Ashton, Stalybridge and Liverpool Junction Railway
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The Ashton, Stalybridge and Liverpool Junction Railway was opened in 1846 to connect the industrial town of
Ashton-under-Lyne Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. The population was 45,198 at the 2011 census. Historically in Lancashire, it is on the north bank of the River Tame, in the foothills of the Pennines, east of Manche ...
to the developing railway network, and in particular to the port of Liverpool. It was a short line, joining the Manchester and Leeds Railway at Miles Platting (east of Manchester) and the connection to Liverpool was over that line and the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. A branch line to Ardwick, near the present-day Manchester Piccadilly station, was built giving passenger and freight connection to the West Midlands and southern England. The AS&LJR was closely aligned to the Manchester and Leeds Railway, and in 1847 the two companies amalgamated, along with another line still under construction, and the combined company was named the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. The Ardwick branch was not opened until after the amalgamation. When the
London and North Western Railway The London and North Western Railway (LNWR, L&NWR) was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. In the late 19th century, the L&NWR was the largest joint stock company in the United Kingdom. In 1923, it became a constituent of the Lo ...
developed a route to Leeds via Huddersfield, its trains used the AS&LJR line from Manchester to Stalybridge, so that the S&LJR formed part of an important main line. Most of the small network remains in use at the present day.


Conception

As the
Manchester and Leeds Railway The Manchester and Leeds Railway was a British railway company that built a line from Manchester to Normanton where it made a junction with the North Midland Railway, over which it relied on running powers to access Leeds. The line followed the ...
established itself, its directors began to think of what branches could be built profitably.
Thomas Longridge Gooch Thomas Longridge Gooch (1 November 1808 – 23 November 1882) was civil engineer of the Manchester and Leeds Railway from 1831 to 1844. Biography Gooch was born on 1 November 1808. He was the eldest son of John and Anna Gooch; John was fro ...
, its engineer, was instructed to survey suitable branches in 1843. One of these was from
Miles Platting Miles Platting is an inner city part of Manchester, England, northeast of Manchester city centre along the Rochdale Canal and A62 road, bounded by Monsall to the north, Collyhurst to the west, Newton Heath to the east, and Bradford, Holt Tow ...
to Ashton and
Stalybridge Stalybridge () is a town in Tameside, Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 23,731 at the 2011 Census. Historic counties of England, Historically divided between Cheshire and Lancashire, it is east of Manchester city centre and no ...
, with a short branch to
Ardwick Ardwick is a district of Manchester in North West England, one mile south east of the city centre. The population of the Ardwick Ward at the 2011 census was 19,250. Historically in Lancashire, by the mid-nineteenth century Ardwick had grown from ...
. At the time Ashton had a population of 40,000, and its manufacturing industry relied on the nearest station at
Guide Bridge Guide Bridge is an area west of Ashton-under-Lyne, in Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, Guide Bridge was built as a village around an eponymous bridge over the Ashton Canal. History Industries included Sco ...
, two miles away, on the
Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway The Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway was an early British railway company which opened in stages between 1841 and 1845 between Sheffield and Manchester via Ashton-under-Lyne. The Peak District formed a formidable barrier, and ...
, and goods to and from
Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
– a most important port for the town's raw materials – had to be carted by road across Manchester at the time. Gooch's survey showed that a line was feasible, and construction was authorised by the Ashton, Stalybridge & Liverpool Junction Railway Act of 19 July 1844. The Manchester and Leeds Railway was permitted by the Act to purchase or lease the AS&LJR. The reference to Liverpool was to the new connection over the M&LR to the
Liverpool and Manchester Railway The Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR) was the first inter-city railway in the world. It opened on 15 September 1830 between the Lancashire towns of Liverpool and Manchester in England. It was also the first railway to rely exclusively ...
; there was no intention to build to Liverpool. A Stalybridge branch of the Sheffield, Ashton & Manchester Railway was authorised on the same day. (The SA&MR later was reorganised as the
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR) was formed in 1847 when the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway joined with authorised but unbuilt railway companies, forming a proposed network from Manchester to Grimsb ...
in 1847.) The two Stalybridge terminal stations were to be built alongside one another. Another AS&LJR Act, on 21 July 1845, authorised the branch from Miles Platting to Ardwick, connecting there with the
Manchester and Birmingham Railway The Manchester and Birmingham Railway was built between Manchester and Crewe and opened in stages from 1840. Between Crewe and Birmingham, trains were worked by the Grand Junction Railway. The M&BR was merged into the London and North Western ...
(later to become the
London and North Western Railway The London and North Western Railway (LNWR, L&NWR) was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. In the late 19th century, the L&NWR was the largest joint stock company in the United Kingdom. In 1923, it became a constituent of the Lo ...
), facing towards Store Street (later London Road) station.


