Manchester Piccadilly platform 12

[Ships]

Hi folks, I've been looking into this part of Piccadilly and my old quail shows that this wasn't originally in use and that the track work has changed quite considerably (borne out by a node in geogis where the old S&C used to be). Anyway I was wondering if any one could tell me when the track work was remodelled and weather this coincided with the extensions to platform 13 and 14. Also if anyone has any more info/photos (especially of 12 out of use and the old track work) it would be much appreciated!

 

[Ash Bridge]

Just quickly of the top of my head and I stand to be corrected here, but I think it was used for parcels/mails traffic until this ceased in around 1996, then as you suggest most likely brought back into passenger use at the time of the remodelling work to platforms 13/14.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Just quickly of the top of my head and I stand to be corrected here, but I think it was used for parcels/mails traffic until this ceased in around 1996, then as you suggest most likely brought back into passenger use at the time of the remodelling work to platforms 13/14.

Wasn't it re-instated when the 13/14 "skylounge" was built in the 2000's?

 

[Ships]

Just quickly of the top of my head and I stand to be corrected here, but I think it was used for parcels/mails traffic until this ceased in around 1996, then as you suggest most likely brought back into passenger use at the time of the remodelling work to platforms 13/14.

My quail from around 1992 shows no track into 12 and the connection into 11 was straight of the up oxford rd, as opposed to joining much further south along with roads from 9 and 10. Have platforms 8 and 9 always been to long or were they extended too?

Were the remodelling works to 13/14 done at the same time as the sky lounge?

 

[Ianno87]

My quail from around 1992 shows no track into 12 and the connection into 11 was straight of the up oxford rd, as opposed to joining much further south along with roads from 9 and 10. Have platforms 8 and 9 always been to long or were they extended too?

Were the remodelling works to 13/14 done at the same time as the sky lounge?

I believe the present layout (with re-connected Platform 12, and access to Platforms 10/11 being diverted away from sharing a lead with Platform 13 as shown in the 1992 Quail) was put in over Christmas/New Year 98-99. I remember, as I took a trip with my Dad on a 150 from Victoria to Glossop on New Year's Day 1999!

I think the Sky Lounge (and travelators along Platforms 10/11) followed a year or two later, once the refurbishment of the main train shed roof had been completed. Previously, the main walking route to Platforms 13/14 from the concourse was along Platforms 8 & 9; hence why these platforms (unlike all the others) have an escalator up to the footbridge, rather than just steps.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Just found a couple of shots while doing a Google search, no info with pictures but the first one shows a class 304 in Regional Railways livery (so approx between 1987-1992) stood in platform 11 with a clearly trackless platform 12 alongside it, the other shot shows a 4 car 304 in blue/grey livery (1978-81)pulling away from platform 13 with the connection looking recently removed as some of the sections of rail were still lay around, the rest of the trackwork into 12 was all still in place.

 

[edwin_m]

I vaguely recall that P13/14 were lengthened about 1988 as part of the Windsor Link scheme. If this is so then could it have involved disconnecting 12 as well?

 

[Ash Bridge]

I vaguely recall that P13/14 were lengthened about 1988 as part of the Windsor Link scheme. If this is so then could it have involved disconnecting 12 as well?

Although the picture estimated to date from late 70's/ early 80's that I mentioned above shows the connection was removed considerably earlier than that.

 

[Springs Branch]

Maybe before the period you're interested in, but I have a few old Working Timetables for the Slade Lane - Piccadilly - Oxford Rd - Cornbrook Jn. section from the 1970s.
These give details of platform allocations, ECS moves and scheduled shunts at Piccadilly.

They confirm there were no scheduled passenger trains from Platform 12 in that era, but it had regular, limited use for parcels.

May 1977 - May 1978 TT shows the following moves in Platform 12:

• 1607 arrival of 4H10, 1510 Oldham Clegg St to Piccadilly Parcels.
  This appears to shunt to Plat. 11 at some stage, then depart from #11 as 1M25 1808 Piccadilly to St Pancras Parcels.
  
• 2322SX arrival of 5E66, 2312 Longsight to Piccadilly ECS. This is scheduled to shunt from Platform 12 to 11 at 0010 and form 1E66 0120 Piccadilly to Cleethorpes News and Parcels.
  
• In the 1973 timetable there was an empty EMU scheduled to arrive in Platform 12 at 0005SuO from Longsight after servicing. There is no corresponding departure for this unit on Sunday morning, although the incoming did carry an "Alderley Edge via Stockport" headcode (5H52).

 

[Ships]

Just found a couple of shots while doing a Google search, no info with pictures but the first one shows a class 304 in Regional Railways livery (so approx between 1987-1992) stood in platform 11 with a clearly trackless platform 12 alongside it, the other shot shows a 4 car 304 in blue/grey livery (1978-81)pulling away from platform 13 with the connection looking recently removed as some of the sections of rail were still lay around, the rest of the trackwork into 12 was all still in place.

Hey, do you have a link to those pictures?