Beeching's Legacy
Worsley Loopline, Monton
The Beeching cuts (also known as the Beeching Axe) were a reduction of route network and restructuring of the railways in Great Britain, according to a plan outlined in two reports, The Reshaping of British Railways (1963) and The Development of the Major Railway Trunk Routes (1965), written by Dr Richard Beeching and published by the British Railways Board.
Like many areas that lost branch lines, my area suffered as well. There is no line that connect Atherton, Tyldesley, Astley, Walkden, Worsley and Monton. Whilst Manchester has been reversing this loss with the ever expanding Metrolink light rail network to the affluent areas of Greater Manchester, the west side has not been as fortunate. So to make amends we have the mis-guided busway that connects with the East Lancs Road and this walking trail that utilises the old railway lines from my home at Mosley Common all the way to Monton.
As part of an exercise regime we have walked this route half a dozen times now - from front door to Costa Coffee in Monton (can't do these things on an empty stomach) and back again - a round trip of about 8.6 miles. I'd taken my camera and tripod this trip with the intention of capturing the Park Runners that set off from the Monton end on their weekly 5km circuit. There are the remnants of the old Worsley station platforms that I hoped to capture them running through, but we arrived too late to setup and the results a bit rushed but promising so another trip beckons.
This is taken on the way back... after coffee and toast!
Beeching's Legacy
Worsley Loopline, Monton
The Beeching cuts (also known as the Beeching Axe) were a reduction of route network and restructuring of the railways in Great Britain, according to a plan outlined in two reports, The Reshaping of British Railways (1963) and The Development of the Major Railway Trunk Routes (1965), written by Dr Richard Beeching and published by the British Railways Board.
Like many areas that lost branch lines, my area suffered as well. There is no line that connect Atherton, Tyldesley, Astley, Walkden, Worsley and Monton. Whilst Manchester has been reversing this loss with the ever expanding Metrolink light rail network to the affluent areas of Greater Manchester, the west side has not been as fortunate. So to make amends we have the mis-guided busway that connects with the East Lancs Road and this walking trail that utilises the old railway lines from my home at Mosley Common all the way to Monton.
As part of an exercise regime we have walked this route half a dozen times now - from front door to Costa Coffee in Monton (can't do these things on an empty stomach) and back again - a round trip of about 8.6 miles. I'd taken my camera and tripod this trip with the intention of capturing the Park Runners that set off from the Monton end on their weekly 5km circuit. There are the remnants of the old Worsley station platforms that I hoped to capture them running through, but we arrived too late to setup and the results a bit rushed but promising so another trip beckons.
This is taken on the way back... after coffee and toast!