Oldham: The Railway Town That Gave Up On Railways

[@letsseeee]

Great informative video, delivered and narrated in such a warm, unassuming style. Often peered down that tunnel at Werneth whilst standing on that platform waiting for a train to peep its head out. Incidentally, I went down to Victoria one Saturday afternoon in Oct 2009 when the line finally shut down that day for trains and coming back on the loop, got off at Mills Hill for a pint at Rose of Lanc then back on to Rochdale determined to be the last person ever to get off at Werneth which I did that night. Going down that declivitous ride to Hollinwood was sometimes hair-raising, in fact, fabulous.

[@FelixvonMontfort]

I hope people realize that closing railroads is a stupid thing to to do in such changing times.

[@Isochest]

Ordinary People do. Politicians make the Dumbcrafty decisions. Remember: Our Famine is their Feast. A Narcissistic Zero Sum Game

[@gaugeonesteam]

In the UK in the 1960s, 50% of the railways only carried 5% of the traffic and the revenue on these lines was only about 10% of the cost of running them. We had 18500 miles of railway in a country only 600 miles long. I'm a huge rail fan but they had to do something. In my opinion the worst thing they did was selling off sections of track-bed land but I believe some of the original government compulsory land purchase orders contained clauses which forced the railway to sell land back to descendants of the original land owners.

[@clivebroadhead4381]

In the industrial era the railways were built to cheaply transport the products of the mines and mills to the ports, e.g., Liverpool. With the managed decline of manufacturing and the export of cheap oil from the ex-colonies in the Middle East the Beeching Plan was the Government strategy for the modal shift of freight from rail to road. There was a complementary abandoning of passenger traffic, as workers didn't travel far from the place of work. The new Labour Government needs to have a strategy for a modal shift from road to rail infrastructure recognition of the current situation, i.e., the high cost of energy and the climate change targets.

[@ianschofield8259]

I used the line from Shaw to Manchester for many years. The real problem for the line was the singling of the track between Shaw and Rochdale. This single section meant that punctuality was terrible and cancellations numerous. There were also significant problems with leaves on the rails on the steep inclines. This often meant overcrowded and reduced service frequency. They missed a trick with the Oldham loop. The Windsor curve that allows direct access between Victoria and Piccadilly would have been ideal for a service running directly from Manchester Airport round the Oldham loop which would have given Manchester its own ‘Cross Rail’ for a tiny fraction of what it cost in London. But that’s the story of Oldham really, massive under investment, badly managed decline and a serious lack of vision and planning.

[@DanWRS]

This channel doesn't get the subscribers or views it deserves, always top quality content and very well made videos. Thank you!

[@jollyrogererVF84]

I agree, it's a brilliant channel. But admittedly for nerds😃

[@andyroid7339]

@@jollyrogererVF84 if this is nerdism then count me in!

[@DanWRS]

@@jollyrogererVF84 I'm a self confessed nerd 🤣

[@stevenholden9520]

The Platform canopies from Oldham Mumps station are now installed on the East Lancashire Railway at Bolton Street and Rawtenstall stations

[@chrism8705]

Some are also at the trackside pub bury

[@ianrichardson8865]

.....and I provided the double faced clock which now hangs there! I lived in Park Road in Oldham from 1947 until 1962, so a lot of the video was very familiar. Good stuff.

[@johnpirateuk]

When the line was being converted to the Metrolink I worked for one of the companies taking away the old track bed ballast and delivering new for the Metrolink.Most of that ballast that was in those tunnels was only down a short time before being abandoned when the track went through the town centre.We also removed all the track side furniture and old cobbles.Most were resold or even scrapped.The roof of Mumps station went to East Lancashire railway to be reused on their line as it was perfect for the era .

[@simonballard6413]

I really do enjoy your videos, Ollie. You always make them interesting. Loved the tunnels in this one! Many thanks.

