At the time of writing we are preparing for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Station Master has finished putting up the bunting in the booking office ( kindly supplied by the Parish Council) . We still have the bunting for the outside to complete. I am looking forward to the Village activities, particularly the lighting of the beacon at St. Luke’s Church – one of 1500 across the Commonwealth!
We are also celebrating the opening of our railway line by the Manchester and Birmingham Railway, 180 years ago during the reign of Queen Victoria. You may have seenthe poster if you have visited the Railway Station.
Here is the poster on the right near the entrance to the booking office.
Holmes Chapel Viaduct was completed in 1841 (taking two years to build) and the line from Manchester to Sandbach was opened in May 1842. By August 1842 the line was linked to the Grand Junction Railway in Crewe allowing travel between Manchester and Birmingham.
The poster shows the original railway stations. Rushford was replaced by Longsight, serving Belle Vue. Note the naming of Handford Railway Station at the time. Goostrey Railway Station was provided in the 1890s by the London and North Western Railway. Thus 10 stations.
We have post cards for children showing the earliest type of locomotive on the line and history books for adults about the Manchester and Birmingham Railway.
I am also pleased to say that we have installed a new community poster case on the Crewe platform, generously funded by the Parish Council.
And finally this brought a smile to my face – the newly provided watering station. Funded by Northern. You can see where it is sited in the picture at the top of the page.
‘We love tails on the rails’
‘Paws here and enjoy a drink on us’.
A wonderful time of celebration – not forgetting our canine friends!
Tony Wright.
