Beechings Final Railway Closure? Walking the Disused Macclesfield to Marple Railway

Was this Dr Beechings Final Closure? Walking the Disused Macclesfield to Marple Railway
The Macclesfield Bollington and Marple Railway was Recommended for closuse in the 1960s on the Beeching Report. Amazingly it outlasted many railway lines on the Beeching Report lasting up until 1970. One of the final Beeching Closures if not the last?
In Part 1 i begin just outside of Macclesfield, i head on towards the site of Bollington Station, then we see the amazing Bollington Viaduct from the drone and on the ground. Then its lovely scenary as we head on towards Higher Poynton Railway Station.
'Filaments' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
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#bollington #station #viaduct #train #tracks #abandoned

[@ldb281]

I can never stress enough what the generations of railway buliders left us with decades on. That massive viaduct would of course never be built for cyclists etc these days, but what a structure to behold! Your enthusiasm is so much appreciated and the enlightenment you bring us is quite formidable. Thanks

[@railwaychristina3192]

Today I walked the Monsal Trail and feel absolutely the same. ❤

[@iancaveney7464]

"The people round here are lovely" - Ant "Just been gobbled on and told to eff off" - Also Ant 😂😋

[@TrekkingExploration]

I know 😂😂😂

[@RalphFreeman-ok5of]

​@@TrekkingExplorationcyclists. reckon they own the canal towpaths too. Worst thing canal and river trust did was to encourage cycling on the towpaths.😮

[@Michellelovestrains]

Fab video Ant. I honestly look forward every Sunday evening to watching your videos, it sets me up for the week ahead. And don’t worry about the foul idiots gobbing off at you, you’re class; they’re clearly not!

[@TrekkingExploration]

So pleased you are enjoying them thanks very much indeed 😊

[@robincurwood]

As far as that cyclist is concerned it would make me think if I had a stick I would shove it in is spokes! And yes I am a cyclist. The new highway code states that pedestrians have right of way over a cyclist! As a cyclist I have always given way to pedestrians. Even to the extent of stopping and getting off my bike. I have also had abusive comments thrown at me, some people think that they are God's and have the right over everyone else. It was especially horrible during covid time. I would try and go where I thought people didn't go for solitude.i still do.

[@paultrigger8492]

Another fantastic walk Ant some lovely built bridges along the old trackbed, sad to hear the cyclists didn't like you walking there must have thought it belonged to them , look forward to part 2 great content mate

[@2010ditta]

That viaduct was something amazing. So many bridges too, and all in great condition. Thank you...enjoyable as always.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Tim thanks for watching

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Fantastic video thanks Ant. Those bridges were awesome, just can’t beat the stonework of the old ones. Seems you have sweet young people over there too, just no need of it. Just loved the video, thanks for taking me along. Please take care

[@nickboden5866]

Superb walk, fabulous viaduct. What rude cyclists….

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Nick. Yes it's a very poor attitude

[@KarenG.-qs7wc]

Can't believe someone actually spat at you😮🤯 how utterly disgusting some people are😠 And on such a lovely walk too.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Yeah it was pretty poor attitude. Lovely walk though 😊

[@jillanderson7048]

What a beautiful walk...thanks for sharing its beauty and history

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much for watching Jill

[@johnniec9097]

Great to see the structures not covered in vulgar disfigurement of graffiti 👍 excellent video thanks for uploading .

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching Johnnie

[@Jimyjames73]

Boooo to Dr Beeching!!! Liking the Viaduct - Thanks for sharing 😊🚂🚂🚂

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching as always

[@Jimyjames73]

@@TrekkingExploration Your Welcome Ant 😊🚂🚂🚂

[@philiprufus4427]

Boo to Marple's The Conservatives Favourite Scamboy ! Alleged 'Transport' Minister !

[@MrMansun95]

Great video and a great ending with the intact platforms look forward to the next one !

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much that'll be along next weekend

[@osantiagues]

They never should have closed this railway. Just 3 stations closed ... a vital link lost. What a waste - and it's all ended up being maintained anyhow as a cycle route. Thanks, Beeching and Marples.