[@mohammedfaiisal]

3:09. I used that metrolink line for a little over a year and it was great for getting me to Manchester and home from mumps. Ever since they created the new town centre loop, I did not mind it, but it added 6 extra minutes to the journey. What I didn't understand was, why did they shut down the railway line that used to get to freehold from mumps within 3 minutes. Why could they not have used this as an express tram, that got you towards Rochdale or towards Manchester, faster. It's been 11 years and I think about it a lot Before, I would leave my house in glodwick and get onto the tram within 8 minutes. Now it takes about 4 minutes more, because the new Oldham mumps is on the other side of the road. Away from glodwick and across the main road. It's added a total of 10 extra minutes to my journey and I can't stand it. I wish they kept it. It would have saved thousands of passengers valuable minutes to where they need to be. Whether it was work, or home, or anywhere else. As a separate line, it could have worked. I've always hoped for it to come back but then a few years ago, they added some small logistics site at the old Werneth station, just outside one of the two tunnels. Meaning, I think it is not almost impossible to ever bring that like back. But that line was very special and I always knew that they were making a line towards the town centre and through Westwood. What I didn't know was that they were planning to completely get rid of the old line that was only used from June 2012 up to January 2014. I wish they kept it. Would have been a game changer had they brought it back. I never knew how special it was until it was gone. I get on Oldham mumps now and about ten minutes later, I'm heading towards South Chadderton and I be thinking, I'm only here? On the old line, I'd be on the way to Newton Heath and Moston. That's how much extra time you were saving with that old line. On the way home, by the time I'm at Westwood, I would have been getting off at the original mumps and then walking home. By the time I'm home with the old line, I'd only be at around Oldham Central. The difference kills me, just thinking about it I'm sure the reasons are that it was too costly to maintain two separate tunnels, but I wish it worked out and they kept it. It's a game changer, bringing that back today. But I hear they plan to build homes on the original Oldham mumps site, so that's looking more and more impossible now. For now, I wish they created a line that went from anywhere on the oldham stops, towards Ashton and then Ashton to Stockport. That Stockport line would be connecting to the current East Didsbury line too. That's something I hope to see very soon. They could use the old railway line that is now barely being used as walking or cycle routes. But there's enough space to make this happen. From park bridge anyway. You would think that, if they could build this so many years ago, that they could modernise, renew and strengthen it and then bring back the so called temporary line and make it a permanent line that's a short cut. What I'd have done is not create the current Oldham mumps at all. Have the tram go to original mumps from Derker or Freehold. Then the one towards town from Derker can go straight to Oldham Central and vice versa. I seriously think something can be done, by fixing those two old tunnels and modernising them. Especially if they can do it so many years ago. 1800s did you say? And it lasted like a century plus. So I am sure that they can sort it out. Especially since both tunnels aren't that long. The tunnel towards Victoria from Monsall is pretty much longer and they definitely must be as old or very old and costly too. So if they can maintain a very long tunnel like that, then I'm sure they can do the same for the two Oldham tunnels. This is 19th century infrastructure. They can use the 21st century technology and it would last. I wonder if they'll ever bring it back. I'm pretty sure they never will and that upsets me a lot. To think I'd save 10 minutes everyday, by going to work and coming back or to Didsbury and back too. I can only dream now

[@Snodgros]

As a daft young lad in the late 1970s, I and a friend walked through both of these tunnels whilst they were still in use. In fact, you got extra stupidity points if you waited in one of the refuges whilst one of the DMUs on the Oldham Loop Line passed through! There was one route missing off your map Ollie and that was the branch at Middleton Junction up to the old coal yard on Broadway (next to St Herbert's Primary School). Keep up the good work.

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Ah you must be bonkers going through there when it was used!

[@TechFromYorkshire]

Great video. Very informative. Down to 1 station in Oldham area!!! Wow. Shame to see Oldham town centre deteriorate so badly in recent years. It’s the outskirts such as Saddleworth that draw visitors now, luckily where Greenfield is.

[@uk-martin4905]

By the mid-1960s the main drawback for many potential rail users was the fact that the station at Mumps was no longer convenient for the town centre and shops. In Victorian times had been quite a bustling shopping centre at Mumps but over the years the town centre became concentrated nearer Tommyfield Market. As happened in many towns during this era, the station became separated from the town it was designed to serve by a 6-lane dual carriageway; access was by means of a somewhat uninviting pedestrian subway under the bypass. The local shopping centre and industry had by this time departed. I lived in Oldham for a number of years until 2004; I vowed to leave before the town became disconnected from the rail network as I did not want to be marooned in a train-free town. The Evening Chronicle printed my lament at the forthcoming loss of the train service......in particular was the fact that it was not appropriate to replace a 'semi-fast' rail service (13 minutes or so) between Oldham and Victoria by a small tram with considerably less eating capacity, on a journey which overnight increased to more than half-an-hour as it wandered through places that the majority of Oldhamers did not particularly want to visit on their way to work or to the shops. Then there was the matter of the fares, too, which, as I forecast, would sharply increase when Metrolink arrived. A sad and unnecessary end for the railway in Oldham.