Construction and opening

The main line was built in two sections, by Hemingway & Pearson and Harding & Cropper respectively. As well as a timber viaduct at Park, there was a viaduct over the
River Medlock The River Medlock is a river in Greater Manchester, England, which rises near Oldham and flows south and west for to join the River Irwell in Manchester city centre. Sources Rising in the hills that surround Strinesdale just to the east of O ...
, comprising ten stone arches of 30 ft span and with a total length of 400 ft. A deep cutting had to be made at Ashton Moss, and the bad ground conditions were exceptionally difficult. Where the railway crossed the moss land, the ground had to be excavated to a depth of four or five feet, filled up with layers of brushwood and clay, and afterwards ballasted. The rails there were laid on longitudinal timbers. At Miles Platting, a relocated station was built at the new junction. The line was to be 6 miles 793 yd long; it was made as a single line but the works were all double-track width except for Medlock viaduct. Ashton station was a large commodious stone building with a roof over the railway 150 ft long and with a span of 60 feet. The line from Miles Platting to Ashton was inspected by General Pasley for the
Board of Trade The Board of Trade is a British government body concerned with commerce and industry, currently within the Department for International Trade. Its full title is The Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of ...
on 6 April 1846, and following his approval, it opened on 13 April: 1,100 passengers were carried on the first day. It was connected to the Manchester and Leeds Railway at Miles Platting, and through running to Liverpool over the Liverpool and Manchester Railway was possible. On 23 September Pasley inspected the remainder of the branch, and that was opened to Stalybridge on 5 October. The station at Stalybridge was a simple structure with one platform. On 8 June 1847 a contract for doubling the line was let to Gill & Child. The work progressed slowly and was completed, except for Medlock viaduct, by 1 March 1849, but approval for opening the second track was delayed until 1 August. In February 1849 the contract for widening the viaduct was let to Child & Barker, and completed towards the end of 1849. The widening consisted of an additional single track width on the north side.


Ardwick branch

The Ardwick branch from Miles Platting was to be 1 mile 1,561 yd long. Work was started in the summer of 1845 but progress was slow and hindered by the collapse of some of the arches of the Ardwick viaduct on 11 March 1848. A single line was opened throughout on 20 November 1848 for goods traffic only, and the line soon formed an important link from the Potteries and the south-west to Hull and the
West Riding The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county County of York, West Riding (the area under the control of West Riding County Council), abbreviated County ...
. Regular passenger trains began at the end of 1852; connections were arranged at Miles Platting and Ardwick for journeys from
Rochdale Rochdale ( ) is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, at the foothills of the South Pennines in the dale on the River Roch, northwest of Oldham and northeast of Manchester. It is the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough ...
and beyond to London. On 19 April 1865 the order was given for the branch to be doubled, and this second line was ready on 7 August.


Formation of Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway

The Ashton, Stalybridge and Liverpool Junction Railway had always been closely aligned to the Manchester and Leeds Railway, and in 1846 amalgamation was decided upon, also to include the authorised but unbuilt Wakefield, Pontefract and Goole Railway. The M&LR was vigorously extending its area of influence, and its original name was inappropriate, so as part of the amalgamation, a change of name was made: the combined company was to be the
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways. It was the third-largest railway system based in northern ...
. The amalgamation and the change of name were confirmed by Act of 9 July 1847.


