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Manchester, South Junction And Altrincham Railway
All photographs of this railway in date order.
![Altrincham line EMU 304024 at Brooklands Station in 1991. This was during the period running up to total conversion of the route for Manchester Metro tram operation and linking to the Bury line via Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria stations.<br><br>[David Pesterfield 15/07/1991]](/images/41000/41430.jpg "Brooklands")
![Deansgate station was known as Knott Mill and Deansgate until 1969, as can be seen from the very ornate panel above the street level entrance. The station is on the busy two track bottle neck section between Castlefield Junction and Manchester Piccadilly. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 07/07/2008]](/images/19000/19743.jpg "Deansgate")
![A Northern 156 crosses the Bridgewater Canal heading west from Deansgate to Castlefield Junction. The impressive girders on the skewed bridge structure can be seen as can Deansgate canal tunnel beyond. After crossing this bridge the train will pass under the former CLC lines that now carry the Manchester Metrolink trams. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 07/07/2008]](/images/19000/19748.jpg "Deansgate")
![View west along the Bridgewater Canal at Deansgate, Manchester, on 7 July 2008. In the middle distance, through the arch of the railway bridge, the masts of the Trafford Park/Warrington line can be seen, while running above that is the CLC/Metrolink elevated section, on the approach to G-Mex/Central station, out of the picture to the northeast. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 07/07/2008]](/images/19000/19753.jpg "Deansgate")
![A Buxton to Blackpool North service with 156452 calls at Deansgate. It has been announced that these through services are to cease in December with the Buxton trains reverting to Piccadilly and an hourly Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria service commencing - just like the old days.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 07/07/2008]](/images/19000/19811.jpg "Deansgate")
![Test Match Special listeners of a certain age will know this station better as Warwick Road, which it was called until the trams came. 1002 arrives on an Altrincham service. The trams only used a small section of the original long platforms and since this picture was taken the Manchester platform has been moved to the other side of a newly installed foot crossing. [See image 29964]<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 17/10/2008]](/images/21000/21084.jpg "Old Trafford")
![The strange looking building alongside the line at Old Trafford is actually the scoreboard, which illustrates how close the cricket ground is to the station. View south towards Altrincham. This line has had three different overhead electrification schemes. 1500v DC to 1971 followed by 25kv AC until converted to the Metrolink tramway at 750v DC. [See image 29619] to see how this location has since been altered with new staggered platforms. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 17/10/2008]](/images/21000/21085.jpg "Old Trafford")
![Approach to Manchester Oxford Road station from the taxi access ramp on a bright morning on 5 March 2009. Not the average 1960s style with the majority of the structure being made from wood.<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/03/2009]](/images/22000/22740.jpg "Manchester Oxford Road")
![Looking north-east from Albion Street, Manchester, towards the urban railway viaduct that stretches between Deansgate (to the left) and Oxford Road (to the right) and on to Piccadilly as a First TPE service heads west on 5 March 2009. This busy section of railway is a significant bottleneck in Manchester. <br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/03/2009]](/images/22000/22754.jpg "Deansgate")
![FTPE 185106 departs from Manchester Oxford Road with a Liverpool to Scarborough service on 05 March 2009.<br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/03/2009]](/images/22000/22776.jpg "Manchester Oxford Road")
![Looking west from Deansgate station on 5 March 2009. From here the line snakes over a viaduct, then runs below the bridge that once carried trains into Manchester Central. Today the bridge is used by the Manchester Metrolink and one of their trams can be seen heading into the city centre.<br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/03/2009]](/images/22000/22858.jpg "Deansgate")