[@dailaffin9066]

Thanks for a great video, hope you don’t come across any further obnoxious Lycra louts in the second section 😮

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much indeed 😊

[@TheRogey1]

Love it 'Lycra Louts'😂

[@raylittle8607]

This was the biggest mistake made to cut the railway network. Instead of cutting lines they should have been expanded so that everywhere was linked up with the railways. We would now be able to commute to all areas.

[@peterduffield221]

Was born and bred in macclesfield so very interesting to watch this one Ant , sorry you had to come across a couple of antisocial cyclists , you get them in all walks of life , great video agan cheers

[@Duranie9]

I always look forward to your videos, they are very therapeutic, a lovely escape from all the stresses of modern life.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much indeed I'm pleased you are enjoying them 😊

[@daffyduk77]

Shame about selfish intolerant humans impinging :-(. probably won't be the worst you've encountered. Thanks for taking all that in your stride & not being put off

[@ukman9797]

Excellent mate, but bloody cyclists 🤬

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much for watching

[@floor993]

Nice video! And wonderful “clean” bridges, which means no graffiti crap.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Yes they are very clean. Thank you for watching

[@timmatthews773]

Great video - you got a nice day for it! Too bad about the cyclists - most folk, as you say, are very friendly here! The shot at 8:13 is actually the viaduct at Marple though, not Bolly

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much I'm glad you enjoyed it. I won't tell anyone about the viaduct if you don't 🤣😉

[@timmatthews773]

@@TrekkingExploration hehe 🤫The Marple viaduct is even lovelier than the Bolly one!

[@nf015h5124]

Please correct me but I thought the last Beeching closure was the Bridport branch that closed in 1975 🤔

[@TrekkingExploration]

I've no idea. I've put it out as a question. Thanks for watching

[@whitespider8523]

I don't normally leave a comment but I should, because I never miss one of your walks, totally enjoyable, look forward to seeing more, good luck.

[@dilwyn1]

Lets go !!!

[@TrekkingExploration]

😊😊

[@JanMartin-co9oo]

what a nice walk nr macclesfield so looking forward to the second part of this walk thanks for sharing xx

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Jan it'll be along next week

[@davidsnapebrcrosslane8782]

It's approx 12 miles from Rose Hill to Macclesfield. My grandparents used to live at Higher Poynton. My grandad used to walk the route as a ganger ( permanant way) , my auntie worked in the ticket office at Higher Poynton Station. Also, my great great grandfather was stationmaster at Macclesfield. Great walkway and cycletrail, ideal for a pubcrawl via bike.

[@BrendanPerkins]

Thanks Ant, another brilliant video.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so much Brendan

[@bobingram6912]

Ant, you're in one of your comical moods I see!!!! Those Lycra Louts must be in the money, it costs quite a bit to have a frontal lobotomy🤕 Great little walk, good to see all the bridges. I bet it was cheaper to keep the viaduct than try to knock it down. Victorians 1 - Council 0👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

It was surprising how much energy I had that day I'd just come from Leekbrook that morning from the Endon to Leek walk

[@janettetaylor8760]

Also u have the canal on Ur right side walking towards poynton..

[@maestromanification]

Great video Ant, but I think last beeching closure was either Alston or Bridport branches Cheers Russ

[@sarahwinfield3989]

What is it about cyclists that make them so beligerent. The sooner they have to register their cycles and display a registeration number the safer will be our roads. Another very enjoyable ramble.

[@barricadeish]

Think the mill and chimney is Clarence mill now residential.

[@MoorlandMallard]

Great video again but shame the cyclist had such a bad attitude. Pity he has not read the new amendments to the highway code. Looking forward to part two already.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Yes sadly. He did pass again in the opposite direction but I didn't mention that 😕 Thanks for watching

[@dodgydruid]

Ironically, the MK2 Ford Cortina ceased to exist in 1970 too...

[@TrekkingExploration]

Blimey 😮

[@janettetaylor8760]

Us cyclists we use that alot there also another disuse railway line but I don't know how to pronounce it's names and it's a long line.

