Throstle Nest East Jct. [Manchester] - New Mills South Jct.
Date Closed to Passenger Services
5 May 1969
Mileage Closed
15m 41c
Stations Closed
Services Operated
Manchester (Central) - Sheffield (Midland)
Timetable Reference
BR(LM) 6 May 68 - 4 May 69 Table 115
Cobb Atlas Reference
370 81 96 - 357 00 84
Present Status
Reopened - Hazel Grove HL Jct. - New Mills South Jct. (see Notes below). Freight - Cheadle Heath North Jct. - Hazel Grove HL Jct. Dismantled - remainder.
Map
RCH Lancashire & Cheshire District 1933
Further Notes
ACD - Mon 05/05/1969 - remaining RTS withdrawn - PNM 1980 p63.
The closure of this section of line and the associated lines (Manchester (Central) - Cornbrook West Jct.; Chorlton Jct. - Fairfield Jct.; Heaton Mersey Jct. - Romiley Jct.) was a drawn out affair.
From 02/01/1967 the service from Manchester (Central) - Cheadle Heath was withdrawn and the intermediate stations closed. Also closed was Stockport (Tiviot Dale) with Manchester (Central) - Derby locals being routed via Cheadle Heath and Hope Valley services running from Piccadilly, which left Heaton Mersey Jct. - Romiley Jct. effectively closed to passenger services. This contradicted the decision to approve changes to these services that would, it was stated, not result in any line closures. The legality of the closure was in doubt, but it seems to have gone unchallenged. See BLN 73 11/01/1967 p4 for a full account.
From 01/01/1968 the remaining express services were diverted from Manchester (Central) to Manchester (Piccadilly). This left a couple of SuO trains operating over this section of line, between Liverpool (Lime St.) and Sheffield (Midland) via Manchester (Central) and one each way to Guide Bridge via the Fallowfield Loop.
The originally intended closure date of June 1968 did not happen and final closure is recorded as Mon 05/05/1969. As LTR Saturday 03/05/1969 and a Sunday service was operating at the time, strictly speaking the ACD should be Sun 04/05/1969.
There's more.....
Cheadle Heath North Jct. - New Mills South Jct. (together with the line from Arpley Jct.) continued in use for seasonal dated trains until LTR Sat 06/09/1969, the last being the 1000 SO Sheffield - Llandudno and 1428 Llandudno - Sheffield, both dated trains 14/06/1969 - 06/09/1969, or were they?
This information is correct according to BLN 153 06/05/1970. However, these trains continued to run to the same pattern (i.e. NOT calling anywhere between Sheffield and Prestatyn) until 1975 inclusive. From 1976 the trains ran via Manchester (Victoria) as the 0833 SO Sheffield/0842 York - Llandudno and the 1335 SO from Llandudno - Sheffield/York. Without checking the Working Timetables it is impossible to confirm the exact route from 1970 - 1975. Did the trains still use the Northenden route or go via Manchester non-stop?
Hazel Grove High Level Jct. (junction with new Hazel Grove Chord) - New Mills South Jct. RO 12/05/1986.
Page updated: 12/01/2023