The Story of a Disused Railway

[MartinZero]

Here is the Link to Paul and Rebecca's Channel They are on Facebook @everydisusedstation and they have a website www.everydisusedstation.co.uk Martin, PO Box 265, Manchester, M24 0BX

[BestUserNameUK]

The Manchester Ship Canal & Salford Docks... a sea port 30 odd miles inland.. Magnificent feat of engineering and unique.

[geezeer]

I grew up in Partington so all the images you posted brought back memories as a kid. The bridge had the shipping containers placed into position because of the fights that used to take place between the lads in Partington and Cadishead. Trust me, when you were being chased or vice versa that bridge was not the easiest to cross at speed and often led to you being caught or just falling over and making a mess of yourself.

[christycullen]

It's crazy to think all the engineering and hard work that went into that bridge just to let it decay. The arches are a thing of beauty

[garahammacdonald]

The underpass in partington station never ust to be blocked off as many years ago (around 20) me, my brother and friends ust to use it as a hide out. Many of times we ust to walk from partington station straight down the old tracks and across the bridge of doom. The good old days lol. Great video bright back lots of memories

[Gribbo]

Wow the Manchester Ship Canal looks so small. I remember as a kid in the 60s I sometimes used to cycle from Altrincham to the canal near Warburton. Scrambling down the slippy bank always felt a bit scary with this dark wide, oily black water at the bottom of the cut. How small, green and pleasant it all looks now from the drone shots. Gone are oil covered rocks on the lower cutting from the ship wash. Now only hawthorn, ivy and nettles and fungi . Beautiful how nature always finds its way back. Thanks Martin for the post-industrial view of my childhood adventure grounds. More green less grimy black!

[bran]

Thank you guys, I lived in partington from fifty nine as a five year old till eighty one, when I moved to Devon with my young family, I remember as a ten year old boy, buying my ticket from partington to altrinchham to go ice scating, I walked under that lovely white tiled underpass which you put the camera down, and the ship canal and the viaduct was my adventure playground, we used to risk a five pound fine, by walking over the bridge to cadishead to save the threepenny ferry crossing so as to be able to buy sweets at irlam swimming pool, so verry dangerous but it was a adventure for us young kids, thanks again.

[buckieloon]

Fantastic video Martin, great to see the crossover with Paul & Rebecca too, great folk to spend the day with. That Railway underpass was such a great find. The drone shots are great, might get one too 😃

[Duranie]

Really enjoyed this video some fantastic finds, especially the underpass at Partington Station. Thanks Martin.

[sallyford-fitzwilliams]

How can 51 people dislike this? Excellent video, as usual.

[brianfox]

What great little film I used to play around them old lines love the film it’s like a little walk in the country with nature shots keep up the good work

[doncoffey]

Another gem. I don’t know if people realise how much work goes into editing but I spend hours and I don’t have music and drones and all the graphics you do so I very much appreciate it. Its also kind of spooky how similar the subject matter is on the one I’ve just done but I’ve focused more on Irlam Viaduct and each end of the line you were on.. I love the attention to detail with the close up of stonework and even plant life! I’ve been past both ends of that line dozens of times driving trains but never seen down it. Brilliant, thanks.

[richardpettet]

Another great film. I like the way you explain it on the map, makes it easier to follow.

[adelestevens]

I wish you had said you were going to Glazebook!
I'm a signaller there and could've told you lots more about the old line.
It used to be from Wigan Central (closed in the 60's) to Stockport.
The low level line went to British Tar Products with the last train being as late as February 2002.
Most of the sidings at Glazebrook were used as exchange sidings for the ship canal company and the Lancashire union steelworks at Irlam.
The reason for the lines closure was the cost of renovating cadishead viaduct costed at £4million in 1985 and that was too much for BR.
There are plans to reopen the viaduct for foot traffic and eventually for a heritage steam railway funded by the Hamilton Davies foundation but personally I doubt it will happen, the last time I was on the viaduct in 1999 it had rotted through in places where you can see the canal below.
I would advise anyone thinking of getting on to it to not do so, it's very unsafe.
Have you looked at Irlam station?
There is a cafe / bar / museum in the old station building with pictures of the surrounding lines.
Cool video, live the drone footage.👍👍

[jackbarnes]

When you see how quiet the canal and docks are now it's hard to imagine how busy it used to be

[TheFlow]

it always amazes me how fast nature reclaim former structures, nobody would think that some 30yrs ago there was still railroad traffice in that place ..

[matthewbrown]

Although its nice when you find the old remnants of the past, tucked away in the undergrowth, i can't help but feel sad that all these things are dissused an derelict. All the effort that went into creating these things, and its all gone to waste and forgotten about.

[nickbenke]

I spent a wonderful summer afternoon looking over both sides of this bridge, apparently kids from north and south used to meet up for gang fights on the bridge. But then someone got stabbed and the containers got put in place. To the west is Latchford bridge in Grappenhall; it was the Stockport to Warrington line but closed in 1985. It is accessible from the South side but stick to the rails and certainly worth a look for it's outstanding Victorian Engineering. Great work as always fella!

[johnhardman]

If the line and bridge were reinstated, there would be a possible freight link from south to east Manchester, running from Glazebrook via Stockport, Denton and Guide Bridge and/or Miles Platting to places like Leeds and Bradford. This could help take the pressure off the cross-Manchester line that runs via Piccadilly and Oxford Road stations, and helping to replace inner-Manchester freight routes that were closed years ago and 'developed' beyond reinstatement.

[stephengiles]

Your enthusiasm and interest in these subjects is infectious and the research impressive. Thank you for taking us along with you