Reddish South Railway Station

Reddish South Railway Station is a stop that serves the community of Reddish, Stockport. Frequently amongst the 10 least used stations in the whole of the UK, Reddish South currently has 2 scheduled stops per week both on a Saturday morning in each direction.

Reddish South opened in October 1845 when the line between Stockport and Guide Bridge was completed by the Manchester & Birmingham Railway, barely a year later the line passed into the ownership of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) when the M&BR, Grand Junction Railway and Liverpool and Manchester Railways merged.

The station was a busy stop in it's early tears and consisted of 2 island platforms, a signal box, engine shed and large goods yard. The station was busy throughout it's first half century until trains were redirected in May 1899, reducing much of the passing railway traffic.

Reddish South continued to decline and by the 1960's, British Rail was under large scale downsizing as part of the Beeching cuts and despite many stations like Reddish South and lines like the Stockport-Stalybridge closing they survived the cuts. Despite surviving the station continued to be run down with a lack of investment with the line reduced to single track status, the 2 island platforms reduced to 1 and the the track bed filled in, the station buildings and engine shed demolished and eventually the sidings and land around the station sold off and redeveloped. 

By the 1980's Reddish South had become a request stop only and even this was eventually reduced to a parliamentary service of 1 train per week at 9.22am on a Friday from Stockport to Stalybridge. In 2007 proposals were made to close the station along with Denton to the north, but keep the line open. This prompted a campaign to get more services and investment at Reddish South and a local group has added a mural, flower bed and picket fence to brighten the station up.

The station today suffers because of a lack of investment, no facilities and only 2 scheduled stops per week, both on a Saturday morning in each direction. Whilst there you could see plenty of house buildings adjacent to Reddish South and a large Morrisons store is located just behind the mural that are potential customers to the stop. Just 158 passengers used the station in 2019/20, an average of 3 per week, the stop is just 1 mile from Reddish North Railway Station which served 242000 in the same period, over 1531 times the amount that used Reddish South.

The pictures were taken on the 15th December 2020 using a Nikon d3300 SLR, they can be seen below and on Clickasnap un-watermarked and higher resolution by clicking any image.

The stations only entrance, the infilled section to the right was once trackbed making the station multi platform, it is now served by 1.

Despite low usage, a lack of investment, and 1 train a week stopping the stations limited facilities are looked after by Friends of Reddish South.

To the stations northern end, past a limited size fence is the disused section of the platform. The construction site to the right used to be the stations goods yard.

The fence represents the end of the used part of the station.

The used part of the station, showing the lack of facilities and shelters.

Freightliner 66610 passing through the station, the line is mainly used by freight trains.

The station viewed from the bridge, the former goods yard having houses constructed on it.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Smithy Bridge Railway Station

Smithy Bridge Railway Station is a 2 platform railway stop on the Caldervale Line between Leeds and Manchester in Northern England. The station is unstaffed and has limited facilities with small shelters on both platforms, information boards at the platform entrances, and ticket machines for collecting and purchasing tickets prior to travel. Both platforms are accessible via ramps rather than steps and there is a small car park between the station and Rochdale Canal, passengers are advised this is not the property of the station though. The platforms are both adjacent to the level crossing which carries Smithy Bridge Road that runs up to Hollingworth Lake. During 2017/18 the station was used by 167000 passengers or approx. 3211 per week.

Smithy Bridge Station was originally opened by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway in October 1868, nearly 30 years after the line through Smithy Bridge was opened to Littleborough. This station remained in use until closure by British Rail in May 1960. There the story ends until finance was provided by Greater Manchester PTE and the new current station was opened on the 19th August 1985 on the site of the original station. Immediately to the east of the station is a level crossing which used to be controlled by a signal box on the opposite side of the road to the station. This was taken out of use in 2014 and has been demolished.

The pictures below were taken using a Nikon d3300 SLR camera on the 27th December 2019. They can be seen on Clickasnap un-watermarked and higher resolution.

Thanks for looking, please take a moment to share and follow me on social media. Clicking any picture should open a link in another window to the un-watermarked version on Clickasnap.

The following is taken from my YouTube channel.

All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

A Pennine Gem: Discovering Christ Church, Denshaw

Sometimes, the most enchanting discoveries happen when you least expect them. That's exactly what occurred on a sunny June afternoon in 2016, as I journeyed back from Manchester Airport, weaving my way through the picturesque Pennine landscape. My original plan was to explore the tranquil beauty of Dowry Reservoir, but fate had other plans. As I drove along Huddersfield Road, a striking silhouette caught my eye: Christ Church, Denshaw.