[@AshtonArcher]

Excellent reply. The Metrolink service is rubbish compared to mainline rail. I travel from Victoria to Ashton, and there is no way I'd use a tram for that journey, miles quicker and safer! Luckily Ashton still has its station.

[@johngraves6378]

​@@AshtonArcher Ashton station is also in the town centre.

[@emjackson2289]

Therein is your problem though, a railway station not in a useful but you want to keep it anyway.

[@staceygrove5976]

There was a pretty pathetic attempt a few years ago to turn the Mumps area into a 'happening' or 'vibrant' venue centred around the tram stop. Various coffee bars or restaurants have opened and closed over the years, and Marks & Spencer cancelled a plan to open a store there. We also seem no nearer to a worthwhile redevelopment of the old NatWest Bank building.

[@iancropper8356]

I lived in Oldham 12 years ago and used to travel through those tunnels on the Metrolink. I watched the new town centre tram tracks being built but left Oldham before they were completed. Scary to see how much this link has changed in such a short time.

[@mikeclarke3882]

Hi Ollie, As usual a fun but fact packed look at local history. Always amazed at how quickly nature reclaims lost ground. When I was a kid (Noah was still an apprentice boat builder at the time) there use to be a saying (railways related) that went along the lines of ..... "I told 'em Oldham, but they dropped me off at Crew". I have no idea where that saying came from. Anyway, good to see you out and about and enjoying the good weather. All the best!

[@Naparky1]

Fantastic video and very interesting, I drove a tram through those tunnels on the last day before they closed! Great memories And a sad loss to the railway infrastructure.

[@ericholmes8665]

So sad to see everything, just gone! the last time i was in Oldham,was to visit the steam depot at Lees,about 1960,and it was such a busy place,we had time to look around being mad on railways,what strikes me these days is all the orderly state,of things,nice old building, signs, little things that made up the fabric of places,maybe we were poorer than we are now,but it all seemed a nicer,friendlier,place to live,now we have ugly faceless buildings,massive warehouses instead of little shops,they call it progress,I wonder,England seemed a warmer, nicer place,with hope for the future,to a then 14 year old kid,and the orderley old British Railways were part of that,you could get on a train then not feeling you were being ripped of by the fares.

[@johnjephcote7636]

I agree...there were lots of little old details that a young I could take in, such as signs referring to 'railway servants'...The last time I was through Mumps and the Incline was towards the end of steam in 1968.

[@ericholmes8665]

@@johnjephcote7636 Yes we go forward and sometimes leave behind nice things.Has Joni Mitchell said "You don"t know what you"ve got,till its gone.Best wishs John

[@frasermitchell9183]

When I was working for BR, we were converting the freight data input points, (called TOPS offices) to keyboard entry instead of punch cards. The London Midland Region had lots of small TOPS offices, one of which was at Oldham Mumps for reporting on train and wagon arrivals and departures. It had once been a busy place, but when we arrived it was almost dead for traffic.

[@rjds1800]

The take over of nature is always amazingly quick.

[@victorianlitterpicker9887]

But not as fast as youtube . Next week the signal box will be burned down after he filmed the open door . With urbex comes great responsibility . I would have shut the door at least so i didn't feel that i just ruined history after my video probably got it trashed .

[@AlRaw94]

The delph donkey is a great walk with a few bits of railway history left to see, another branch off the Huddersfield line nearby is the butterhouse tunnel in diggle off Bridge 69 on the canal, not as impressive as the standedge tunnels but a easier to access

[@davidmarshall6635]

My mates and l used to walk through the Butter house tunnel from Uppermill to Diggle, it was a short cut,

[@suesmith4366]

Very interesting loved the old photos, can’t wait to watch the Delph Donkey one👍🏻😎

[@Terry.W]

Wow thanks for this ..I used to travel to Oldham a lot in the 70s and 80s and I used Mumps station ..so sad to see it derelict RIP Mumps ...the whole area needs to be regenerated..

[@Tuberuser187]

Awesome explore and description of the history!

