Robert Chadwick (1877 - Oct 1888) - First SM.
                  Aged 21 in 1877.
                  Known as being a “courteous” Station Master.
                  Listed in the 1881 census as SM. Living at 19 Railway Row (Now Railway Terrace).
                  Listed in the Burnley Trade directories 1883 and 1887 as SM here.
                  Moves briefly to SM of Burnley (Manchester Road) before moving to SM of Nelson.
                  Resigned as SM of Nelson in 1892 aged 36.

William Webster (Oct 1888 - Oct 1891)
                  Aged 22 in 1888.
                  Newspaper article about William helping an injured Porter, 16 November 1889.
                  Newspaper article about a fare dodger, 2 July 1890.
                  SM here in the April 1891 census.
                  Change announced 12 September 1891.
                  Moves to SM of Hapton station. Still at Hapton in 1896.

John Wilkinson (Oct 1891 - *1895)
                  Possibly John W. Wilkinson? If so, he's aged 21 in 1891.
                  Promoted from booking clerk at Rawtenstall to SM here.
                  Change announced 12 September 1891.

Reuben Storer (*1895 - *1898)
                  Aged 29 in 1895. First name spelt Ruben in the 1901 census.
                  Listed in the Burnley Trade directory, 1896 as SM here.
                  Probably there in 1895 as trade directories take some time to compile.

James Hale (*1898 - 1902)
                  Aged 26 in 1898.
                  Born in Croston near Chorley.
                  Newspaper articles, Dec 1899 and March 1902.
                  Listed in the 1901 census as SM here, Living at Cockshutt Cottage, Simonstone.
                  Goes on to eventually run the East Lancs Division at Preston station.

Frederick Hilton (1902 - 1906)
                  Aged 25 in 1902.
                  From SM at Holme Station, Lancs. (on the Copy Pit line), 1901-1902.
                  Moves to SM of Bradley Fold station near Bury.

James Cottom (1906 - 1910)
                  Aged around 31 to 33 in 1906.
                  Well known as “Cheery, pleasant and popular” Jimmy Cottom.
                  Born in Croston near Chorley.
                  First worked as a boy at Croston station.
                  Moved to SM of Prestwich, Manchester.
                  Died at Liverpool Royal Infirmary on 16 October 1930.
                  Was SM of Croston station when he died. Aged 55 to 57.

William Roberts Farrer (1910 - Dec 1913)
                  Aged 24 in 1910.
                  SM here in the 1911 census.
                  Moves to SM of Adlington and White Bear stations, near Chorley.

Arthur James Baybutt (Dec 1913 - June 1919)
                  Aged 28 in 1913.
                  Moved from Chief Shipping clerk at Stacksteads.
                  Given a farewell presentation from station staff and friends in the school room,
                  Simonstone, Reported Wednesday 16 July 1919.
                  Moves to SM of Adlington and White Bear stations, near Chorley.

John William Wolfendale (June 1919 - 30 Sept 1933) - Longest serving SM.
                  Aged 28 in 1919.
                  Described as “Exceedingly popular with the passengers at Simonstone”.
                  Moves to SM of Heaton Park, Manchester.
                  Change announced 8 September 1933, to start beginning of October 1933.

E. Turner (2 Oct 1933 - August 1938)
                  Only SM to manage more than one of the loop line stations.
                  Change announced 8 September 1933, to start beginning of October 1933.
                  Moves to SM of Padiham.

George Joshua Copely (August 1938 - 1939)
                  Aged 37 in 1938.
                  Moves from Oldham (Clegg Street), was a clerk there.

R. Fletcher (1939 - April 1940)
                 Change announced 30 March 1940.
                 Moves to SM of Upholland, near Wigan.

W. W. Parry (April 1940 - *1941)
                 Change announced 30 March 1940.
                 Moved from goods clerk at Denbigh, North Wales.
                 Later became SM of Fazakerley and then Darwen.
                 Retired March 1966 as SM of Whitchurch, SM there 1963-1966.

W. Cockshutt (*1941 - Oct 1943)
                 Was a signalman at Brierfield before being appointed SM here.
                 Moves to SM of Holcombe Brook & Green Mount stations, Bury.