Standing proudly near the heart of the village, Christ Church is a testament to Victorian architectural prowess. Built by Henry Gartside and opened in 1863, this Anglican parish church exudes a sense of timeless serenity. Its solid stone construction and elegant spire pierce the Pennine sky, a beacon of faith and history.

The church's grounds, too, hold a special significance. Just inside the entrance gate, the Denshaw War Memorial stands as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by the village's sons. The juxtaposition of the peaceful church and the solemn memorial creates a powerful atmosphere, inviting reflection and remembrance.

It's no surprise that Christ Church was granted Grade II listed status on June 19th, 1967, a recognition of its architectural and historical importance. The intricate details of its exterior, the well-maintained grounds, and the sense of history that permeates the air all contribute to its unique charm.

The photographs I captured on that serendipitous day, June 25th, 2016, offer a glimpse into the beauty of Christ Church. From the majestic spire to the tranquil gardens, each image tells a story of a place where history and community intertwine.

I've included eight of those photos below, showcasing the exterior and grounds of this beautiful church. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed discovering this hidden gem.

Christ Church, Denshaw, is more than just a building; it's a living piece of history, a place of peace, and a reminder of the enduring beauty of the Pennine landscape. If you ever find yourself travelling through this part of the world, I highly recommend taking a moment to explore this enchanting church and its surroundings. You never know what hidden treasures you might discover.

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The Summit Tunnel: A Testament to Victorian Engineering and Resilience

The Pennines, a formidable range of hills in Northern England, presented a significant obstacle to the burgeoning railway network of the 19th century. But where there's a will, there's a way, and the Victorians, with their characteristic ingenuity, carved a path through the heart of these hills: the Summit Tunnel. This 1.6-mile marvel of engineering, connecting Littleborough in Greater Manchester with Walsden in West Yorkshire, stands as a testament to the vision and determination of its builders, and a fascinating story of both triumph and challenge.

Construction of the Summit Tunnel began in 1837 under the watchful eye of the legendary George Stephenson. This ambitious project aimed to create a crucial rail link between the industrial powerhouses of Leeds and Manchester. The sheer scale of the undertaking is staggering. Around a thousand navvies toiled for four years, excavating through the unforgiving terrain. Tragically, nine men lost their lives during the construction, a stark reminder of the dangers faced by these pioneering workers.

The numbers involved in the tunnel's construction are truly impressive: 23 million bricks and 8,000 tonnes of concrete were used. The final cost, a staggering £285,000, significantly overran the initial budget of £97,000, highlighting the challenges inherent in such a monumental task. Upon its opening in 1841, the Summit Tunnel briefly held the title of the longest tunnel in the world, a testament to Stephenson's ambition and skill. He considered it his greatest piece of railway engineering, famously declaring, "I stake my reputation and my head that the tunnel will never fail so as to injure any human life."

For nearly a century and a half, the tunnel served as a vital artery, facilitating the movement of people and goods across the Pennines. Its continuous service was only interrupted by a dramatic event in 1984. A goods train carrying petrol tankers derailed within the tunnel, triggering a devastating fire. The inferno raged for two days, capturing national attention and raising serious concerns about the tunnel's structural integrity. The fire brigade battled tirelessly to bring the blaze under control, finally issuing the stop signal on Christmas Eve. The aftermath saw the tunnel closed for eight months.

The fire, while dramatic, ultimately revealed the resilience of Stephenson's masterpiece. Despite the intense heat, the brick lining held firm, requiring only minimal repairs. Approximately half a mile of track and the electrical services needed replacing, and some of the air shafts required reinforcement. Before the tunnel was reopened, local residents were given the opportunity to walk through it, a gesture that underscored the community's connection to this vital piece of infrastructure. Train services between Todmorden and Littleborough resumed on August 19, 1985.

The Summit Tunnel stands as a powerful symbol of Victorian engineering prowess. It's a story of vision, hard work, tragedy, and ultimately, resilience. From its construction in the 19th century to its dramatic encounter with fire in the 20th, the tunnel has played a crucial role in the history of the region. It continues to serve as a vital transportation link today, a testament to the enduring legacy of George Stephenson and the men who built this remarkable feat of engineering.

The pictures below were taken with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet on November 14, 2013. The feature is the tunnel's eastern portal, a few of the tunnel's air shafts, and a number taken from the hills above the tunnel looking down into the valley and landscapes below. Clicking any image should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

The following 2 short films were taken at the tunnels Northern (Western) portal.

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This shows a Leeds bound train leaving the tunnel in the direction of Walsden. It was filmed in August 2017.

This was filmed in November 2013 and shows a Manchester bound pacer train entering the tunnel.

Thanks for looking and please take a moment to share and follow me on social media and check out my portfolio on Photo4Me via the link below.

All the pictures and video remain the copyright of Colin Green.