[@ianmcclellan7695]

Great video, I can remember catching the train from Royton Junction in to Oldham and on to Manchester Victoria; and I'm old enough to remember STORM - Save The Oldham Rochdale Manchester (Rail Link). So it's great that the loop is retained in a way via the Metrolink but a shame that the old stations like Mumps have gone. I'm also old enough to remember one particularly ghoulish thing from Mumps Station; posters appealing for people to call the Police if they recognised the Yorkshire Ripper's handwriting. Now I've discovered your channel, I'm going to check out the rest of your content 😃👍

[@DeepakVerma-cd4fe]

I remember when I was a child, a shunter used to shunt parcels in the 1970s . That was great that was at Clegg street railway depot were u are standing on Waterloo railway bridge, I saw the signal box there , it was a great memory .

[@michaelgamble296]

An excellent and historically informative commentary with supporting video of the two abandoned railway tunnels in Oldham. I look forward to your next tunnel!

[@johnprice5784]

I've been through the Werneth tunnel on foot a couple of times, mainly as a dare with other kids, this was during the early seventies when it was still a fairly busy line. I remember all the old sidings being removed when they built Oldham bypass, plus the sad decline of the railway since then. The goods depot shown at 6-50 was curved and was a listed building, Oldham council wanted to knock it down and build on the land but were stopped because it was protected by the listing. The council then just left it for thirty years till it collapsed, and then they could legally demolish it as unsafe. I have been up and down the incline behind steam and diesel, that was fun. Werneth station was a great station, at least through a seven-year-old's eyes, when I first used it in 1966. Not all the changes since then have been for the better unfortunately, though I still live in Oldham to this day. I now live in Lees village, just yards from the branch line walk way that leads to the old Delph donkey line, keep up the videos as they are fascinating.

[@majorpygge-phartt2643]

I read somewhere that diesel unit trains, DMU's, used to get stuck on the werneth incline.

[@johnprice5784]

@@majorpygge-phartt2643 Rescued by steam engines usually as well unless a Deltic was nearby, the rails on the incline used to get greasy from spilt diesel oil. All good fun.

[@sarahmiller4734]

Down here in the South of England there is a perculisr issue with buildings that randomly catch fire after planning permission has been denied which then of course means that they have to be demolished for "safety".

[@nickcaunt1769]

I remember going to Oldham in the early '70s on football specials from Nottingham. I think we went to both Mumps and Werneth on different occasions. Your comment about lack of investment in the stations rings true with me as I remember them looking like we had arrived at a disused station.

[@staceygrove5976]

Are you a Notts County fan?

[@christianfreedom-seeker2025]

Quite a few towns in the USA gave up on their Railroads. Winchendon MA had several and by 1979, the last one was pulled up. You can still see a bunch of the old railroad bridges and relics from that age. That town will likely become a ghost town in another generation.

[@staceygrove5976]

The last train service was in October 2009, but the trams didn't start running until about 2014, as I recall. They still used the old rail line between Mumps and Werneth until the Union Street and Westwood link was finished.

[@nickbenke3306]

I was sad to see the Mumps bridge go! It was a thing of beauty! Great clip fella!

[@None-zc5vg]

"HOME OF THE TUBULAR BANDAGE" (the ad. on the old bridge)

[@johntheman2006]

Great informative and entertaining video as always. Thanks Olly. Hoping you keep gaining more subscribers. More power to your elbow.

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Cheers thank you 🤜🤛

[@jonkino]

I used to play in this tunnel in the 60s when I was a kid , dodging the trains was fun!!

[@albertross-ndt]

Cracking informative video👍 I worked on the railways 1969-2011 p-way & NDT, worked on all these lines and many other areas in the Northwest plus.

[@MarkJT1000]

I wonder if that protruding mortar pointing is as a result of the soft stone eroding away, like it was in the other tunnel, leaving the mortar proud. Loved the old pics of the goods yards and the trains. Played it back again to pause on them and take it all in.

[@BitTwisted1]

The erosion is likely because of sulphur in the coal and then the soot forming sulphurous acid. Steam engines were designed to use cheap dirty coal. I suspect British rail diesel was similarly dirty until environmental legislation required improvements in emissions. Just the way it was.