![View along the platform at Deansgate station, Manchester, on 5 March 2009, with a Class 150 standing at Oxford Road station to the east.<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/03/2009]](/images/22000/22873.jpg "Deansgate")
![Arriva Trains Wales services passing at Manchester Oxford Road on 8 July 2009. On the left is 175107 heading to Manchester Piccadilly (having originated in Llandudno) whilst on the right is 175113 with a service for Chester.<br><br>[John McIntyre 08/07/2009]](/images/24000/24469.jpg "Manchester Oxford Road")
![A busy scene at Manchester Oxford Road on 8 July 2009 with three trains waiting to depart. From Left to right a Class 142 in the bay platform waits to head to Liverpool with a stopping service. Next is a Class 150 on the rear of a service to Manchester Airport with another Class 142 leading. On the right is a service to Barrow.<br><br>[John McIntyre 08/07/2009]](/images/24000/24531.jpg "Manchester Oxford Road")
![Looking west along Platform 1 at Oxford Road station on 08 July 2009 as an ATW Class 175 waits in Platform 2 with a service to Chester and an eastbound FTPE Class 185 approaches with a Manchester Airport Service.<br><br>[John McIntyre 08/07/2009]](/images/24000/24629.jpg "Manchester Oxford Road")
![An East Midlands Train passing over Castlefield Viaduct (Ordsall Lane) Manchester in September 2009 under the shadow of the 47-storey Beetham Tower.<br><br>[Ian Dinmore /09/2009]](/images/42000/42163.jpg "Castlefield Viaduct")
![View over Deansgate station and Bridgewater Viaduct, Manchester, September 2009.<br><br>[Ian Dinmore /09/2009]](/images/42000/42518.jpg "Deansgate")
![A First TransPennine class 185 crossing the viaduct over Castlefield Basin Manchester in September 2009.<br><br>[Ian Dinmore /09/2009]](/images/45000/45622.jpg "Castlefield Viaduct")
![A First TransPennine train crosses Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester, on 28 September 2009.<br><br>[Ian Dinmore 28/09/2009]](/images/30000/30131.jpg "Castlefield Viaduct")
![View from the top of The Hilton Hotel Beetham Tower Looking down on Deansgate, Manchester, on 28 September 2009.<br><br>[Ian Dinmore 28/09/2009]](/images/30000/30619.jpg "Deansgate")
![A train crosses Manchester's Castlefield Viaduct in September 2009. In the background stands the 47-storey Beetham Tower, the tallest building in the UK outside London.<br><br>[Ian Dinmore 28/09/2009]](/images/31000/31865.jpg "Castlefield Viaduct")
![Looking over Deansgate station, Manchester, in September 2009. <br><br>[Ian Dinmore 28/09/2009]](/images/43000/43259.jpg "Deansgate")
![A Northern Rail class 150 passes over Castlefield Basin, Manchester, in September 2009.<br><br>[Ian Dinmore 28/09/2009]](/images/44000/44288.jpg "Castlefield Viaduct")
![Deansgate station, Manchester, looking east towards Oxford Road on 4 February 2010. Freightliner 66576 is about to run through the westbound platform light engine heading for Trafford Park container terminal. <br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 04/02/2010]](/images/27000/27560.jpg "Deansgate")
![Significant recent changes to the station at Old Trafford have seen the platforms altered to a staggered arrangement and the subway replaced by a level crossing. There are now also barriered queueing areas on both platforms to cope with crowds from the nearby cricket ground. Metrolink tram 1007 leaves for Manchester passing the old scoreboard and its modern replacement. [See image 21085] for a direct comparison with the same scene two years previously.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 30/06/2010]](/images/29000/29619.jpg "Old Trafford")
![The new junction for the Didsbury line can be seen immediately behind this Altrincham to Bury tram arriving at Trafford Bar. To maintain capacity however a <I>diveunder</I> has been created for Manchester bound trams rather than a plain junction. Being able to use the old MSJA OLE gantries must have saved a fortune when this line was converted to Metrolink in 1992.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 30/06/2010]](/images/29000/29630.jpg "Trafford Bar")
![Trafford Bar was the original Old Trafford station, the name change only coming about in 1992 when Warwick Road, outside the cricket ground, was renamed Old Trafford. The original station booking hall still stands above the short tunnel. Two Altrincham services are seen passing here and the station, which enjoys a six minute frequency service, will become even busier when the Didsbury line opens. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 30/06/2010]](/images/29000/29631.jpg "Trafford Bar")