W. Meiling (Oct 1943 - July 1946) - Last SM.
                 Possibly surname was Melling.
                 Moved to SM of Upholland, near Wigan.

July 1946-2nd Nov 1964 Supervised by SM's of Padiham.

PADIHAM - 8 listed, average was 11 years service:

Thomas Garner (1875 - March 1883) - First SM.
            Aged 23 in 1875.
            Lived at the Station Masters House, Padiham station, as did all of the SM's of Padiham.

John William Tate (March 1883 - Retired 30 April 1920) - Longest serving SM.
            Aged 27 in 1883.
            Was a keen gardener in his spare time.
            Had a large allotment at the station together with two green houses and a garden shed.
            Retired Friday, 30 April 1920 aged 64. Spent 37 years as SM of Padiham.  
            Longest serving SM of all the stations on the loop line.
            Died in 1926 after an operation, aged 70.

William James Widdup (10 May 1920 - Feb 1928)
            Aged 40 in May 1920. From SM of Bradley Fold, near Bury.
            Moves to SM of Hindley station, near Wigan. Died 26 June 1962.

E. Gerrard (Feb 1928 - July 1938)
            Moves from acting relief SM of Hindley station, near Wigan.

E. Turner (July 1938 - Oct 1943)
            Moves from SM of Simonstone to Padiham.
            Moves to SM of Holcombe Brook & Green Mount stations.

J. Hampshire (Oct 1943 - Jan 1949)
             Promoted to Railway Service Representative at Burnley Central station, January 1949.
             (Supervised Simonstone from 1946-1949)

John Chelms (Jan 1949 - 1960)
             (Supervised Simonstone from 1949-1960, & Great Harwood in 1960).

H. H. Ormerod (1960 - *1965/66) - Last SM.
             Attended closure meeting at Blackburn station, 13 May 1964.
             (Supervised Simonstone 1960-1964).
             Last SM on the loop line.

*1966-17th June 1968 Supervised by SM's of Rose Grove, Burnley.

GREAT HARWOOD - 9 listed, average was 9 years service:

James Geoffrey Birtwell (1877 - 1887) - First SM.
          Aged 24 in 1877.
          Listed as SM here in the 1881 census.         
          Supervised installation of four lane carriage sidings in 1884. Newspaper article, 4 June 1884.
          Annual supper held at the Royal Hotel, Friday 16 January 1885, organised by James.
          Listed in the Blackburn trade directory of 1885, 49 Princess St.
          Supervised the building of the station's lamp room in 1886.
          After resigning from the railway he opened a pawnbroker's shop in Great Harwood.
 
John Johnson (1887 - *1889/90)
          Newspaper article, 10 Aug 1887, gave evidence as SM in an assault case on a young lady.
          Listed in the Blackburn trade directory of 1888. Lived on Station Rd, no number given.

Charles Edward Holt (*1889/90 - 1892)
          Aged 52 in April 1890. Listed as SM here in the 1891 census. 
          Listed in the Blackburn trade directory of 1891. Lived at 10 Station Road,

William Heyworth (1892 - Retired end of May 1925) - Longest serving SM.
         Aged 32 in 1892,  33 years as SM of Great Harwood.
         Listed in the Blackburn trade directory of 1894, no address given,
         Listed in the Blackburn trade directory of 1897, Lived at No. 1 Park Rd.
         Listed in the 1901 & 1911 census returns.    
         Lived at 66 Railway View in 1903 and up to at least 1915.
         Retired as the SM here. Died November 1941. Aged 81.
                       
John Bardsley (20 June 1925 - 18 Dec 1936)
         Aged 42 in 1925, 11 years. 6 months as SM.
         Moved from SM of Baxenden, 12 years as SM there.
         Lived at 20 Railway Terrace in 1935 (from Trade directory), and 20 Station Road in 1936.
         Fatal injury, Wednesday, December 16, 1936, 8.05am train from Blackburn involved.
         Found lying near to the west signal box. Slipped on the box steps or knocked down by train. 
         Died Friday 18 December 1936 at Blackburn Infirmary aged 53.
  