[@jasonrarick4649]

video very crisp and sharp good job sir

[@jimmyviaductophilelawley5587]

Cheers Olly....great work as always mate wow just noticed you're over 10k subs! well done! well deserved...best wishes and take care

[@grahamchadwick5242]

A great video with good history of my old stomping ground , really enjoyed it

[@oafctom]

Brillant video i knew and often travelled through Mumps i knew off Oldham Central but never knew about Glodwick Road or Oldham Clegg Street. A fantastic video

[@tonyhogan2791]

Really enjoyed the video ... between 1981 and 1985, I was a daily user of the line between Newhey and Manchester Victoria Missed opportunity to keep and enhance the rail links in North East Manchester and develop our own 'Crossrail'

[@Deepakverma-yb5ro]

I used to live in Oldham in the 1970s 1980s,i used to enjoy seeing the shunter, shunt parcels in 1980, A shunter used to shunt parcels at 9 in the morning, and 5 in the evening, I remember in 1980, the shunter used to shunt, wooden and metal parcel express vans, that really meant a lot to me, when. I look at the video of the tunnels u made, it brought back memories of steam trains, throwing smoke out. sadly they closed my favourite railway depot, in Oldham on clegg Street, in 1982

[@ErrolHeywood]

I used the Mumps to Victoria line daily during the mid to late 70’s then onwards South from Piccadilly. I used to love that commute, what a shame it has now gone forever.

[@TABRO284]

healey dell viaduct is impressive in rochdale. great video

[@douglasfleetney5031]

Being from the deepest, darkest South East where we lost a few lines before the Sheppey Lad (Beeching) swung his axe, I find it beggers belief just how a major town like Oldham can lose most of its rail connections. I have a son living in Platt Bridge who is married to a wonderful Lanky Lass (her description, and I'll not argue as I love her to bits) and am stunned everytime I visit them as my boy always finds another abandoned line to explore. The Lanky is probably my joint second favorite pre-grouping line (LCDR 1st, Lanky & North British joint second) it was nice to see something of what I've only read about. Thank you so much for making and posting this video.

[@ollie-t7862]

Cranleigh Line, Horsham to Shoreham as well. Would have been popular today if they weren’t shut down

[@douglasfleetney5031]

I’m further East than that… Try Canterbury, we lost the Canterbury and Whitstable, Elham Valley, East Kent (most of it) Sheppey Light BEFORE Beeching…. Of those the C&W would have been ideal today as a Tram/Metro to reduce traffic between the two towns and the Elham Valley ran through some of the most spectacular scenery in the County. The East Kent was never finished and had run its course but the Sheppey Light could have done well today, again as a Tram/Metro. If only…

[@ianmcclavin]

In this case, most of the line didn't actually close, but was converted to the Metrolink tram system as mentioned. The decision to divert the line away from Werneth was because the new alignment would better serve the Town Centre locations, a light rail system can have street running and go where heavy rail systems can't. There is a tram stop at Oldham Mumps, not far from the old station site. I first rode the Oldham Loop myself in 1988, when I had a cousin living near Shaw & Crompton Station. I used to live in Crawley, the old Three Bridges to East Grinstead line passed very close by; no chance of THAT one re-opening now...

[@Fr.FintanStack]

I watched this while eating a butty at the Co-op in Lees, then had to drive to Middleton, following the route you mention back to Middleton Junction. Sat nav even took my down Lydia Becker Way, which goes straight through what was the goods yard near Chadderton (now full of new build houses!)

[@majorpygge-phartt2643]

Is that where the old chadderton coal yard was which closed in about 1989? And I see the old wooden bridge near broadway has now been got rid of to build a new road.

[@bungle6668]

@@majorpygge-phartt2643 no, lydia backer way is actually the railway proper (near enough) known as werneth bank! the coal (oil) yard was off Hunt lane :)

[@jetsons101]

Olly, GREAT to see you again..... We missed you. Good use of B & W photos to help carry the story also can't have to many maps... Enjoy you passion when you tell your stories. Look forward to your future work.......

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Thanks Mike. I loves me maps I do!

[@jetsons101]

@@BeeHereNowuk Yes you do.... Yes you do............

[@Robslondon]

Fantastic video; so glad I’ve discovered your channel!

[@markcharles3969]

In the early 90,s once a month catch train from Manchester to Oldham for a day on the booze!..weird to see it all gone ! Plus always wondered what the little holes in the tunnels entering lime Street.. and now I know

[@jonkino]

We used to sit on the top of tunnel wall and get covered in sooty smoke from the steam engines. And also played on the embankment in between the two tunnels putting pennies on the line.

