The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society

Journal No.74 £7.50 the L&Y pioneered superheaters in britain and fitted over 400!

oldham road goods trains at mirfield breakaway at copy pit superheaters on the lyr elcome to LYR FOCUS 74. Tom Wray has been researching and LYR FOCUS 74 Wwriting about the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway for more years than he cares to count and we are delighted to bring you his latest Our Purpose offering which traces the development of 's Oldham Road The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway goods station from its origins in the 1830s to the end of the L&Y period Society is devoted to the dissemination and beyond. This is followed by Noel Coates' review of train services at of information about the Lancashire & Mirfield taking two snapshots in time; one in the late Victorian era and Yorkshire Railway throughout its 75 one towards the end of the L&Y's independent existence. I guarantee years of existence and beyond. The that the number of trains will amaze you! From Mirfield to Copy Pit Society has established an ongoing where we trace the progress of a string of wagons which broke away permanent record of its findings from their loco one miserable February night in 1902. We follow the through its publications, which are actions of the driver, the guard and the various signalmen as they widely available from the website, realised what had happened and desperately try to avoid disaster. Finally exhibition stands and specialist in this issue, we look at the L&Y's use of superheaters. The L&Y was booksellers. It works closely with the first railway in Britain to use superheated steam and whilst most of the National Railway Museum, the us know in basic terms what a superheater does Robin Pennie looks in Greater Manchester County Record detail at the various proprietary and in-house designs the company used Office and other relevant bodies over the years and how well, or otherwise, they may have performed. to ensure that original artefacts, records and other materials are professionally preserved and made accessible to all. Contents

Editor oldham road goods Roger Mellor 4 Tom Wray e: [email protected]

Associate Editors trains at mirfield Noel Coates Mike Fitton Robin Pennie 18 Noel Coates Design & Typesetting Roger Mellor 26 breakaway at copy pit IT Advisor Roger Mellor Martyn J Wilkins superheating on the l&yr Publisher The L&YR Society 32 Robin Pennie Founded 1950 Registered Charity No.1098492 This Issue: Winter 2012

Publication Sales Officer Alex Hodson e: [email protected] t: 01566 776463

Membership Officer Ken Carter 11 Waveney Close Arnold Nottingham NG5 6QH e: [email protected] t: 0115 967 3485

Web Editor Chris Carter The Society would like to commission articles from members in order e-mail: [email protected] to guarantee the high standard of future publications. Members who Website would like the advice or support of the editorial team in preparing an www.lyrs.org.uk article for publication in either Magazine or LYR Focus on their area of interest should contact the Publications Officer, Roger Mellor, at [email protected] or by phone on 01702 585708. Front Cover: Hughes 0-8-0 No.216 was built in August 1916 and fitted with Hughes' own design of top units of measure: and bottom superheater. It was Imperial units are generally used throughout this journal. Metric equivalents are: This February 1898 view along Oldham Rd. in Manchester shows the end elevation of the L&Y's five storey grain warehouse withdrawn as LMS No.12902 in 1 inch (in) (") = 25.4mm, 12 inches = 1 foot (ft) ('), 3ft = 1 yard (yd); with the main entrance gate to this side of the yard next to it. Beyond the Railway Hotel is the L&Y's Wholesale Potato August 1947. A full review of the 14.5 pounds per square inch (p.s.i.) = 1 bar; Market which handled 50,000 tons per year. Tom Wray's history of Oldham Rd. Goods Station starts on page four of this L&Y's use of superheaters can be 16 ounces (oz) = 1 pound (lb), 2.2 lbs = 1 kilogram. issue. Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council with digitally added colour found on p.32. LYRS Collection 1461 28 lbs = 1 quarter (qtr), 112 lbs = 1 hundredweight (cwt), 20 cwt = 1 ton The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society

