Published by the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership Issue 3 Christmas 2019 www.midcheshirerail.org.uk All change at Altrincham PRIOR TO 1990, MID CHESHIRE Line trains ran from Chester to Altrincham, and then through Sale and Trafford to Manchester Oxford Road. Subsequently, the trains have been diverted through Stockport, the route previously taken being re- A Metrolink tram from Bury arrives at Altrincham. Altrincham Interchange’s construction, due to open in 2020 distinctive clock tower. At Altrincham, the modern Interchange (which opened in 2014 opened in 1992 as part of the sixty miles of routes, and over ninety and is owned by Transport for Altrincham to Bury line of the new stations, it is the biggest light rail Greater Manchester) connects trains Metrolink system. system in the country. It is set to on the Mid Cheshire Line to trams Metrolink itself has expanded become even bigger, with a branch on Metrolink and ’buses to locations considerably since then. With over to the Trafford Centre, now under in Trafford and(continued overleaf) Greenbank Gardens All change at Altrincham Time was that Hartford and Greenbank (from front page) further afield. Garrick Playhouse, about fifteen station (as it was known until May 1973) Altrincham itself was granted a minutes walk from the Interchange. was home to a prize-winning garden. In charter in 1290 when the market was The theatre’s main auditorium has those days the station was staffed, and first established. In the 1760s, the 400 seats. The Society was founded regularly won awards in British Railways’ Bridgwater Canal opened, its route in 1914 (the theatre itself was built in passing just to the north of 1931) and presents drama, comedy, Altrincham. However, the musicals and pantomime town really developed during a season which after the coming of lasts from September the railway in 1849. to June. As well as Today, its own company, Altrincham’s guest artists modern shopping regularly appear; centre is just a there really is few steps from something for Gardening, 1960s style… the Interchange, everyone! but if you are in If an exciting search of “retail sporting evening therapy”, you really is more to your should time your visit taste, why not take in for a day on which the an ice hockey match at bustling and historic market is Planet Ice, which can be found open. Purveyors of fresh food and next to the Altrincham Interchange? an eclectic array of crafters jostle for Manchester Storm is a professional position alongside award winning ice hockey team, originally founded kitchens, bars and cafés. Just in time in 1995 and re-formed in 2015, which for the festive season, upcoming plays in the Elite League. The Friends group Graham, Nigel events there include, on evenings in season runs from October to March, and Mark, at the 2019 garden November and December, Chloe with a home game due to be played Robinson’s Christmas Wreath in Altrincham every weekend. Best Kept Gardens Competition. Workshops (numbers are limited, so A ten minute ride from the Now the volunteer group, the booking is essential). Interchange, on one of Warrington ‘Friends of Greenbank Station’, is Altrincham is home to the Borough Transport’s regular CAT5, returning a sense of pride to this often overlooked stop on the Mid Cheshire Line. Over a period of several months, fixtures at the station commemorating the Fallen, particularly of World War I, have been created and installed. The new ‘Garden of Peace and Reflection’ was dedicated, in October, at a ceremony led by Rev Dimitri Aldridge and attended by armed forces veterans. Part of the mural at Greenbank The Garrick Theatre Dunham Massey Hall Marvellous Days Out poster sales buses brings you to the front gate of Are you looking for a Christmas present Dunham Massey Hall and Gardens. with a difference? One to suit family or Entry to the park itself is free, but friends who have moved away, or who charges apply to the hall and gardens love our beautiful and historic Cheshire, (unless you are a member of the whether that be city, town, village or National Trust, to which the countryside. Perhaps you want a property belongs). present to please the avid rail fan in your Encircled by its distinctive wall, life! If so, we have the perfect, poster the 300 acre ancient parkland is present for you. home to deer and other wildlife, and You can find our products at the affords good views of the Chester Visitor Information Centre, Elizabethan house. The hall itself Northwich Customer Service Centre, (open Saturday to Wednesday) was Lion Salt Works, Knutsford Heritage remodelled in the eighteenth Centre, Stockport Staircase Museum, and century, and holds extensive Chester Zoo. collections in its sumptuous Thanks to our friends at Crewe Edwardian interiors. Heritage