![The Lancashire and Yorkshire <I>Roses</I> match is just about to conclude and the Metrolink staff are out in force to ensure travellers have tickets and also to cover the foot crossing that has replaced the subway that used to be here. This view towards Manchester shows the now staggered platforms at Old Trafford. [See image 21084 for a similar view just two years earlier.] <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 30/06/2010]](/images/29000/29964.jpg "Old Trafford")
![An unusual arrangement applies at Navigation Road station. Metrolink trams in both directions use the west side platform as seen here with 1022 calling on the way to Altrincham. The right hand platform is used by Northern main line services from Chester to Manchester and both systems are single track through the platforms (with only the Metrolink line having an overhead wire these days) but revert to double on either side of the station.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 08/03/2012]](/images/37000/37925.jpg "Navigation Road")
![To the Altrincham line's supporters the letters MSJ&AR stood for <I>Many Short Journeys and Absolute Reliability</I>. It has fared pretty well under Metrolink too with a six minute frequency service the norm for some twenty years now. Tram 2001 draws to a halt at Timperley station on an Altrincham service. The platform on the left backs onto the Bridgewater Canal.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 08/03/2012]](/images/37000/37936.jpg "Timperley")
![Metrolink 1006 leads a four car formation off the double track section from Altrincham and over the level crossing into Navigation Road. At the same point the Network Rail single track branches out to two lines again but on this side the overhead catenary was removed in 1992. With a tram in each direction every six minutes plus passenger and freight trains the barriers at this crossing are kept very busy.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 08/03/2012]](/images/37000/37961.jpg "Navigation Road")
![Photos of Timperley station in BR days show an elegant covered footbridge leading to both platforms from the street level booking office. The footbridge has been removed now and access to the platform is by either the two lifts shown or staircases while the old booking office is now a cafe. M5000 Series tram No.3002 leaves the station on 8 March heading for Navigation Road and Altrincham. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 08/03/2012]](/images/37000/37979.jpg "Timperley")
![A contrast between a twenty year old 1000 series tram and its 3000 series successor at Timperley in March 2012. Under an original pre-war gantry 3002 runs in on an Altrincham bound service while 1022 heads for Piccadilly. Some of the 10xx trams are to be withdrawn as a source of spares to keep sister units running as they are proving somewhat troublesome in later life.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 08/03/2012]](/images/38000/38447.jpg "Timperley")
![Looking east through Deansgate station towards Oxford Road on 4 October as an Arriva Trains Wales class 175 approaches on a Manchester Piccadilly - Chester service.<br><br>[John McIntyre 04/10/2013]](/images/45000/45097.jpg "Deansgate")
![View south west with the viaduct that once carried lines out of Manchester Central station on the left as a Northern service heading into the city passes below on the line from Ordsall Junction to Deansgate.<br><br>[John McIntyre 04/10/2013]](/images/45000/45198.jpg "Deansgate")
![Tram 3055 departs Stretford for Altrincham, on the six minute interval service from Manchester. When used by MSJAR main line trains Stretford station had turnback sidings for extra Manchester departures, although nowadays there are just two through roads. The old street level booking office is still in use by a local newsagent.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/02/2014]](/images/46000/46357.jpg "Stretford")
![Like their counterparts on the Bury line many of the Metrolink stations on the Altrincham line retain the features from their main line railway days. This is Sale in April 2014, complete with canopies and street level booking hall, as Tram 3012 calls on its way to Manchester. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 14/04/2014]](/images/46000/46999.jpg "Sale")
![Metrolink 3051 leaves Brooklands on a Manchester bound service, next stop Sale, which is just visible through the bridge arch. The Bridgwater Canal lies immediately behind the Up platform and runs parallel to the line. [See image 41430] for the same station in 25kv main line days. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 14/04/2014]](/images/47000/47062.jpg "Brooklands")