[@whyyoulidl]

Thx for doing the leg work and uploading; appreciated as always and yeah, such a shame for the loss but a bonus for exploring I 'spose ;-)

[@KevinWilliams-hm9ct]

Thanks for an interesting video. As a young Manchester Victoria driver in the second half of the 80s I knew the Oldham Loop extremely well. Shame to see the tunnels abandoned. I would have preferred the real railway to continue, but at least it wasn't replaced by buses.

[@johnandrewhargrave5288]

Love this. I used to travel on that line with my dad as a kid. Also the next video you mention sounds good. I only live in springhead so all on my doorstep

[@theowdgit9790]

Presentation has impoved, Brilliantly well done.

[@MrSameerMalik1]

thanks for the video. as an oldham resident this is very interesting and i'd love to visit. dropped you a sub, hoping for more oldham content!

[@suebrown4224]

I lived in Acre Lane in the early 70s. Often used to catch the train at Royton Junction to shop in Manchester. . Shocked to learn that Mumps has gone. Haven't been back for over 40years but so sorry for the loss of the trains.

[@kenpridmore6623]

Interesting local video . Around 1957/8 I rode up the Middleton to Werneth link on a Church / Sunday Schools Day Excursion to Southport. Yes a full train ! All I remember of the day was the extreme exertions of the steam engine (can’t recall the class)getting up Werneth Bank.

[@np1584]

Thanks for this video. I'm learning so much more about the railways and what was seen as typically British. Great to see some things exist, very sad the amount destroyed. Can't wait for the next video :)

[@raybeaumont7670]

Nice one! I was brought up on Nugget Street, Glodwick, and remember riding the Delph Donkey so am looking forward to your next adventure. I also used to visit Clegg Street goods yard to help collect supplies of fresh fish for a local shop. Good memories!

[@Originalspruce]

Never been to Oldham in my life but always look forward to your presentations. They are always interesting. Good job.

[@ShalomBrother]

If I was you I’d keep it that way 🤣

[@grottonisred6541]

Stay away ...I've been here all my life and the decline over the past 64 years is palpable.... I think it's too late for me to get out but I have encouraged my two sons to move out as soon as they can...

[@MrKb1959]

Thanks ,I've loved all your vids and my missus too enjoys them brilliant .

[@tommytrinder.1226]

I read that Oldham wasnt the biggest cotton spinning town in Lancashire,or England,or Britain.I read that it was once the biggest cotton spinning town in the world at one point.I actually spent my 21st birthday in Oldham,Lancashire!.December 11th 1988.I went to watch my team,Warrington lose to Oldham`s " Roughyeds " at Watersheddings.

[@BuzbyWuzby]

There used to be a direct train connection between Southport and Oldham Mumps which I used to catch from Southport to Manchester Victoria for the Trans-Pennine when I was a student

[@sloth-gaming]

Trans pennine? Them services certainly have never called St Southport to my knowledge

[@stevenmoran4060]

No one did they did, it was stated a connection from Southport to Man Vic and then to Oldham via Trans Pennine which is correct.

[@BuzbyWuzby]

@@sloth-gaming I got the Southport to Oldham Mumps service as far as Manchester Victoria where I changed onto the Trans-Pennine service from Liverpool Lime Street to Newcastle-upon-Tyne (via Manchester Victoria)

[@sloth-gaming]

@@BuzbyWuzby ah I understand now!

[@sloth-gaming]

The Southport services terminate practically anywhere nowadays if they're going past Wigan they'll go stalybridge Blackburn, Rochdale, Alderley Edge, Victoria, Oxford Road are a few I've seen them go in the last few years

[@talesofbazzilbrush5800]

this is brill mate thank you ... What Great History Telling 💙💚🧡... I will soon visit here at night in sure there will be some spooky activity

[@michaelcowcill4936]

The wernerth tunnel used to have a coat of armed over it just seen in one of the last black & white pictures now gone I wonder to where ? Great video

[@BeeHereNowuk]

I think it's still there but I couldn't get near

[@tenterdentown2452]

Interesting story. Quite a good location for a heritage line. It is surprising nobody had thought of that before they took the track up! It is a pity they didn't think of installing a tram-train as has been done at Rotherham. Thanks for uploading.

[@SMlFFY85]

Foresight is something sorely lacking in Oldham. The council is more into short term box ticking. The wanted a tramline to bring people into Oldham, without bothering to create a reason to come.