Viaduct

Gas Works coal & coke traffic Fish bay

Wagon repairs 1877 Incline Cloth shed

Cattle mound Stables

1870s sundries shed 1881 5-storey warehouse 1916 fruit shed

Wagon hoist Wholesale potato market 1916 sundries shed 1839 train shed &

1840s grain warehouse 1913 Goods Oldham Rd. Goods station: Manchester Offices

Between 1839 and 1914 Oldham Road grew to become the L&Y's main hub for goods OS 25" Lancashire Sheet 104.7 1922 traffic to the east and northeast of the country. TOM WRAY has the full story . . . Surveyed 1915. Published 1922. It shows the little over a year after tramway taking the finished goods where animals could be housed goods station at its maximum size but not the A obtaining its Act of Parliament to where they were needed. during the night at no extra final L&Y layout which can be seen overleaf. the Manchester and Leeds Railway charge. In February 1841 the MLR advertised on 22nd July 1837 Early enterprise advertised for parties to collect for tenders for the erection of a Three weeks after the railway twist bales from the export houses viaduct from St George’s Street was opened to the public between in Manchester and take them Red Bank to Street, Manchester. Manchester and Littleborough to Oldham Road for despatch. Carriage As this was unsuccessful, a on 4th of July 1839, the company (Cotton is picked by rotating or Sidings Flyover junction from main line second attempt was made two offered to provide wagons and twisting the seed cotton from the months later and on 9th October convey them loaded with garden burr - hence twist bale). the tender of John Brogden produce as long as the merchants One innovation which attracted Miles Platting To YorkshireMiles Platting marshalling sidings for £26,500 was accepted. The loaded and unloaded them. The the commendation of observers at Works viaduct, of 58 arches and about half merchants were also required to Oldham Road was the provision Gas holders a mile long, varied in height from find sheets and ropes, and if the of a hoist on the north side of the 28 feet at St George’s Street to 16 goods were not removed after viaduct on which wagons were Newtown Sidings feet at Junction Street. The arches their arrival at the destination raised or lowered to and from also varied from 30 to 40 feet charges would be made. The MLR, the goods yard. There were two span, while those over St George’s however, would provide wagons platforms on the hoist so that one To Manchester Victoria Street, Livesey Street and Cropper and locomotive power at 4d per wagon could be raised and one

Street (later renamed Osborne ton per mile. Working goods lowered simultaneously. Powered Manchester Corp. Street) were substantial bridges, traffic can be seen to have been by a steam engine (though whether Rochdale Rd. Gas Works faced with stone, and 42 feet in its infancy when the line was by mechanical or hydraulic span. The materials required for opened and the terms stated look transmission is not known), it was the construction of the viaduct a little foreign to the modern eye. stated that the hoist was capable were prepared in a croft (which With regard to livestock, one of dealing with a thousand tons of later became the goods yard) on of the arches had been fitted out goods per day, and it separated the Oldham Road Goods Station the north side with an inclined as a shippon, with water troughs, goods traffic from the passengers at its maximum size

ã Oldham Road Goods Offices: The new office building fronted Oldham Road and was opened in 1914. It had accommodation for a staff of 140 on its three floors which were connected by an electric lift. Heating was by means of a low pressure hot water system and it was ventilated by electric suction fans. Separate dining rooms for men and women were provided and there was a recreation area on the flat roof of the building. LYRS Collection Courtesy of Google Maps