![In connection with the <I>Tour de France</I> two train operators hired in extra capacity for services through Leeds. First TPE chartered a set from DRS for the Liverpool to Scarborough service on 5 July 2014 which had 47841 and 47853 on either end of a rake of 6 Mk2 coaches. Running late due to an operating incident between Liverpool and Manchester, 47841 heads through Deansgate with the first of the two westbound services. Note the specially painted yellow buffers!<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/07/2014]](/images/47000/47881.jpg "Deansgate")
![An East Midlands Trains service from Liverpool to Norwich formed by units 158770 and 158785 passes through the Manchester urban clutter at Deansgate on 5 July 2014 <br><br>[John McIntyre 05/07/2014]](/images/47000/47910.jpg "Deansgate")
![Platform scene at Deansgate station on 5 July 2014. ATW 175008 is heading west non-stop with a service for North Wales via Warrington and Chester, while a TPE service to Manchester Airport is about to pass through eastbound.<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/07/2014]](/images/48000/48003.jpg "Deansgate")
![Nearing the end of a long journey from Felixstowe, GBRf 66741 rumbles through Deansgate station on 6 August heading for the Trafford Park freight terminal with a lengthy train of containers.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 07/08/2014]](/images/48000/48299.jpg "Deansgate")
![<I>The first of quite a few</I>. Metrolink 3001 calls at Dane Road with an evening service from Altrincham to Cornbrook. Dane Rd opened in 1931 when the MSJ&A was electrified. The M5000 fleet of trams was steadily expanded from its introduction in 2009 until, with the final 2016 delivery, it numbers 120 sets. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 08/01/2015]](/images/49000/49998.jpg "Dane Road")
![A new footbridge is nearing completion at Altrincham, providing access to all four platforms. Single tram 3016 has just arrived in Platform 1 from Piccadilly. View from the Metrolink buffer stops on 13th January 2015 with the Network Rail platforms on the right. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/01/2015]](/images/50000/50041.jpg "Altrincham")
![Deansgate Junction signal box, as seen from a Manchester bound tram. The box controls trains and trams between here and Altrincham including frequent movements over the level crossings here and at Navigation Road. The line to Stockport and Chinley can be seen curving right just beyond the box, which was extended when Metrolink opened but is scheduled to close in 2019. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/01/2015]](/images/50000/50049.jpg "Deansgate Junction")
![Prior to 1971 the bay platforms at Altrincham were through roads leading under the two right hand arches to the EMU Depot where the 1931 built MSJ&A dedicated sets were maintained. When the Altrincham line was converted to 25kvAC the depot closed and the site was built on. Metrolink 3024 pauses briefly in Platform 1 on 13 January 2015 before returning to Bury.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/01/2015]](/images/50000/50065.jpg "Altrincham")
![<I>On parallel lines.</I> Two services, both heading for Manchester Piccadilly, meet at Navigation Road on 13 January. Northern 142047, from Chester, runs over the level crossing, closely followed by Metrolink 3052. The Pacer will turn right at Deansgate Jnction to run via Northenden and Stockport while the tram service continues along the old MSJ&A route through Stretford. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/01/2015]](/images/50000/50079.jpg "Navigation Road")
![Sprinter 150118 rolls into Altrincham on a Northern service from Chester to Piccadilly on 13th January 2015. The train is passing the Metrolink bay platforms, seen from the vantage point of the new <I>glass</I> footbridge. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/01/2015]](/images/50000/50108.jpg "Altrincham")
![Nearly new Metrolink 3088, leaving the East Didsbury line, emerges from the <I>dive under</I> at Trafford Bar to join the Altrincham line into Manchester on 13 January. In BR days the two railways were not connected. With the opening of the Manchester Airport line Trafford Bar now has 20 trams per hour in each direction. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/01/2015]](/images/50000/50116.jpg "Trafford Bar")
