Destinations From Manchester Exchange.

[Leigh White]

I know it shut in 69 and I only used the platforms when alighting the train from Tyldesley, just wondering what other routes it served before Victoria became the main station in that area.

 

[6Gman]

I know it shut in 69 and I only used the platforms when alighting the train from Tyldesley, just wondering what other routes it served before Victoria became the main station in that area.

Basically the ex-LNW routes, so Liverpool, Chester, Leeds (via Huddersfield).

The ex-LYR routes went from Victoria - Calder Valley, Oldham, Bolton.

 

[Adlington]

Wikipedia, the infallible source of all wisdom, says:

Exchange station served Liverpool Lime Street; Huddersfield; Leeds; Hull Paragon and Newcastle Central; also Warrington Bank Quay, Chester and North Wales. Local LNWR passenger trains operated via Walkden to Bolton Great Moor Street and via Tyldesley to Wigan North Western.

The station originally provided alternative services from Manchester to London Euston. Between 1884 and 1943, the Great Western Railway operated a competing passenger train service from Chester General station via Frodsham, Warrington Bank Quay and Eccles to Manchester Exchange.

 

[Leigh White]

Thanks, a few trains I caught at Tyldesley were on Excursion destinations to the N West seaside resorts and N Wales, loads of summer traffic seemed to come that way in the 60s.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Don't forget the WCML services to Scotland via Tyldesley and Wigan NW.
Right up to the 1960s there were alternate Scottish services from Exchange (via Wigan ) and Victoria (via Bolton).
Routes to Liverpool included via Leigh, and also St Helens Shaw St.
Routes to Leeds included via Dewsbury and the Spen Valley line. Services onwards to Hull/Newcastle were joint with the NER.
Before 1884, all these services used Victoria station (joint ownership with the L&Y).
Also local services to Bolton Gt Moor St.

 

[crosscity]

I know it shut in 69 and I only used the platforms when alighting the train from Tyldesley, just wondering what other routes it served before Victoria became the main station in that area.

I believe Victoria and Exchange shared a platform which was one of the longest in the country. I don't know why it existed or how it was used, but theoretically you could have a train scheduled to call at both stations without leaving the platform. Does anyone know if one ever did?

 

[Adlington]

theoretically you could have a train scheduled to call at both stations without leaving the platform.

Train now standing at platform 3 is ready to depart for Manchester Victoria and to arrive at Manchester Exchange

 

[deltic]

In 1964 departures from Manchester Exchange included
Newspaper trains to Newcastle, Chester, Wigan, Barrow, Liverpool, St Helens, Glasgow Central
Passenger trains to Holyhead, Huddersfield, Leeds, Preston, Liverpool, Hull, and sleeper to Glasgow
Summer Saturday holiday trains to Penychain, Llandudno, Filey Camp

 

[deltic]

Train now standing at platform 3 is ready to depart for Manchester Victoria and to arrive at Manchester Exchange

It was platform 11 that linked the two stations together and was still used in the 1970s after Exchange was closed - the platform was used to load newspapers on a number of trains at the same time

 

[Leigh White]

I suppose being so close to the Atherton Line it would be closed. With the area being so built up now in the Tyldesley district it seems a shame to lose a useful line what seemed so busy with loads of traffic passing through in the mid 60s, got a guided busway instead now.

 

[Mugby]

Interesting that the GWR operated into Manchester until 1943, I never knew that!

Are there any photographs of GWR trains in Manchester?

 

[Adlington]

Train now standing at platform 3 is ready to depart for Manchester Victoria and to arrive at Manchester Exchange

It was platform 11 that linked the two stations together

We apologise for the platform change and any inconvenience caused.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Trains ran to Liverpool Lime Street from Manchester Exchange and to Liverpool Exchange from Manchester Victoria

 

[Bevan Price]

Leigh White said: ↑
I know it shut in 69 and I only used the platforms when alighting the train from Tyldesley, just wondering what other routes it served before Victoria became the main station in that area.