4 5 The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society in that loaded wagons came up with canvas, carpeting and soda, total number of wagons capable of ready to be taken away at once. were on fire. being worked at one time was 135, A second hoist was subsequently Potato traffic was one which and during the night about 1,500 installed on the opposite side of gained a prominent position at the tons of goods were handled. The the viaduct. Oldham Road side of the goods cellar beneath the warehouse was Even on the partially opened yard, and for its protection a shed used for the storage for Burton railway it was reported that in was erected to cover the relevant beer, wagons there being dealt the first two months goods traffic area in 1850. Later the same year a with by the brewers’ men. averaged 1,600 tons per week, goods warehouse was projected. Further extensions took place in and, by November 1844, there was The head cashier at Oldham 1866. The first was the fitting up an average of 199 loaded wagons Road until 1852 was George Scott of one of the arches as a sixteen arriving and 211 leaving Oldham when he was charged with having stall stable: the second was the Road over a period of seven days. left the service of the L&YR with erection of a roof over the potato Although the arches were £80 belonging to the company. market. In the years that followed utilised for warehouse purposes, It had been his duty to receive the potato merchants became Wagon hoist other more conventional buildings moneys from George Cockerham, dissatisfied with the treatment were also required. The one which the cash clerk, to balance his they received from the L&YR remained the largest for many years cash account every ten days or to such an extent that in 1873 was the grain warehouse, built a fortnight, to enter all sums as a meeting resolved that, if the OS 6" Manchester Sheet 24 1848 at right angles to the end of the soon as they were paid to him, and company refused to recognise Surveyed 1848. Published 1850. viaduct. This building, which had then pay them into the bank. His the rights of the tradesmen, they five storeys and a cellar, with each sentence is not known. would consider moving the market floor being 300 feet long and 80 The following year, 1853, the to another railway company. It feet wide, was capable of holding porters felt that they should be seems that there must have been 60,000 sacks of flour and grain. better paid. Despite not making a some resolution to the problem as Railway wagons ran straight into formal request at first, they did, a roof was built in 1875 over the the third floor of the building by however, eventually agree to a new potato yard. means of turntables, where by use 10 per cent increase, following a of cranes, the sacks were taken to successful request for an increase Developments 1871-1880 the appropriate storage area. by porters at Salford. At the half yearly meeting of Self improvement was all the the L&YR held in February 1871 Developments 1841-1870 rage in Victorian times and the it was stated that conditional The major event of 1841 was men at Oldham Road were not arrangements had been made the completion of the MLR to be left out. On Saturday, 3rd to extend the goods station by Wagon hoists throughout, thus giving access February 1855 a grand tea party the purchase of the site of St to the whole railway network, and ball was held in one of the George’s church, the congregation and allowing thorough traffic arches, suitably decorated, when of which was planning a move between Manchester to London about 500 people attended to to a new building. A new incline via the eastern end of the line. celebrate the fourth anniversary was also planned to gain direct Development at Oldham Road of the library and news room. A access to the low level yards and OS 25" Lancashire Sheet 104.07 1891 also continued that year, with a few years later, in 1861, a Porters’ the company went so far on 16th Surveyed 1888-91. Published 1893. boundary wall being erected all Provident Society was established April 1873 as to accept the tenders round the site, followed in 1843 to pay 8s per week to porters of Mr G Gilbert for £2,998, for by some unidentified sheds. The when sick. Unfortunately, the the brickwork of the incline, and major development of that period Society was not successful and Fairbairn Engineering for £1,800 was the opening of Victoria closed at the end of the year with for iron work. However the L&Y's station on Monday 1st January a balance of £38-18-10d which was Civil Engineer, Sturges Meek, found 1844, after which Oldham Road divided amongst its 52 members. that Mr F Beckett would build the dealt solely with goods traffic. It is not known if the failure was incline in stone for £2,900 and Carriers, all of whom operated due to either too many claims, too would complete it in the same at this time from the goods yard, few contributors or both. time, so Mr Gilbert lost out for were Carver & Co., Thompson, In a paper entitled On the Design £98. There was nothing untoward Mackay & Co., and Faulkner & Co. and Arrangement of Railway Stations, in the foregoing transactions Fire was always a potential Repairing Shops, Engine Sheds etc. - except for the fact that the problem as revealed on 11th read by William Humber to the L&YR did not get Parliamentary August 1849 when a shed used Institution of Civil Engineers in authorisation for the purchase of for making oil cloth coverings 1865, it was stated that wagons the site of St George’s church and (tarpaulins) for company use caught were worked into the station by the construction of the incline fire. By the time fire engines hydraulic powered capstans and until 16th July 1874. Building of the arrived, the shed, which was about on to the warehouse at the end of new church was already underway 63 feet by 36 feet, was almost the viaduct into which they were and it opened later in 1874 a short destroyed and several wagons worked via a wagon turntable and distance up the Oldham Road. standing near the shed and loaded unloaded by hydraulic cranes. The Additional information regarding Final LYR track plan c.1917

