I lived in the village of Thornton, over the road from the refinery, I would use the service more frequently, but I'd probably still find the walk to the station intimidating and off-putting!
But, I'd just like to ask, how did you arrive at the station? Was it on foot, car or by train? Thanks for your post!
. Although I've since found additional alternative permissive routes within Gowy Meadows so I have walked that way the last couple of times. That way I can usually find a walk that avoids most of the cattle, even though it adds a bit of extra distance to the walk. I've also done the walk directly along the A5117 Road, but I'm not too keen on that stretch where there's no pavement!