[@tenterdentown2452]

@@SMlFFY85 In the KZbin videos that have been made about the Rotherham train tram, they do say it was extremely difficult to get the project approved, and it goes without saying Rotherham has the only train-tram line in the whole country. However, all is not lost if the route of the old Railway has not been built on as Oldham could still be reconnected to the National Rail network. You would have propose this yourself, as I do not live in this area.

[@kaiwenwu1947]

Hi i used to walk those in the late sixties and early seventies, standing in the hides. Looked like fireplace to me lol 😊 with class 40s and passenger DMU,s whistling past, in the dark. Great fun. Then. 😮. Boy have got some tales from there and mumps station. I could write a book

[@NOWThatsRichy]

Great explore, never knew that Oldham no longer had a proper train station in the town centre. Your vid came up, after watching one of ALWs videos.

[@SuperBlackguard]

well done mate good informative video..

[@shereenlawford3220]

Great video, I don't know what it is or why but I love old railway history, I live in Dorset and like walking the castlemen line

[@timglennon6814]

We have similar railway tunnels where I live in Royton. There was a train crash in Royton in 1961.

[@ericleach7074]

I vaguely recall Clegg Street Goods Yard as a working entity, but not Clegg Street Station. It was such a shame they could never save the old curved Goods Warehouse. As kids we would go to Alex Park, pop over to the café on Park Road, near the Park Hotel, walk up Woodstock Street, and over the old footbridge into Oldham Town Centre (wasn't that bridge used in a couple of old movies?). My late mum and I would also catch the train from Mumps Station to Manchester. I bet, at a push, I could recall all the stops on the way to Victoria. The one that gets me is the Oldham -Ashton Line. Obviously, this must have passed under Park Road and followed Kings Road down toward, Honeywell Lane. But, after that, all evidence of that line disappears. The Fitton Hill Estate must have been built over part of it, during the 1950s, but it's hard to see where it went from there. The line reappears at Park Bridge, and yes, there is evidence of old railway bridges, but all that is ever written about at Park Bridge is the line from the metal works/foundries into Ashton, never Oldham. The rest of that line (still evident) is my dog walking track. All the old sidings are still there and several old bridges.

[@leroyholm9075]

Excellent video with a great history of Oldham Railways now sadly obliterated.

[@Nathan.Manchester]

I was born in Oldham - I went to Clarksfield School and Crompton House - great video

[@em00k]

Ahh brilliant, a way to distract myself from monday morning work! Cheers!

[@acme181169]

Its Tuesday!!!!!!

[@OMGExploring]

Awesome footage there are is loads of history around there and close surrounding areas, have a look at Hayrod near Stalybridge there are old shaft building and a coal conveyer bridge hidden but in plain sight, there is also Hayrod old power station which is accessible as well. We can arrange an outing if you like in the near year, I travel all over. :)

[@renners4367]

These videos are great 👍 good work

[@sarahcrowther6267]

Looking forward to next video.....Lydgate tunnel.....fab. enjoyed this one and lets hope someone has the sense to get this area turned into an accesible green space, tunnels included. 👍

[@garethjones2440]

love these exploration videos. Keep it up!

[@anthonybeaman3300]

My father was a booking clerk at Glodwick Road station around 1920.

[@paulchambers3788]

Looking at the concrete slabs that have been “dismantled” it looks more like people have been lifting them looking for scrap cables, I doubt if it was dismantled they would leave anything uncovered as they’d be liable if an accident happened (even if someone was trespassing)

[@charleysmith7565]

A greatly informative video but there's actually a second one that is just in Oldham Borough, Mills Hill. Though the name shows Mills Hill Manchester, its just outside the border of Middleton, Manchester. This I did not know about 10 years ago and to find this one is actually Oldham's second station in the district surprised me. Hopefully this is useful information for all.

[@robertscholey109]

I am Shocked !!! that Oldham has lost both Mumps and Werneth Stations. I for shame was registered as being born in Oldham and used Oldham Mumps station regularly to attend my grandparents who lived near to Manchester Victoria.

[@BlondeEspresso]

Another amazing video! 👏

[@dannyseville2543]

Oldham..... the town that gave up. Mumps Station pretty much epitomises the whole town.

[@thomasr6952]

Sad but true. Oldham is a shadow of its former self.