6 7 The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society this development can be found about 65-70 rpm, were 2 feet 4 On a lighter side, in February would obstruct light and air to the Manchester was 81 to 82 per acre. November 1888 when several in the evidence given in February inches high and about 14 inches 1877 a large number of men street below. It was revealed in the Despite this very high density of wagons, which were in the process 1875 by John Jackson, the goods in diameter, with the top 8 inches assembled in one of the goods L&Y's submission that in an area population, these houses remained of being shunted, became derailed superintendent at Oldham Road being cylindrical before curving out sheds to hear an address by the of 12 acres between the viaduct until demolished after the Second and broke through the viaduct to the Royal Commission on Railway to the bottom which was 2 feet Bishop of Manchester, the Rt. Rev. and Oldham Road, about 3,000 World War. wall, falling into the street below. Accidents (Minutes of Evidence in diameter (see drawing p.10). James Fraser, and on May Day people resided, or about 240 per An unexplained accident Another incident of a different 20th & 22nd February 1875). It On the low level there were 19 1878 about 100 carters joined acre, at a time when the average in occurred on the viaduct on 13th kind happened on 16th September was stated that there was room capstans in the open with 12 on a procession from Irwell Street for additional sidings in the area the upper level under cover. When goods station, Salford, through known as the graveyard. The first installed, in 1867 or 1868, the streets of Manchester. In the incline was being built, having been there was a foot pedal to control May Day procession of 1884, 500 in hand for about two years and, each one. However, if there was horses from the combined goods before construction started, there an obstruction, the rope became yards at Oldham Road and Irwell had been an 'Order in Council' so taut that it could not be put Street were led by a brass band from the Government to ensure out of gear, causing it to snap, and and followed by the L&YR fire the removal of bodies from the injuring the men if they had not brigade engine. graveyard. It is likely that the jumped out of the way. incline was opened in 1877. There were 28 shunt horses in Developments 1881-1897 In the 1870s there were about the yard employed day and night In 1881, a major development 580 men and boys employed as for shunting wagons or swinging was the erection of a five storey porters and carters, in addition to those turntables which were too warehouse at the north end of the large staff of the carriers who stiff to turn by hand. A breaksman Lees Street close to Rochdale rented some of the arches, viz. followed every pair of horses. Road. The building was 145 feet by Carver & Co., Thompson, Mackay Outgoing wagons were 140 feet, with six lines running in & Co., and Faulkner & Co. In marshalled on the low level before to it, and without turntables being 1888, the first named, Carver & being sent up to the high level in needed for access. In addition, Co., sold its Manchester, Liverpool train order so that a train, once there were wide cart ways. The and Hull business to the L&YR and assembled, could be driven away stages were fitted with a number LNWR but continued to trade without delay. A major problem of steam powered cranes and under the old name in other places. during 1875 was the overwhelming shunting was done by a number Conditions of work at this time amount of incoming traffic. This of constantly revolving capstans. could hardly be described as a was so great that the viaduct The machinery required was bed of roses. The yard was open to the station was completely supplied by J D Wood of Victoria from 3.00am Monday to 9.00pm blocked with wagons waiting to be Foundry, Bolton. The tender of Saturdays. Two shifts were worked, unloaded. These included 6 GNR R Neill & Sons for £40,875 had 6.00am to 6.00pm and 6.00pm wagons, 86 MS&LR, 105 NER, been recommended to be accepted ã ä Oldham Road station building: to 6.00am. Work took place on and 43 from Scottish railways, on 14th July 1880, but he was This was the original terminus of the Manchester and Leeds Railway and from 1839 until 1st January 1844 Sundays when necessary. The men with many more waiting at Miles persuaded to reduce his tender by had to deal with both passenger and goods traffic. The upper photo shows the building in the early 20th were paid for 57½ hours per week. Platting. There were also 100 £25 on 21st July! century with the arch to the left partially filled in. The wagon on the right is on one of the through tracks The day shift men were allowed wagons of cannel coal held on the Other facilities introduced at this from the main yard accessed by wagon turntables (see 1891 track plan). The lower view was taken after half an hour for breakfast and one Middleton branch though destined time included a cloth (tarpaulin) the expansion of 1913-16 to demonstrate the loop of track through the now clear arch from the main hour for dinner and, if they worked for the Corporation gas works at shed, a cattle loading mound and a goods yard beyond. By this time the building was used as a mess room for outdoor staff. The building overtime, they were allowed to Rochdale Road. gantry for carrying timber, which visible through the arch is the 1881 Lees Street warehouse. LYRS Noel Coates Collection go off at 20 minutes past five, From the 1860s coal delivered was close to the Lees Street returning again at 6.00pm. The in bulk to the gas works was warehouse. The steam powered day shift workers were allowed taken along a which crossed gantry had a capacity of 10 tons overtime until all the warehouse over Rochdale Road where it was with a span of 50 feet and a travel work was done, for which they discharged by means of a wagon of 270 feet. were paid 9d per night. Overtime hoist which took five minutes per Plans to widen the Oldham could be worked until 10pm, 11pm wagon. Prior to this wagons were Road goods branch were thrown or even midnight. It appears that unloaded by hand which took over out by a Select Committee of the there was no clocking on or off half an hour each. This gas works, House of Commons on Monday, system but when the men passed which had been originally opened 20th April 1885. The company had the office they were required to in about 1824 and became a sought powers for an additional give their name and the time, or municipal undertaking in 1843, was line of rails on the viaduct, with a they would not be paid. taking about 50 wagons of cannel footpath for the use of employees Work in the yard was not easy coal every day in 1877. (Cannel running alongside it, mounted before the incline was built as coal is a type of bituminous coal on brackets projecting from the all the wagons were moved by containing a high proportion of viaduct. This path would have means of ropes and capstans. hydrogen and volatile carbon been 3 feet 10 inches wide with a The capstans, operated by steam compounds which burns easily lattice work fence in place of the powered underground shafting and leaves little ash - ideal for gas existing wall. The Council opposed and and bevel gear boxes at production). the scheme on the grounds that it