Francis William Cope (Jan 1937 - Late 1946 / Early1947) 
          Aged 41 in 1937. Well known as Frank. Went to school in Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
          Moved from SM of Wilpshire near Blackburn,
          Arrival announced 25 January 1937.
          Listed in 1939 wartime register as SM here, Living at 29 Harwood New Road, and in 1947.
          Newspaper articles 11 June 1943, and 11 February 1944, still SM here.
          Listed in the 1947 trade directory as a station master, Died 20 October 1970 aged 74.

Richard Turner (Late 1946 / Early 1947 - May 1948)
          Aged 41 in 1947. Was from the Ormskirk area, Lancs.
          Moved from SM of Layton (formerly Bispham), Blackpool. Arrived there 1937.
          Short length of service at Gt. Harwood, was SM here in 1947.
          Listed in the 1947 trade directory, Living at 20 Station Road.
          Leaving announced on 17 April and 13 May 1948.
          Moved to SM of Lochee, Dundee, Scotland.

Angus Audsley (June 1948 - Dec 1957)
          Aged 28 in 1948.
          Lived at 20 Station Road. Now officially the station master's house, purchased by BR.
          Promoted and moved to Manchester.

Alec Dawe (Jan 1958 - 1960) - Last SM.
          Moved from Barbon station, Westmorland. Probable first name was Alexander.
          Lived at 20 Station Road,
          Moved to SM of Chatburn which in turn closed to passengers 10 September 1962.

Important Note * Denotes approximate year, SM is an abbreviation for Station Master.
Years with a month / date attached is confirmed as newly appointed or replaced by.

Sources:– Newspaper articles, census returns, trade directories, BR line closure minutes, Burnley library, Blackburn library, Members of the RailUKforums website especially Bernice. Also Cris, Ian and Barbara members of the former Great Harwood History Society, and many thanks to Bernard Bond.

1960-2nd November 1964. Supervised by the SM of Rishton, Robert Weir, well known as Bob.
During this period (1960-1964), Jimmy Whitehead, the remaining porter was given the duties of SM but not the official title. If Jimmy needed any assistance, Bob Weir was close by to lend a hand.  Source: Bernard Bond.

Gt. Harwood station from 1960 was manned mainly by relief staff such as Pete Leigh (Booking clerk from Rishton) who sold tickets to the public here. Pete on one occasion had to organise a horse box to travel from Harwood to Newmarket races, circa 1962.  He also remembers trying to open a new pack of tickets in the crowded waiting room, the twine broke unexpectedly and the tickets flew up in the air like confetti. The passengers helped him to pick them up! He also told me that he was asked once to get something from the station's west signal box, when he asked where the key was for the box, he was told it was under the outside mat at the top of the stairs!   

Simonstone as a small station was a place where first time station masters were placed to gain practical experience of staff management, dealing with the public and local business. After an average of four years you would be then moved on to a generally larger station, but not always. After the war, the LMS railway company needed to cut down on expenditure which is why I think there were no more station masters here after July 1946, it was simply supervised by the SM's of Padiham until closure. There was no specific station master's house at Simonstone.

At Great Harwood and Padiham, the station masters were not first time SM's. Typically they would serve at least a decade at these stations. Two SM's served over 30 years in post, and John William Tate was the longest serving station master at Padiham and also the longest SM on the loop line serving for 37 years there. All the SM's at Padiham lived on the first floor of the street level building at the station. The SM's of Harwood lived at various addresses in the town. 20 Station Road was purchased by BR, probably in the late 1940's / early 1950's and it became known as the station master's house.

Regarding Mr. Cope and Mr. Turner at Great Harwood – Both are listed as SM's there in the 1947 trade directory. The most likely explanation is that this directory was compiled later in 1946 for publication in early 1947, hence both are listed just as the change over happens. My guess is the change happened around September / October of 1946 when the summer timetable had finished.
 
Finally – This list of station masters was extremely difficult to compile and time consuming. I don't have any gaps in the years although some years are approximate. I don't rule out there could be another station master lurking in the background, but I think this is as close as we can come to a definitive list of station masters for the North Lancashire loop line.