Questions about Skelton Junction (CLC)

[F2002]

Hi All,

I live in the area and have a few questions;

1. From what I can tell there used to be a double track from Skelton junction to Cadishead but this was singled at some point (perhaps when the viaduct was taken out of use?) and the line went as far as the Gas works/Shell Chemicals siding. Does anyone know when it was singled?

2. As well as the Spur into Shell Chemicals I can see there looks to have been another spur going through the facility and crossing the road (I am guessing this was to service the 'old' partington power station? Does anyone know when this was lifted/taken out of use?

3. With some new developments in the area and the talk or residential housing once the facilities have been flattened is there any chance of the line ever re-opening?

 

[table38]

It only answers your first question, but there is some information about the line here: http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/w/west_timperley/

The line remained a busy route for goods services until 1984 when the bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal at Cadishead closed. The line was cut back to Partington and singled.

Goods services operated along this section of line until the 10.10.1993. Today the platforms at West Timperley are still extant and the single line remains in situ.

 

[northwichcat]

3. With some new developments in the area and the talk or residential housing once the facilities have been flattened is there any chance of the line ever re-opening?

Unlikely.

Cheadle and Baguley stations re-opening is a possibility. (Baguley as a Metrolink interchange.)

A new line between the Mid-Cheshire line and the Airport spur is also a possibility.

Reinstating Middlewich station and a service on that line is a possibility but the most likely of the 3 at the moment.

 

[F2002]

Unlikely.

Cheadle and Baguley stations re-opening is a possibility. (Baguley as a Metrolink interchange.)

A new line between the Mid-Cheshire line and the Airport spur is also a possibility.

Reinstating Middlewich station and a service on that line is a possibility but the most likely of the 3 at the moment.

It's a shame because that stretch of line between Skelton and Partington is quite scenic

 

[Greybeard33]

Hi All,

I live in the area and have a few questions;

1. From what I can tell there used to be a double track from Skelton junction to Cadishead but this was singled at some point (perhaps when the viaduct was taken out of use?) and the line went as far as the Gas works/Shell Chemicals siding. Does anyone know when it was singled?

2. As well as the Spur into Shell Chemicals I can see there looks to have been another spur going through the facility and crossing the road (I am guessing this was to service the 'old' partington power station? Does anyone know when this was lifted/taken out of use?

3. With some new developments in the area and the talk or residential housing once the facilities have been flattened is there any chance of the line ever re-opening?

Regarding Q2: According to this article Carrington Power Station, which was served by the line, closed in 1991. I recall that the level crossing over the A6144 remained in place for a year or two afterwards, before the track was lifted.

Re. Q3: I believe there was a proposal a few years ago for an intermodal freight terminal on the Ship Canal at Carrington, which would have been rail served by this line. This was eventually superseded by Peel's Port Salford scheme on the other side of the canal, which would have a rail connection to the Chat Moss line.

I do not think there is any prospect of the line reopening for passenger traffic, even as a Metrolink extension, because it does not connect large enough population centres to generate viable passenger flows.

It's a shame because that stretch of line between Skelton and Partington is quite scenic

Really? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose. I find the area quite dreary and desolate - flat scrubland.

 

[snowball]

Cheadle and Baguley stations re-opening is a possibility. (Baguley as a Metrolink interchange.)

If a station were to be opened at Baguley for interchange with Metrolink, it would be a new site. The original Baguley station was a long way to the west.

 

[Bevan Price]

The Railway Junction Diagram for the Skelton Junction area might be of some interest:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/C...nnington,_Godley,_Marple_&_Woodley_RJD_73.jpg

(If necessary, cut & paste the link into your browser.)

 

[table38]

The Railway Junction Diagram for the Skelton Junction area might be of some interest

There was also an earlier North-to-East link from Timperley to Skelton Junction (so imagine of you were coming from Stockport around the really curvy bit towards Altrincham, you could turn right and go up to Timperley)

-- edit --

Found a map:

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If a station were to be opened at Baguley for interchange with Metrolink, it would be a new site. The original Baguley station was a long way to the west.

TfGM appear to have gone very quiet over the last eighteen months about a heavy-rail station in the Baguley area. Has anyone any news on why this could be so.

The Manchester Metrolink Airport Line is well advanced and in its final stages, with the new services through Baguley running before the end of this year,

 

[northwichcat]

TfGM appear to have gone very quiet over the last eighteen months about a heavy-rail station in the Baguley area. Has anyone any news on why this could be so.