8 9 The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society 1889 when a hogshead of Scotch land was already included in an capstans a novelty but considered committee. wheelbase, while the number of an internet page records it as whisky (521/2 gallons), in transit improvement scheme for which them to be an advance on the In addition to the new offices, on capstans was also reduced from being 7th October 1968 but from Glasgow to Pontefract, was the council had been granted the appliances used for the purpose in 25th September 1913 the tender of forty to fifteen. without giving any source for this transhipped at Oldham Road and, relevant powers to widen the America. E Taylor & Co. for £58,232-15‑6d An entirely new electrically information. during the shunting, one end was Rochdale Road to 75 feet and The seaman's strike in July 1911 was accepted for the extension of driven Goliath travelling crane The following are dates from staved in. When the wagon was Thompson Street to 60 feet. The resulted in the carters at Oldham the goods station, while that of was erected alongside the north personal observation. The station taken to Brewery Sidings, several Bill was passed and the streets Road refusing, in sympathy, to Thomas Wrigley for £58,916-18-6d side of the viaduct, where the end of the viaduct had been railwaymen took the opportunity widened at the L&Y's expense! handle goods from the Manchester was accepted on 23rd October. original hoist had been located. It demolished by April 1981, the of partaking of some of the spirit. A further local inquiry in Ship Canal. This action was Wrigley appears to have been had a lifting capacity of 20 tons, bridge over Livesey Street in March Unfortunately, one of them died February 1899 was held into an followed by a railwaymen’s strike the preferred contractor but no and its span of 45 feet covered 1984 and by the end of the year from the effects of too much spirit. application to purchase houses in August during extremely hot explanation seems to have been two tracks and a 24 foot wide the site of the goods station had As has been noted, congestion to be demolished and provide weather. The opportunity so reported. central cart way (see photo). Of been cleared. The viaduct from the was a major problem and at Miles new dwellings for the number of presented encouraged the men to The extension, along Thompson the existing travelling cranes, the station to Livesey Street was being Platting was so acute that plans persons residing in those houses. demand a 54 hour week; official Street and covering about five one at the east end of the yard, demolished in August 1992 and were made for the separation There were 899 inhabitants of recognition of the union; and a acres, was mainly devoted to the which had one leg on the ground from Livesey Street to Osborne of goods and passenger traffic. these houses in December 1898. weekly wage of 27s 1d for drivers erection of a shipping and delivery and the other on the south side Street by December of that year. One aspect of this plan was The L&YR proposed to erect of one horse lurries, and 29s for shed with a fruit shed at the of the railway viaduct above, The whole of the site was the widening of the Oldham blocks of flats to house 120 drivers of two horse vehicles. One north end. There were fourteen was reconstructed, changed to eventually occupied by three Road viaduct on the north side families to which the Council of the early published photographs pairs of tracks into the shipping electrical power, and given a lifting organisations after redevelopment. for, which R Neill & Sons were approved. On 26th July 1899 the in a local newspaper shows a shed, serving nine stages, all of capacity of 5 tons. The other crane The largest area was the for the awarded the contract for £15,328 tender of R Neill & Sons, £24,415, loaded lurry being attacked leaving which were continued across the at the Lees Street warehouse, Post Office sorting office whose on 18th December 1890, the work was accepted for the erection of the goods yard and heading into ends thus enabling which had been erected in 1881, entrance was several hundred being completed in 1893. artisans dwellings at Knowsley Rochdale Road. the transfer of goods to and from remained untouched. yards along Oldham Road. The In July 1891 John Jackson who, for Street, off Cheetham Hill Road. More arches were fitted out as any stage. Between the stage and The stabling accommodation was next largest was Wing Yip, a the previous 26 years had had the Each block was four storeys in stables at the end of 1912 and in the rear wall there was a 36 foot for a maximum of 280 horses, but Chinese supermarket, between management of the Oldham Road height, with each flat having a living July 1913 Thomas Wrigley’s tender wide cartway and another stage usually there were 250. However, the Post Office and Thompson goods station, retired owing to room and two bedrooms. Laundry of £6,274-10-6d was accepted for 41 feet wide. It was along this rear during the Great War there were Street. The third was a fire station failing health and E Winterbottom, facilities and play areas for children the construction of a roof over the stage that a