Stalybridge to Huddersfield

The roundabout route of the Leeds and Manchester Railway, via Normanton, encouraged the development of shorter routes, and an independent Leeds, Dewsbury & Manchester Railway was incorporated by an Act of 30 June 1845 to build a line from Leeds to Cooper Bridge, near
Mirfield Mirfield () is a town and civil parish in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is on the A644 road between Brighouse and Dewsbury. At the 2011 census it had a population of 19,563. Mirfield f ...
on the Manchester and Leeds Railway. The next month, on 21 July 1845, the Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal Company was authorised. This was a reorganisation of an existing canal of 1811. The new railway would run from near Cooper Bridge via
Huddersfield Huddersfield is a market town in the Kirklees district in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confluence into ...
to the Stalybridge station of the
Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway The Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway was an early British railway company which opened in stages between 1841 and 1845 between Sheffield and Manchester via Ashton-under-Lyne. The Peak District formed a formidable barrier, and ...
. In 1847 the SA&MR too reorganised, and was renamed the
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR) was formed in 1847 when the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway joined with authorised but unbuilt railway companies, forming a proposed network from Manchester to Grimsb ...
. Together the two new lines would form a new, shorter, route from Leeds to Manchester, reaching Manchester over the SA&MR line. 1845 was a peak year for railway authorisations: the
Manchester and Birmingham Railway The Manchester and Birmingham Railway was built between Manchester and Crewe and opened in stages from 1840. Between Crewe and Birmingham, trains were worked by the Grand Junction Railway. The M&BR was merged into the London and North Western ...
was authorised to build a branch from
Heaton Norris Heaton Norris is a suburb of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. It is part of the Four Heatons, and neighbours Heaton Chapel, Heaton Mersey and Heaton Moor. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancash ...
, on its line just north of
Stockport Stockport is a town and borough in Greater Manchester, England, south-east of Manchester, south-west of Ashton-under-Lyne and north of Macclesfield. The River Goyt and Tame merge to create the River Mersey here. Most of the town is within ...
, to
Guide Bridge Guide Bridge is an area west of Ashton-under-Lyne, in Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, Guide Bridge was built as a village around an eponymous bridge over the Ashton Canal. History Industries included Sco ...
on the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne & Manchester Railway. By Act of 6 July 1846 the Manchester and Birmingham Railway amalgamated with others to form the London and North Western Railway. The M&BR had long sought for a line to
Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...
, and now (as the LNWR) this became possible. In 1847 the London and North Western Railway gained possession of the Leeds, Dewsbury and Manchester Railway and the Huddersfield and Manchester Railway, which were both still under construction. When they were completed, the LNWR would have its own line from Stockport to Leeds; however it had no line of its own between Manchester and Stalybridge. The Huddersfield authorisation had indicated a connection to the SA&MR at Stalybridge, to reach Manchester via Guide Bridge, but the LNWR chose to make a connection to the Stalybridge, Ashton and Liverpool Junction line, now part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. On 1 August 1849 the Huddersfield to Stalybridge line and the connection to the L&YR were opened to traffic and from that date the LNWR began working trains between Manchester and Leeds, over the former SA&LJR line. The LNWR's Heaton Norris to Guide Bridge line opened on the same day. The MS&LR station at Stalybridge was now used for all passenger purposes, the former SA&LJR station being relegated to a goods station. On the same day the L&YR trains at Stalybridge were transferred from the former Manchester and Leeds Railway station to the MS&LR station. It was enlarged in 1858, but it was still very unsatisfactory. The L&YR trains continued to use it until 1 October 1869 when, because of dissatisfaction over the accommodation, they returned to their old station. That station then remained in use until 2 April 1917, and the L&YR relinquished its rights to use the joint station, which became the property of the MS&LR and the LNWR jointly. A new and improved station was brought into use on 21 May 1885.