The Manchester Metrolink Airport Line is well advanced and in its final stages, with the new services through Baguley running before the end of this year,

I think until service frequency is enhanced between Altrincham and Stockport that there's no point in opening new stations with there being a risk, particularly at weekends, that the train turns up with no room for anyone to board and the next train not being for an hour

 

[F2002]

It seems the last traffic was 1993 but it was never fully lifted or cleared out of the way. Shame it's just sitting there

 

[ian1944]

It's a shame because that stretch of line between Skelton and Partington is quite scenic

Wikipedia on Carrington Moss, the "nearby railway line" being the one in question between W. Timperley and Partington:

Originally an unused area of grouse moorland, the moss was reclaimed in the latter half of the 19th century for farming and the disposal of Manchester's waste. A system of tramways was built to connect it with the Manchester Ship Canal and a nearby railway line.

The Manchester waste referred to was of course the euphemistically-named human waste - when this disposal was taking place, nobody of any taste or discernment would want to be within sniffing distance. Long finished, of course, so no olfactory problem, but visually, I've always found it scruffy and charmless.

 

[Jamesb1974]

TfGM appear to have gone very quiet over the last eighteen months about a heavy-rail station in the Baguley area. Has anyone any news on why this could be so.

No idea why the plans/proposals have gone quiet, but would a new rail station at Baguley get used that much anyway? By road, Alty is under ten minutes away and going the other way, without any other stations being built, the next stop is Stockport and then Piccadilly.

With the Metrolink being so close (the existing Metrolink station at Brooklands is only 1.5 miles from the original Baguley station site and takes you straight into Manchester) and the new web of Metrolink lines crossing Altrincham Road and Moor Road, I can't personally see any justification or need for a heavy rail station at Baguley.

 

[edwin_m]

From the Greater Manchester Tram-Train Strategy paper to TfGMC (sorry can't paste a link but Google will find):

In view of its poor performance as a stand-alone scheme, but its potential as a component of a rapid-transit network serving the rapidly-expanding Manchester Airport area, it is recommended that this route be considered as part of a possible future separate study of transport to the Manchester Airport area, which would take into account (among other things) the transport requirements of the Airport City Enterprise Zone and the proposed Manchester Airport HS2 Station. An interchange at Baguley could be a key element in such a network, together with the Western Loop section of the Metrolink Airport Extension not included in the current Phase 3 Programme.

I think this means that nothing will be done on Baguley either as a freestanding station or as an interchange until it is decided whether this route is going ahead as a tram-train, which in turn also depends on confirmation of the Airport HS2 station amongst other things.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I think this means that nothing will be done on Baguley either as a freestanding station or as an interchange until it is decided whether this route is going ahead as a tram-train, which in turn also depends on confirmation of the Airport HS2 station amongst other things.

Are the existing freight train services that use this line ones that look to have a long-term future ?

 

[edwin_m]

Are the existing freight train services that use this line ones that look to have a long-term future ?

I expect so, at least until the entire Peak District is dug out and moved to Northwich.

But being a tram-train it can potentially use the same tracks as freight or passenger trains.

 

[Philip]

Does the line between Northenden Junction and Hazel Grove ever get used by either diverted passenger services or specials? I've seen freight occasionally but that's it. The bit beyond Cheadle Heath is the old Midland Railway. What's the speed limit between Northenden and Hazel Grove?

 

[Ash Bridge]

Does the line between Northenden Junction and Hazel Grove ever get used by either diverted passenger services or specials? I've seen freight occasionally but that's it. The bit beyond Cheadle Heath is the old Midland Railway. What's the speed limit between Northenden and Hazel Grove?

Yes, this route does see occasional specials and I think even a steam worked service in recent years. On the subject of freight trains hasn't the Mid Cheshire line recently gained some extra trains in the form of Bin Liners working to the new power station at Runcorn?

 

[northwichcat]

Yes, this route does see occasional specials and I think even a steam worked service in recent years. On the subject of freight trains hasn't the Mid Cheshire line recently gained some extra trains in the form of Bin Liners working to the new power station at Runcorn?

Yes. However, the number of Tata Chemicals freight trains has gone down slightly due to the Winnington works being decommissioned and some of the work transferring down the road to Lostock Gralam.

These are the booked freight paths for today through Navigation Road: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...9/26/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=freight&order=wtt

Also some freight between Folly Lane I.C.I. Sdgs and Arpley Sidings goes on to the Mid-Cheshire to reverse at Northwich.

 

[F2002]

If the line from Skelton junction to Partington has little or no chance of opening again I'd suggest a bike path similar in what has become of the skelton-warrington line