mono-rail jib crane only just under 200. To carry the about half way along Thompson goods superintendent at Salford goods were also provided. LYR Architect, potato yard. of 30cwt capacity ran on two goods there were 400 horse drays Street which opened in 1986. It station, was appointed superintendent Henry Shelmerdine, told the On a much larger scale, tenders wheels on a flat bottomed rail, the plus two Leyland petrol lurries - a is interesting to note that a single of both the goods stations. inquiry that the flats were similar were invited in January 1913 upper end being kept in position sign of the times. building still survives, and that is to the LYR housing replacement for the erection of new goods by a roller attached to the wall of Compared with 1875, the hours the brick in the north The final L&Y expansion schemes such as those in Sallford. offices fronting on to Oldham the building. Four tracks entered of work had changed considerably east corner, between the incline In 1898 the L&YR deposited a Bill (see The L&YR in Salford by Tom Road. The building had three the fruit shed where there were by 1913. For delivery work the and Sudell Street. This was used in Parliament for the extension Wray pages 52-56 LYRS 2011) storeys, with a flat roof which two ample stages and two cart hours were from 4.00am until for some time as a refrigerator of the goods yard. Manchester Meanwhile at the goods station formed a recreational area for ways and at the end of Thompson 1.30pm, and 4.00am until 10.30am disposal point until the Council Corporation, which opposed the tenders were advertised for the the staff at meal times – and Street there was an entrance with on Saturday: for forwarding goods closed it down and cleared the site! scheme, produced a report on erection of additional stables in when weather permitted. There a sliding door for road vehicles. At the hours were from1.00pm until Further information can be found the plans in relation to the land June 1899. In 1902 the yard was was accommodation for 140 the south end a superintendents 10.30pm, and 8.30am until 2.00pm in articles in Platform 34 by Dave from the goods yard to Thompson visited by the assistant manager clerical staff with scope for future office and a weighbridge with on Saturday. Richardson and in Platform 57 by Street, between Oldham Road and general superintendent of increases. The separate dining its own office were erected. Noel Coates. and Rochdale Road, an area of the and Ohio Railroad rooms provided for men and Elsewhere in the yard the old Postscript 18,800 square yards. Some of this who not only found the electric women, were overseen by a staff shipping shed which had previously It has been difficult to discover Sources had nine tracks was rearranged to any information regarding • LYR company minutes ä Steam powered capstans: • The Engineer have only four but with increased developments up to and shortly • Engineering Steam driven capstans were used in the goods yard from about 1868 (see p.8). This drawing is of a storage space. after nationalisation with the • Herapath's Railway Journal similar arrangement at Huddersfield and shows how a system of shafts and bevel gear boxes was used Under the old layout every exception of war damage in • Proc. of the Inst. of Civil Engineers: to permanently drive the capstans at 65-70 rpm. Unsurprisingly, between 1872 and 1874 there were 38 Vol.25, 1865-66, paper No.1137 • Manchester Courier accidents at Oldham Rd. involving their use! Nigel Thornley Coll. & Royal Commission on Railway Accidents 1875 wagon into and out of the shed or 1940. It appears that the north potato yard had to be turned on part of the 1914 extension at the • Manchester Evening News • Manchester Examiner at least two turntables but with corner of Thompson Street and • The L&YR Vols 1 & 2: J Marshall, Bevel gear box Engine House the new arrangements this was Rochdale Road suffered bomb david & Charles 1969-1970 Underground line shaft • Middleton Guardian no longer necessary. Firstly, the damage with the fruit and produce • Report of the Royal Commission remodelling of the track enabled warehouse being destroyed. It is on Railway Accidents: locomotives access to all parts also presumed that the adjacent (Minutes of Evidence 20th & 22nd February 1875) Capstan rotating at of the goods yard for shunting warehouse of 1881 was damaged • Railway Magazine 65 rpm purposes and included a loop and had to be demolished. After • Railway News • Railway Times beneath the station building to the war, the surviving wagon hoist • Asquith, Roy Jenkins: Rope guide the potato yards and the (cattle) was removed about 1946 and the Collins, London, 1964 Capstan rotating at • A Manual of Rules Tables and Data 65 rpm mound. Secondly, the number original MLR station and grain for Mechanical Engineers: of wagon turntables on both warehouse were demolished in 1968. Blackie, 6th Ed. 1891, D.K. Clark: levels was reduced from 93, of The actual closure date • The Modern Baker, Confectioner and Caterer: John Kirkland: 9ft 6in diameter, to 19 capable of for freight traffic has been gresham, New and Enlarged taking wagons with up to 13 foot difficult to track down though edition, 1933