[@terryansell6641]

How nice is this to watch your many videos from my armchair on a cold winters day in New Zealand well done.

[@janettetaylor8760]

And I live In Stockport as well

[@LKBRICKS1993]

Wonderful video so interesting and exciting to watch. Really looking forward to part 2.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it thanks very much

[@tracya4087]

thank you , was looking for something worth watching

[@TrekkingExploration]

I hope you enjoy it 😊

[@jetsons101]

Ant, what a great walk you had and perfect weather for it. This must hold the record for the most bridges in one video. Thanks for your time, work and posting.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I was rather surprised about the number of bridges

[@jetsons101]

@@TrekkingExploration It was like a walk thru bridge city....... lol

[@jetsons101]

The name of the color at 0:57 is known as Sublime or Limelight.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Ohhh the map 😉

[@RoyTheMouth]

An idea for a future walk is the Chester and Connah's Quay Railway to Shotton, only closed in 1992!

[@chrish5319]

Lovely viaduct and bridges. Looks a well cared for path, well done to whoever is responsible. Thank you for the video and the history.

[@andrewnorth170]

Its a shame you cannot see that viaduct in all its glory what with all the new builds and bushes. If you didn't know it was there, you'd blink and you missed it. I don't live in the area but I always like a viaduct. A viaduct close to me might possibly be the Bushey Arches. I also like the viaduct in Newquay.

[@_wood]

The girder bridges were built to enable quick repairs to be carried out in cases of possible mining subsidence, as there were many pits mainly in the Poynton area, which sits at the southern end of the Manchester coalfield. I have cycled the route many times as I live in Stockport. I now use the Poymton Coppice car park as a starting point for walks to Lyme Park and the moors that surround the Park. I believe I travelled on the line as a child bring taken from Stockport to Alton Towers in the 1960s. My father was a railway man and we would have joined the line at Middlewood after changing from the lower level station on the Stockport to Buxton line up the steps to the higher wooden platformed station Middlewood Higher.

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Nice green walk with some splendid bridges and aerial shots. Good to see it's been made accessible, though sad to see inconsiderate and abusive cyclists. Thank you.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

Nice one. Thank you

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much 😊

[@johncarold]

Hi Ant, Great video that is a incredible viaduct, and the bridges are beautiful. It's to bad that you are not able to fly over to the chimney and the factory. I had to stop there, it's late. But Thanks again.

[@helenthorne8451]

Wow how many bridge's lovely walk did you have lots of stops it's alot of miles I've only managed 4 miles on my walks but thanks for sharing xx

[@simonbradshaw3708]

Thank you for another interesting railway walk. What was the main income for the railway line was it passenger or freight?

[@angelanicholls9647]

Hi Ant, we were only here 2 weeks ago, 🚆 we were on our bikes 🚉 🚄 🚲 Your videoing and editing are fantastic 🎥 ❤ I look forward to Part 2.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much indeed I hope you had a good day

[@angelanicholls9647]

@@TrekkingExploration We did. TY.😁

[@garyh8315]

Thankyou Ant, i have always wondered about this route having worked across other parts of the main lines around this area. One to get out and see for myself. Cheers

[@caseman4210]

i live in macclesfield the old arigi bianchi store bottom right on the first frames, 8sec in is still there, the river bollin was under the viaduct it straddled the river! they always said it was expensive to maitain, the railway went past where tesco is now. good video!

[@JohnBath-f8p]

Walked this former railway route in 1997. The viaduct at Bollington is spectacular.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's lovely isn't it? Thank you for watching 🙂

[@michaelmiller641]

Thanks for that walk, Ant.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching Michael 😊

[@marilynbalderstone696]

Great video thanks and I live in Bollington but missed the railway unfortunately. My daughter has walked it but I can’t. Not raining either! Look forward to part two.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much for watching Marilyn

[@shirleylynch7529]

So sad all those railways are gone but at least Ant you have now got amazing walkways and bridges that you can get up really close to. The colours in your video are beautiful. Thank you for all the info as you walk. So interesting. Well done. Brilliant filming.