Basically the ex-LNW routes, so Liverpool, Chester, Leeds (via Huddersfield).

.

It also had services to Bolton Great Moor Street, and to Wigan North Western via Tyldesley. There were also a few long-distance services beyond Wigan to Scotland, Windermere, etc.

 

[unlevel42]

During the 70s on rare Fridays, Platform 11 east, middle, west and exchange were in use for nearly its full length for Bury? and the special or lengthened trains going to Holyhead for the Rugby internationals in Dublin.This was not the case on return as demand was more spread out. At these times there were cones spread along the platform at Exchange to prevent the Post and parking cars from encroaching.
The normal DMU service for Bangor/Holyhead was at the front on the Exchange platform which meant the special crawled behind until Bank Quay. At Chester there was another special coming from the south as well as the regular Euston and New Street to Holyhead services.
Next door Boddingtons brewery had a pub at the gate which was accessible by some steep steps.

 

[Taunton]

Interesting that the GWR operated into Manchester until 1943, I never knew that!
Are there any photographs of GWR trains in Manchester?

Strangely, I've never seen one. The GWR was half-owner with the LNWR/LMS of the Birkenhead Joint, and ran half the trains from Chester to Birkenhead, but the BJ also owned the line from Chester to Warrington, and thence had running powers over the LNWR on via Earlestown to Manchester. My guess is the advantage was mainly for freight, giving the GWR access to Manchester. Being aware of the allocation at the GWR Chester shed (located where the dmu depot is now) I would guess that 43xx 2-6-0 would be the likely power by the 1930s for both passenger and freight services. Unlike Birkenhead, none of the passenger trains from Manchester seem to have run onwards from Chester over the GWR to Wrexham and beyond.

 

[Altfish]

Strangely, I've never seen one. The GWR was half-owner with the LNWR/LMS of the Birkenhead Joint, and ran half the trains from Chester to Birkenhead, but the BJ also owned the line from Chester to Warrington, and thence had running powers over the LNWR on via Earlestown to Manchester. My guess is the advantage was mainly for freight, giving the GWR access to Manchester. Being aware of the allocation at the GWR Chester shed (located where the dmu depot is now) I would guess that 43xx 2-6-0 would be the likely power by the 1930s for both passenger and freight services. Unlike Birkenhead, none of the passenger trains from Manchester seem to have run onwards from Chester over the GWR to Wrexham and beyond.

I have seen a photo, pre WW2 of a Dukedog (I think) on a passenger train about to leave Exchange. I'll try and find it.

 

[Altfish]

I have seen a photo, pre WW2 of a Dukedog (I think) on a passenger train about to leave Exchange. I'll try and find it.

Found it, or to be precise THEM.
The book is called "Liverpool to Manchester" by N. Fields, A C Gilbert & N R Knight, here it is...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Liverpool-...15013&sr=1-7&keywords=liverpool+to+manchester

Pictures 85 and 88 show...3212 in May 1937 and 6332 in the same month. The caption indicates that GWR engines regularly worked into Exchange until 1943.

 

[Bevan Price]

Found it, or to be precise THEM.
The book is called "Liverpool to Manchester" by N. Fields, A C Gilbert & N R Knight, here it is...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Liverpool-...15013&sr=1-7&keywords=liverpool+to+manchester

Pictures 85 and 88 show...3212 in May 1937 and 6332 in the same month. The caption indicates that GWR engines regularly worked into Exchange until 1943.

Anything bigger than a 4300 Class would probably be too wide to fit the LNWR loading guage.

Due to its broad guage heritage, the GWR loading guage permitted wider locos than could be used on most other railways.

 

[muddythefish]

It was platform 11 that linked the two stations together and was still used in the 1970s after Exchange was closed - the platform was used to load newspapers on a number of trains at the same time

Ran the length of the platform circa 1967 from Victoria to Exchange to "spot" the loco on the front of a newspaper train. There must have been more than 20 bogie vans on , with an EE Type 4 on the front.

Great days