Centre, you can now purchase Both Dunham Massey and the the posters online as well. nearby village of Bowdon are Each poster is available in either A2 mentioned in the Domesday Book of or A3 sizes, and features one of the 1086. The name Bowdon is derived following stations: from the Anglo Saxon words for a • Chester The artwork on the posters is by curved hill, and it is reached from • Delamere Nicky Thompson. The poster of the Interchange by a gentle climb, of • Northwich Northwich depicts the Anderton around a mile, through some very • Lostock Gralam Boat Lift, the so called “Cathedral of • Knutsford the Canals”. Each features a bird; • Hale Northwich’s is a pied wagtail. • Altrincham • Stockport Although Crewe Heritage Centre is • Manchester closed until April, it stages a few special In addition, a poster with all nine station events in the winter, during which you posters is available, as is a selection of can buy the posters in person from the posters based on animals at Chester Zoo. shop (free of post and packing charges). The posters cost £5.00 (A3) or £10.00 www.marvellousdaysout.org.uk (A2), plus £3.50 postage and packing. www.crewehc.org Bowdon Parish Church Building Community Relations attractive leafy suburbs. A church Members of the Mid Cheshire has stood at Bowden village for Community Rail Partnership, which is all around 1000 years, although the about creative partnership working, were current, Grade 2* listed building very excited when one of the country’s dates from 1860. most respected independently owned Ancient and modern, there can be house builders approached the no doubt that Altrincham and its Partnership to use a selection of its surroundings hold a truly diverse Marvellous Days Out posters. They adorn and attractive mix of attractions. the interior of a show house, at With its numerous transport links, it Winnington Village, Northwich, which is, is an excellent base for a top day out! appropriately, named after the nearby All you need to know about Metrolink: Anderton Boat Lift (and which appears www.tfgm.com/public-transport/tram on the Northwich poster). Opening times at Altrincham Market John Hulme, author of our Marvellous John Hulme with the Lostock www.altrinchammarket.co.uk Days Out booklet, a Director of the Lion Gralam poster (which features the What’s on at the Garrick Theatre Salt Works Trust at Marston and Lion Salt Works). www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk President of Cheshire Best Kept Stations Watch top flight ice hockey at Planet Ice said “This is a marvellous way of Wilmslow based Morris Homes is www.manchesterstorm.com promoting our Line and local attractions sponsoring the 2019 Cheshire Best Kept Plan your visit to Dunham Massey to those thinking of moving into the area. Stations’ Community Award”. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey I am also pleased to announce that www.bestkeptstations.org.uk Ticket To Ride Pacers - goodbye to all that In each edition of Along Mid Cheshire Lines, It is 1985. Ronald Reagan is President characteristics prompted passengers we take a close look at one of the tickets of the USA, Live Aid is held at to give the Pacers’ the unflattering available to travellers on the Line. Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia, nickname “nodding donkeys”. The Greater Manchester Wayfarer unseeded 17 year old Boris Becker Pacers were intended to have a ticket allows travel for a day anywhere in wins the first of his Wimbledon titles lifespan of only twenty years but (as Greater Manchester and in parts of and the first Class 142 ‘Pacer’ is regular passengers hardly need Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, introduced into traffic. reminding) have been kept in service Staffordshire and the Peak District. Its The Pacer, using a modified bus for much longer than that. As 2019 area of validity reaches as far north as body and a number of other bus draws to a close, so too do the Burnley and as far south as Ashbourne components, was built as British Rail working lives of these much maligned (towns that, by road, are over 75 miles needed to replace its aging fleet of trains. They may be well past their apart). It is valid on trains, buses and all “best before” date but it should be of the extensive Metrolink tram system. remembered that they were cheap, A Wayfarer can be used on the Mid available and suitable for use on some Cheshire Line at all stations from little used branch lines that could Northwich to Manchester; if you want to otherwise have been closed. Finally, use it to travel from Greenbank, as Northern takes new trains into Cuddington, Delamere, Mouldsworth or service, so the trains on our own Mid Chester, you will need to buy an Cheshire Line are set to be a little additional ticket to Northwich.