10 11 The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society

of wall with different Rochdale Rd Site of 1914 Fruit Shed Site of 1881 5 storey Single storey storage 1877 Incline from 3 Gas Works bombed in 1940 warehouse bombed 1940 shed 4 tracks viaduct to yard brickwork is the site of the wagon hoist which was removed about 1914 when the site was extended and remodelled. The inset shows St George Street bridge the parapet of which can be seen in the main photo. Photo 5 is the view from St George St bridge along the rest of the viaduct to the incline junction. The straight track split into three in the middle distance and served the mound 1914 Sundries Goods 1840s Grain MLR station Wholesale Top potato Viaduct used for unloading cattle Shed 14 tracks Offices 1913 warehouse building potato market shed which was just out of site on the right. The 4 Photo review curving tracks were from 1 Oldham Rd. side: the top potato yard and The aerial photo dates combine beyond the car from after World War 2 into a single and the original shows (see plan p.7). The inset the site delineated by shows the area about the red line. Courtesy of 1915 with the travelling English Heritage. crane which had one track in the yard and Photo 1 is an 1898 view one on the viaduct. It along Oldham Road was used for lifting bulky showing the end of items from wagons on the grain warehouse, the viaduct down to the the entrance gate to yard. Photos courtesy the yard and, beyond of Manchester Libraries, the pub, the wholesale Information and Archives, potato market. Manchester City Council Photo 2 is a shot of the yard side of the grain The potato traffic warehouse with its had developed early ground floor canopy for and there were many loading road vehicles. independent traders Rail entry was from the from the potato market 5 viaduct into the third bordering Oldham 2 floor as detailed overleaf. Rd. (see aerial photo). By this time (1966) the In the 1870s there potato market had been were disagreements demolished. with the traders but Photo 3 shows the at some point over old Manchester & the next twenty years Leeds Railway station the L&Y became the building, now shorn of its formal wholesaler of attractive overhanging potatoes by agreement roof (see p.9). To the of the Corporation of right is the viaduct with Manchester. By 1914 the the train shed wall above yard was handling 50,000 it. The first window has tons of potatoes per been replaced by a crane annum - that's 1,000,000 and loading door. hundredweight sacks! Photo 4 is a continuation Wagons had to descend shot showing the the incline and negotiate remainder of the train the loop to the other side shed and the viaduct of the viaduct and back beyond. The section into the potato yard.

