Rochdale Canal, Rose Grove Bridge 3 to Bridge 1a

The Rochdale Canal Rose Grove Bridge (3) to Tower Hill Bridge (1A) is an approximately 1-mile-long flat section of the waterway. Along this stretch, you'll pass Rose Grove Bridge and Hollins Tunnel, also sometimes known as Cemetery Tunnel. I have no idea why it is known as this, as Sowerby Bridge Cemetery is on the opposite hillside. After the tunnel, the canal curves towards Sowerby Bridge, passing under the Co-Op Bridge and Tower Hill Bridge.

After the closure of the Rochdale Canal in 1952, the canal came to an abrupt end just before reaching Tower Hill Bridge and was infilled through to the modern-day exit of Tuel Lane Tunnel adjacent to Lock Number 2.

These pictures were taken on the 10th April 2022 with a Nikon D3300, they can be seen below and on Clickasnap un-watermarked. Simply click any image to see the Clickasnap version in another window.

These two pictures show both sides of Bridge 3 High Royd.

These two pictures show the stretch of Canal towpath between Rose Grove, High Royd Bridge and Hollins Tunnel.

Inside Hollins Tunnel.

Hollins Tunnel entrance on the Sowerby Bridge side.

The canal curbing towards Sowerby Bridge, the Co-Op bridge visible crossing over the canal. The bridge provides acces to Hollins Mill Lane from the Industrial Road area of Sowerby Bridge, but does not give any access to the canal.

The canal underneath Bridge 1A. In 1952 the canal was infilled from just beyond the arch, the bridge was also known as Tuel Lane Bridge until the road that crossed over it was rerouted and then it was changed to Tower Hill Bridge. The tower block is Ladstone Towers, built when large areas of low quality housing around the area was demolished in the mid 1960's.

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Rose Grove Railway Station

 Rose Grove is a suburban railway station in the town of Burnley, Lancashire. Much reduced in size from it's heyday the station opened on the 18th September 1848, built to serve the Rose Grove suburb and the nearby town of Padiham. The station grew when the Great Harwood Loop (North Lancashire Loop)  opened between Rose Grove, Padiham and beyond in 1875 and remained an important stop until passenger numbers started to reduce between the wars, goods traffic reducing in the 1960's with coal and oil trains to the nearby power stations finally ending in the late 1980's - early 1990's

The loop was closed in 1964, Rose Grove goods yard a few years later, much of it now covered by the M65 motorway, the station buildings were removed and staff were taken away in the early 1980's, leaving a station much reduced in size.

The station is still a junction stop, the line splits to the east with the East Lancashire Railway continuing towards Colne, and the Caldervale line towards Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. The station only has basic facilities, including a small shelter, a few benches / seats, information boards, but has no toilet or refreshment facilities on site or nearby and no disabled access, the platform only reached by a metal staircase from the road bridge above.

The pictures were taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 19th August 2022.

The only access point to the station, as you can see not really suitable for the disabled or people who struggle to manage stairs. Their was 34 if I remember correctly. There used to be stone built building s down the centre of the platform, and I have been told an additional 2 bay platforms and at least 8 lines around the station. The goods yard was to the left of the picture and again I was told after I visited the bay platforms are still there, hidden by the tree's either side of the picture.

Platform 2 occupies this southern side of the bay platform, Trains towards Hapton, Accrington and Blackburn can be caught here. Again the station's only access, the stairs can be seen.

Platform 2.

Overgrown and abandoned trackbed viewed from Platform 1. I have been told that there was a bay platform where the trees are.

The island platform from the end of 1.

The opposite end of Platform 1, the sum total of the stations facilities on show, an info board, shelter and bench seats.

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