[@Dave.id.-]

It’s a s**T hole !

[@staceygrove5976]

I was on the last ever train from Manchester Victoria to Oldham and Rochdale on the old Loop Line at 11-00 pm on October 3 2009. Still have the ticket to the former Dean Lane station - wonder if it's worth much now? The train was double its normal size, and was seen off at Victoria by a brass band.

[@AJ-xv7oh]

Great video 👍

[@rontanser9369]

That was very interesting thank you I only came to Oldham for the company I worked for once and I think it was Oldham mumps I came into and I think the street I was working in was Yorkshire Street probably both long since gone

[@peterstevenson5418]

Yet another great video thank you

[@WYP-cz4zi]

Interesting and well presented.

[@heyrodtrainspotter9700]

Makes me wonder if they invested into the railway back in the early 2000 and managed to save it till the 2020s where the massive stock upgrades came out and how that would effect the loop line considering the metrolink as effect had

[@socklesslad]

I still think it's weird that when the Metrolink took over the Bury and Altrincham lines they kept all the old infrastructure whereas the Oldham Loop was pretty much rebuilt from the ground up. There must have been some old station architecture they could have kept!

[@mcfcianb]

As said above the mumps station became inconvenient to the centre.

[@stravinskymusic]

Amazing video! Thank you!

[@barrythedieselelectricstea5217]

so sad to see a town without a railway 😥how many towns are like that and to destroy what there was left of it wonder what the Victorians would think if they were to come back and the railway they built no longer there they would think we've gone raving mad

[@majorpygge-phartt2643]

I've been through these tunnels loads of times, both on crappy old pacers and on the trams, and once on an unusual loco hauled service from liverpool lime street. and this vid has only been here two days and already there's so many comments!

[@seany84uk]

Showing love to my home town thanks! Im from Waterhead.... They should look at linking ashton to oldham metrolink for sure. Its a shame the oldham to greenfield line wasnt saved back in the day as it would now add more capacity to the transpennine route. They should have shut all stations except Lees or make them unmanned.

[@THATGREATPOPCAT]

They should link the metrolink from Ashton to Oldham as the line/route near enough still exists.

[@seany84uk]

@@THATGREATPOPCAT yes not that much to the route needs to be done. Re dig the bridge facing alexandra park and any work needed to be done to the bridge at platt bridge works and the rest would be ground work mainly. Id open a station next to park bridge retail park in oldham too.

[@THATGREATPOPCAT]

@@seany84uk yea sounds like a great idea and the track could come out at turner lane under the railway bridge at Ashton and onto wellington road straight into the metro link station. I'll sort the Ashton side of it out and you can sort the Oldham side out then take our plan to the transport chief executive and wait a 100 years for the credit.

[@chrism8705]

I believe the trackside pub bury has the canopy of mumps station

[@judithcartwright7621]

I commuted om this line from 1961 to 1968 and on at least one occasion our DMU was diverted from Victoria to Werneth via Middleton Junction (because a shunting engine derailed at Werneth) and we needed a banking (steam) engine up the incline. The story was that the centre of the Werneth to Central tunnel collapsed during construction and was made into a cutting.

[@williambell8282]

The eroded stone is quite soft, fine sandstone. The sulphur in the steam engine exhaust attacked the stone and caused the erosion..

[@bryan3550]

My thoughts, too... 👨‍🔬

[@leswall3061]

Don't know If I missed it, there was once a branch line down to Royton, also the lack of funding was also down to Transport for Greater Manchester who I think ran the line

[@basfinnis]

Really interesting video. Thanks. Amazing abandoned structures with all the man hours that went into building them.

[@sparkyprojects]

The wear on the stone might be from the dust kicked up by the trains plus the steam, basically sandblasting it. The second tunnel mortar might be stronger than the stone, is it something like limestone that has been eroded by acid, or easier to sandblast

[@sparkyprojects]

@Zaphod Beeblebrox Yeah, it actually makes sense, any train leaving the station would go through the short tunnel first accelerating, but because of the curve may have coasted through, the steam and carbon dioxide mix to give carbonic acid

[@ABCDEF-yf4yu]

Oldham should have been retained as a trans Pennine route from Manchester to Leeds in addition to the line via Ashton and Stalybridge with a junction at Greenfield.

[@anthonymcdonnell5384]

this disused line would make a good preserved railway