End of the line

Going . . . the Shaw signal box will go when the rail line into Manchester closes in October for Metrolink work

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

Historic signal box to make way for trams

A PIECE of railway history will disappear when the Shaw signal box is removed to make way for Metrolink this year.

The late Victorian Beal Lane box will make way for new access to the new Shaw and Crompton Metrolink stop, after the rail line into Manchester closes in October.

But the more modern signal box at Oldham Mumps will stay for the time being.

The level crossing at Shaw will be replaced with a traffic signal controlled junction similar to those operating in Manchester city centre.

The conversion of the Oldham loop line via Shaw and Rochdale is part of the £600 million expansion of the Metrolink network, which will see trams serving east Manchester, Droylsden, Chorlton and Salford’s MediaCity UK.

The campaigning group STORM (Support the Oldham, Rochdale, Manchester Rail lines) will commemorate the closure with special trains.

Richard Greenwood, of STORM, said: “There will be a special last train, after the official last train, on October 3, a bit like the old Wakes specials.

“And leading up to the closure, probably two weeks before, there is going to be a steam train around the loop.

“Oldham’s archives and gallery are also going to put on a display, and we hope to produce a commemorative booklet with Northern Rail, including photos and text.”

STORM is appealing for photos and information, and Richard added: “We have hardly anything on the Hollinwood and Failsworth end of the line.

“It it is not just historic photos we are after, but pictures right up to date. It is 53 years since steam trains finished running on the line.”

Anyone with memories and pictures can e-mail steam.richard@googlemail.com  

The first line into Oldham was a branch from Middleton to Werneth in 1842, and the Werneth to Mumps line came five years later. The line continued to Royton and Rochdale in 1863, but Hollinwood was not connected to Mumps and Manchester until 1880.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) is overseeing the Metrolink expansion, and said a decision has not been made yet about the future of the Mumps signal box. Detailed designs for that section are still being finalised.

Network Rail will recover any redundant assets or equipment of strategic use — including features in the signal boxes — before construction starts.

Philip Purdy, GMPTE’s Metrolink Director, said: “We appreciate just how important it has been in terms of the heritage and identity of the surrounding area.”

Trams are expected to begin running to Oldham Mumps in autumn 2011, and Rochdale in spring 2012.