![A Metrolink service departs for Manchester and the signal is immediately cleared for an inbound tram to enter Altrincham's Platform 1. The tracks on the left of the tram are the Network rail lines running through Platforms 3 and 4 and just ahead of the tram is the occasional use link between the two systems. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/01/2015]](/images/50000/50129.jpg "Altrincham")
![Two services for Manchester Piccadilly meet at Navigation Road. Pacer 142047 will travel via Stockport with three intermediate stops. Tram 3052 has 11 intermediate stops but a more direct route and both services will reach Piccadilly in just under thirty minutes. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/01/2015]](/images/50000/50149.jpg "Navigation Road")
![156423, on a Piccadilly to Chester service, calls at Platform 4 at Altrincham on 13th January. The gaps in the canopies mark the removal of the old footbridge, its accessible replacement having recently been commissioned. I would expect the missing sections to be replaced as part of the project.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/01/2015]](/images/50000/50213.jpg "Altrincham")
![The late running Northern 1713 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport service, formed by ex-Thameslink 319362, calls at Manchester Oxford Road on 5 March 2015. <br><br>[John McIntyre 05/03/2015]](/images/50000/50562.jpg "Manchester Oxford Road")
![An Arriva Trains Wales service calls at Manchester Oxford Road on 5 March 2015. This was the penultimate stop for the 1508 Llandudno to Manchester Piccadilly service.<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/03/2015]](/images/50000/50586.jpg "Manchester Oxford Road")
![Driver's view from an East Didsbury to Rochdale tram approaching Trafford Bar. The old Midland trackbed has been raised up to the level of the Altrincham line (and Old Trafford Depot) at this point but Manchester bound services then drop down again. Passing under the Altrincham line the closed tunnel of the old line to Throstle Nest Junction is seen and the tram then climbs up into Trafford Bar station [See image 50116]<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 20/04/2015]](/images/51000/51062.jpg "Trafford Bar")
![Looking east along the south side of the viaduct from Ordsall Jct to Castlefield Jct on 08 October 2016 as the widening of the viaduct arches is taking place.<br><br>[John McIntyre 08/10/2016]](/images/56000/56803.jpg "Castlefield Viaduct")
![Looking west from Potato Wharf at the Castlefield Viaduct widening work on 15 December 2016. Note the new OLE stanchions which are angled in the way.<br><br>[John McIntyre 15/12/2016]](/images/57000/57549.jpg "Castlefield Viaduct")
![A pair of EMT Class 158s heading west from Deansgate station towards Castlefields Jct with the 1057 service from Norwich to Liverpool on a damp and dull 10 January 2017.<br><br>[John McIntyre 10/01/2017]](/images/57000/57838.jpg "Deansgate")
![Tram and train both with their next stop at Altrincham, call at Navigation Road on 19 May 2017. The Metrolink tram will terminate there but the Northern Class 150/2 is heading to Chester.<br><br>[John McIntyre 19/05/2017]](/images/59000/59500.jpg "Navigation Road")
![Heavy rail and tram meet at Altrincham. Looking west with the line to Chester on the left and the terminus platforms of the Metrolink trams on the right [See image 50065].<br><br>[John McIntyre 19/05/2017]](/images/59000/59586.jpg "Altrincham")
![A two car Class 142 Pacer arrives at Manchester Oxford Road station on 20 October 2017 with a service to Southport. A few minutes were lost trying to get all the passengers onto an already busy train.<br><br>[John McIntyre 20/10/2017]](/images/62000/62042.jpg "Manchester Oxford Road")
![A Freightliner class 70 hauled container service from Trafford Park approaching Manchester Oxford Road on 20 October 2017 with a consignent for Southampton Maritime Terminal. [Ref query 10 December 2017]<br><br>[John McIntyre 20/10/2017]](/images/62000/62094.jpg "Manchester Oxford Road")
![DB 67015 propels the 1307hrs Holyhead to Manchester Piccadilly service through Deansgate station on 27th March 2018.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 27/03/2018]](/images/63000/63492.jpg "Deansgate")
![158754, on a Manchester Oxford Road to Selby service, passes Castlefield Junction on 27th March 2018 heading for the new Ordsall Chord link to Manchester Victoria and the Calder Valley route. This view looks west from the platform at Deansgate. The CLC route diverges left at this point and on the right of the picture the old Midland lines, now Metrolink, climb to cross the Network Rail tracks. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 27/03/2018]](/images/63000/63615.jpg "Castlefield Junction")
