Alex Coomber
Here's a story about Patricroft Railway Station in August 1967. The line from Liverpool to Manchester was opened in 1830 going from Liverpool Crown Street to Liverpool Road in Manchester. However soon after opening. Liverpool Road was closed to passengers in 1844 and operated freight only. This station is now incorporated into the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry. The original first station on the line was Edge Hill. The oldest station still operating and that was moved when the tunnels were completed from Liverpool Lime Street. The Work on Liverpool Lime Street and the tunnels to Edge Hill was commenced in 1832 and opened on 15th October 1836 taking over from Liverpool Crown Street which also became a goods station only. One of the stations on the line was Patricroft which was situated on the worlds first inter city railway and next to what was the first commercial canal. In this photo. We see the station and Patricroft Motive Power Depot 19C which is behind the footbridge from which the photo was taken. Now there is just the station with shelters on each platform. But in 1967. It was a busy scene with an unknown 8F locomotive and its train of ballast supplying the men working on the line. Plain Clothes, pickaxes and shovels make up their dress and tools as high vis jackets have not arrived yet. But the photo certainly gives us an insight into what it was like working on the permanent way in the days of steam.