Whistle-stop history tour around those Todmorden rail stations
NOEL Coates, treasurer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Society and life long railway enthusiast, spoke to Todmorden Antiquarian Society about railway stations in and around Todmorden.
An introductory picture showed the red and white roses on the crest of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, the crest of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company and the crest of British Rail showing a "hungry lion" dated about 1950.
Noel then described a timeline for travel between Bacup and Manchester. The examples showed that in 1835 folk had to walk or go by horse back, in 1841 folk had to walk to Todmorden or Rochdale then take a train to Manchester. By 1846 they could take a shorter walk to Rawtenstall for the train, and by 1852 Bacup people could go directly to Manchester on a journey of about 70 minutes.
This chart showed the rapid growth of railway building in West Yorkshire and East Lancashire during those two decades in the midst of industrialisation. Noel had ingenious computer graphic maps showing how the rail network increased to its peak, then vice-versa later in sequence when so many rail routes began closing down.
From Todmorden to Manchester by rail it is 19 miles. The Calder Valley line opened from Manchester to Littleborough in 1839. It continued through to Leeds once the renowned Summit Tunnel was completed in 1841.
Noel had plenty of pictures of Todmorden Railway Station.
It was amazing to see the sheer size in the past. Four platforms were in use and many sidings for goods wagons. There were continuous stock runs shunting and banking through weekday nights through to Rose Grove near Burnley.
Noel explained that there were no engine sheds at Todmorden, but 15 at Rose Grove, eight at Sowerby Bridge and 39 at Bacup. Towneley Quarry dropped full wagons of coal at Todmorden and raw cotton was brought in for the mills.
The Fielden Mills had their own sidings for rail transportation. One picture showed a horse drawn "lurry" moving goods from a local mill to the station - Noel added that these loaded platforms placed onto a horse and cart were the forerunners to present day containerisation.
The Todmorden rail "triangle" was quite unrecognisable. In the past, it was in full use for rail stock from here towards Burnley.
There were stations at Towneley and Holme, then sidings for Copy Pit coal mines. At Portsmouth there was a three storey signal box, behind which Noel pointed out Jowett's haulage depot with direct access to more sidings.
More old pictures showed Stansfield Hall Station, and on along through Millwood to Eastwood Station.
Noel covered many other associated topics. These included postcards from long ago, adverts for excursions to the Ribble Valley.
Noel recommended Robin Pennie's book on Todmorden born John Ramsbottom, whose genius was connected with many locomotive engineering inventions. This and other local railway books are in Todmorden Tourist Information Centre.
- The next meeting of Todmorden Antiquarian Society will be on Tuesday, February 9, at 7.30 pm in Todmorden Town Hall Court Room. The speaker will be Alan Stuttard on "Craven, Napier and Scott". Visitors are most welcome.
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
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