Later connections

A short goods branch to Beswick was opened on 6 March 1865 and carried general merchandise, as well as coal from a colliery near its terminus. The Midland Railway Act of 16 July 1885 gave powers for the Ancoats Curve onto the L&YR Ardwick branch, from the
Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee The Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1869 as a joint venture between the Midland Railway and the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway. Origins For many years the Midland had b ...
line. By an agreement dated 26 November 1884 the
Midland Railway The Midland Railway (MR) was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844. The Midland was one of the largest railway companies in Britain in the early 20th century, and the largest employer in Derby, where it had its headquarters. It am ...
was granted running powers over the L&YR from
Ancoats Ancoats is an area of Manchester in Greater Manchester, England. It is located next to the Northern Quarter, the northern part of Manchester city centre. Historically in Lancashire, Ancoats became a cradle of the Industrial Revolution and has ...
to Manchester Victoria and through to
Hellifield Hellifield is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England (). Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the village was once an important railway junction on the Settle-Carlisle Railway between th ...
, and from Liverpool Exchange to
Blackburn Blackburn () is an industrial town and the administrative centre of the Blackburn with Darwen borough in Lancashire, England. The town is north of the West Pennine Moors on the southern edge of the Ribble Valley, east of Preston and north-n ...
. The Ancoats Curve was opened for ordinary passenger trains on 1 July 1889, permitting through running from London St Pancras to Manchester Victoria, and for the next twenty years many of the Manchester to Blackburn trains, including almost all fast passenger trains, were worked by the Midland Railway with through coaches from St Pancras to Blackburn. An east to south connection from the Stalybridge line towards Ardwick was brought into use on 21 September 1890; it was known as the Park East Fork, from Phillips Park no 1 Junction to Phillips Park no 2 Junction. This was authorised retrospectively by an Act of 1891. An east to north spur at Miles Platting (Brewery Sidings Junction to Ashton Branch Sidings) was authorised by an L&YR Act of 1901; it was opened on 29 January 1906 and has been used mainly by goods trains.


Medlock viaduct

In the early 1880s the viaduct became unsafe because of coal workings beneath and had to be completely renewed by construction of a new double track structure on the north side, replacing the earlier viaduct.


The present day

In 2020 the AS&LJR main line is in use as part of the main line from Manchester to Leeds via Huddersfield. Only the Stalybridge extremity has been closed, as the main line continuation uses the former Great Central and LNWR station. The East Curve at Miles Platting is also in use for freight purposes. The Ardwick branch also continues in use, except that the southern extremity approaching Ardwick has been closed; the line connects eastwards using the Midland Railway's Ancoats curve. The Phillips Park east curve is also still in use. There is no scheduled passenger activity on these lines.


Location list


Main line

* Miles Platting; main line station; opened 1 January 1844; last train 26 May 1995; * ''Phillips Park Junction''; later no 1 junction; * Park; opened 26 September 1846; resited westwards 1889; last train Friday 26 May 1995; * Clayton Bridge; opened 13 April 1846; closed 7 October 1968; * Droylsden; originally Droylesden; opened 13 April 1846; closed 7 October 1968; * Ashton; the name Ashton under Lyne was used indiscriminately; opened 13 April 1846; renamed Ashton Charlestown 1868/9; reverted to Ashton 6 May 1968; still open; * Stalybridge; opened 5 October 1846; closed 1 July 1849; reopened 1 October 1869; closed 2 April 1917.


Ardwick branch

* ''Phillips Park no 1 junction''; * ''Phillips Park no 2 Jn''; * ''Beswick Junction''; Beswick goods connection 1865 - 1967; * ''Midland Junction''; * Ardwick; junction with LNWR main line; the AS&LJR probably had an exchange platform here 1852 – 1853.


References

* * * * * * {{refend Early British railway companies Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway