Blue Plastic Tracks
Trafford Park Railway - Printable Version

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Trafford Park Railway - GreatGordonFan - 08-23-2021

In this thread I will talk about a huge abandoned railway network very near to where I used to live:  The Trafford Park Railway.

Trafford Park is a huge industrial estate in Manchester in the North West of the UK. It had a railway network, which was part of the gigantic railway network called the Manchester Ship Canal Railway.
In my opinion, the Trafford Park Railway was a railway like no other. The rails went extremely close to the road, and crossed it many times, calling for some really unique level crossings, such as the Trafford Park Road/Moorings road Level crossing (seen below), which had a total of 9 wigwag lights (one of them was an extremely rare overhead one)!

[Image: Trafford-park-road-level-crossing.jpg] 
(none of these images are mine)

This railway was used extensively in in the early to mid 20th century. After which, usage went down. The railway shut down completely in 1998 as road transport was replacing rail freight. Here are 2 good videos about this railway  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59As5lq8hC8  and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HNwrzB9O4E. If you ever drive through trafford park, it is a strange sight to see level crossings in the middle of a road, despite no rails anywhere!

A wikipedia article about this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafford_Park_Railway
[Image: post-9992-0-00371800-1368281274.jpg]

[Image: slow-moving-trains.jpg]
These signs are still there to this day!

Although the railway closed, a branch line running alongside Barton dock road and past the kellogs factory remained operated by class 08 and class 09 shunters pulling containers between Manchester international Freight terminal and Barton dock freight terminal. This 2 kilometer stretch of line was the last part of this giant rail network. It finally shut down around about late 2012.
Me and my family often went down barton dock road when we needed to go shopping in Asda or the Trafford Centre. Although I don't recall seeing the train itself, I do remember seeing the line when it was still serviceable, and watching it deteriorate over time: a truly sad sight to see.

[Image: 5637289530-2f176b1b12-b.jpg]
 08445 crossing Barton dock road 12/04/11

So this was me blabbering on about a closed rail network that fascinates me: a rail network that is a reminder of how industries worked many decades ago.

RE: Trafford Park Railway - Super - 08-23-2021

A very neat place and story GG-Fan I see the problem here...you all are driving on the wrong side of the road  [Image: animated-laughing-smiley-emoticon.gif]

RE: Trafford Park Railway - GreatGordonFan - 09-17-2021

I am currently mapping out the entire railway (most of it at least) on google earth. I will post an image of the entire railway soon, although I think it may need it's own thread.

RE: Trafford Park Railway - Super - 09-17-2021

It would be fine in this Thread GG-Fan. We can always re-title it.

Looking forward to seeing your map.

RE: Trafford Park Railway - chrisjo - 09-17-2021

That'll be good, since there doesn't seem to be a good map online. I wonder if you've seen this?
[Image: 61AXv8BjnCL._SY340_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg]

RE: Trafford Park Railway - GreatGordonFan - 09-18-2021

I've not seen the book before, but I know that railway on the front cover.
YD papers. That paper railway in north manchester. Here's a video about it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_tr5zPiLaI

RE: Trafford Park Railway - Super - 09-18-2021

Loved that little short video, thanks GG-Fan. I like how they used comparison photos from the past with Google maps.  Wonder what had happened to the Steam Engine used on that line after 1974?

RE: Trafford Park Railway - GreatGordonFan - 09-18-2021

@Super, It was restored https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG3rE5UhFg8


About my trafford park railway map: On this 1963 map of trafford park  https://www.flickr.com/photos/36844288@N00/48020024848/in/faves-50559291@N03/, you can see the railway has tons of branches that are impossile to locate on google earth. What I mean by that is that no matter how far I go back on google earth, there is no sign of any remaining rails, or any other infrastructure, so on my map you will only see the ralis that closed in 1998 or shortly prior (except the barton dock branch)

RE: Trafford Park Railway - Super - 09-18-2021

Thanks GG-Fan
They did a wonderful restoration on her but I wonder why she wasn't restored in her original livery which brings to my mind this question. Was this engine the only engine ever on this Paper Mill Line and did she spend her entire life there?

RE: Trafford Park Railway - GreatGordonFan - 09-18-2021

I believe there were more steam engines at the mill thanks to this picture.

 
[Image: KT000191.jpg]