12 13 The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society

1 Photo review 5 8 Viaduct and Grain Warehouse: Photo 1 is the original passenger station on the viaduct which was converted for goods use after 1844 and the double pitch train shed was retained. To the left of the viaduct is the Oldham Rd. side of the station with its potato warehouses and to the right is the low level yard bounded by Thompson Street and Rochdale Road. It was 6 9 2 photographed on May 12th, 1956 during an Old Manchester tour. The loco is ex-LYR 2-4-2T No.50647. Noel Coates Collection Photo 2 is looking back from the train shed along the viaduct and shows the miscellaneous collection of buildings which had sprung up on the viaduct over the years. Photos 3 & 4 show the inside of the train shed. 3 The far end of the left hand side of the train 7 10 shed had been walled in for use a two storey warehouse, the upper floor also extending over the tracks in the right 4 hand side of the train shed. The warning sign over the left hand track is delightfully vague. Photo 5 is looking back through the train shed from the grain warehouse end of the building. It clearly shows the timber floor over the tracks with a loading Photo 7 is a close up of the Photos 9 & 10 are looking along loading onto wagons for delivery stage to the left and an substantial timber framing used the length of the warehouse and to the mill in the case of grain aperture above through to support the upper floor. Some shows the two tracks joined by or the bakery in the case of which goods were of the original Manchester & a turntable at each end; there flour. The warehouse capacity raised and lowered. The Leeds Railway cast iron columns were also platforms alongside was 60,000 sacks (a sack of flour windows on the left hand supporting the train shed roof each track. Apertures and weighed 280lb, grain sacks were side look out over the can also be seen. hanging ropes are visible over 5 bushels and weighed up to low level yard. Photo 8 shows the wagon the right hand track and it 300lb). Each bay was numbered Photo 6 is on the upper turntable located at the far end seems likely that this was the so that customer's stock could floor of the same section of the train shed which rotated one used for unloading incoming be kept separate and easily and shows the pulley wagons through a little less stock. The left hand platform identified. (Photos 2-10 date from 1966) mechanisms used for than 90 degrees to the tracks had helicoids, or spiral ramps, Photos courtesy of Manchester the lifting and lowering along the third floor of the grain down which sacks could be slid Libraries, Information and Archives, operation. warehouse. from the floors above prior to Manchester City Council

14 15 The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society

Photo review LMS Strip Map c.1929 1 5 Incline & low level yard: Photo 1 shows the stone built incline in 1966. It came into use about 1877 before which the only access to the low level yard was by wagon hoist. Photo 2 is also from 1966 and shows the building which was the Mike Fitton Collection main transhipment shed from the 1870s until the opening of the new Working instructions Miles Platting to Oldham Rd. Thompson Street shed around 1916, when it became a general storage shed. Rochdale Road bus garage is in the background. Photo 5 is taken from a loading platform alongside Photo 3 is an L&Y period shot of 2 the inner curve of the incline and shows its the Goliath crane with the 1870s construction in detail. In addition to all the railway shed in the background. It was traffic the yard also dealt with coal deliveries to taken to show how goods were Rochdale Rd. Gas Works and coke traffic leaving the loaded onto 'flatbottoms' or works. Photos 1 & 2 courtesy of Manchester Libraries, 'flats' which could be craned from Information and Archives, Manchester City Council. Photo 3 railway wagon to horse drawn or LYRS Martin Nield Collection. Photo 4 LYRS Tom Wray motor lurry without disturbing Collection. Photo 5 Richard Greenwood. the load, a system pioneered by the L&Y. The lighter brickwork Working instructions Oldham Rd. incline - Jan 1921 at this point is where the wagon hoist was located. Photo 4 is of poor quality but is the only view found of the 1881 3 warehouse which was destroyed in an air raid in 1940. To the left is the new 1916 built transhipment (or sundries) shed which had 14 tracks leading into it. Incoming trains were unloaded and goods sorted for either local delivery or full wagon loads to specific destinations. Around 400 horse drawn drays, 200 horses and a handful of motor lurries were based at Oldham Road at this time. Further lines went round the back of the warehouse to gain entry to the fruit shed which was also destroyed in 1940. The gantry crane used for bulky and heavy Shunting engines - January 1905 loads is clearly visible.

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Shunting engines - November 1920

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