[@philiprufus4427]

You shoud'nt be sad, Ernie had a great time,till he had to flee for tax reasons and Profumo Scandel suspicions ! Taxpayer bought him loadsa property (run down) in London,Nice Chateux in France, gave him lots of Motorway Contracts, for his construction company. All he had to do for it was appoint Beeching to destroy a century of railway development nationwide. The Railway did need Rationalisation, BUT DEVESTATION OVER TWENTY YEARS ???

[@clairefirth2383]

My home turf walked/cycled the section between Poyton and Macclesfield many a time. Used to live on Grimshaw lane where there was originally a bridge that took the railway across the road. The big chimney you can see belongs to Clarence Mill which is next to the canal. Bollington has a lot of history and you could easily make a video about it. And unusually Bollington is actually classed as a town and has its own local council.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I shall have to come back. I did see a few intriguing areas when I looked on maps

[@simonballard6413]

Fabulous viaduct! You mentioned that further on, the line goes over the top of a tunnel of over 2 miles. Would that be Disley? Thanks for another great video.

[@TrekkingExploration]

That's the one, Disley

[@garymutten4093]

Another great walk Ant. great drone shots and amazing the railway architecture remaining in such great condition. looking forward to part 2

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Gary that shall be with you later this week 😊

[@ayeuphutchy9807]

Excellent video Ant. Looking forward to part two 👍.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it thank you

[@clairefirth2383]

The stone probably came from just down the road in Kerridge

[@TrekkingExploration]

Ahhh it's always nice when it's local. Thank you for watching

[@iannowell6802]

Surprised I didn't meet you on middle wood way alot with my dogs

[@TrekkingExploration]

Ahhh it was Monday afternoon two weeks ago

[@andyplimbley630]

Built that site mate

[@steadycamman1]

Thanks

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind thank you

[@gilesestram]

trying to piesce together the scene at 08:13 with the canal seemingly running at a lower level. Im guessing the Macclesfield Canal. Is this pointing North or South ?

[@rodgermoss8975]

It appears to me to be a view of the Peak Forest canal at Marple where the railway is higher than the canal.The Macclesfield canal at Bollington, Higher Poynton, High Lane and Rose Hill is higher than the railway.

[@gilesestram]

@@rodgermoss8975 I was also thinking on the same lines. One automatically presumes the image is Bollington but it doesnt in fact look like it at all. Maybe it was a mis labelled picture. Plenty of em about.

[@hertsman0]

I did this walk 2 years ago. I started from the Marple end and finished in Macclesfield . On the way back to Marple I walked along the canal . Both routes really good .

[@TrekkingExploration]

I do need to walk the canal it's a lovely area

[@hertsman0]

@@TrekkingExploration It most certainly is . I do enjoy watching your films . I live in Hertfordshire and often walk a few old railway lines not far from my home.

[@jwilloughby6175]

When are you venturing further afield next

[@TrekkingExploration]

Looking at Liverpool area in July as well as completing the Whitby to Loftus line

[@TheRogey1]

Ignore the idiot cyclist,there's always one! Great video,especially the viaduct.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it thanks very much for watching

[@Darren-r8m]

Thank you for your videos they are brilliant. 👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@Darren-r8m thanks very much indeed ☺️

[@petersimpson7037]

The hayfield branch would be a good one for you ant 🙂another that didnt close till the 70`s

[@TrekkingExploration]

Is that the one from New Mills?

[@ayeuphutchy9807]

Yes it is.👍

[@andrewmaurer6267]

Top man always a great watch 👍👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Andrew

[@angelaknisely-marpole7679]

Nice one!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks Angela

[@angelaknisely-marpole7679]

@@TrekkingExploration Might do that walk using the bus at both ends! Cycled it years ago.

[@markeilo5065]

great vid mate thnx

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Mark

[@johnnyroadcrew3841]

Nice one .. .. ..

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching

[@nigelbarker4135]

Just another magnificent offering from the man who just keeps on giving. Salute Ant! 🫡

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind Nigel thanks very much 😀