Exploring the Bury Line: Manchester's original tramway (well, not quite!)

The Bury Line is the Manchester Metrolink's initial tram line, having been converted from heavy rail operation in the 1990s. In this video, I'll be exploring every station on this most interesting of routes, and sharing what I've found.
Discord: / discord
Music:
Dusk 'til Dawn - TrackTribe
Slipping Away - Dyalla
Filming:
Roux Sheikh
Photography:
Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Nigel Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
No machine-readable author provided. Spsmiler assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
David Ingham from Bury, Lancashire, England, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Sherpa_536, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Ben Brooksbank / Manchester London Road Station, under reconstruction
The Manchester Wheel by David Dixon
Metrolink Depot, Queen's Road by David Dixon
Metrolink, Queens Road by David Dixon
Woodlands Road Metrolink Station by David Dixon
Heaton Park Tunnel by David Dixon
Stockport Tram, Heaton Park Tramway by David Dixon
River Irwell, Radcliffe Viaduct by David Dixon
Bury, Bolton Street Station by David Dixon
Bury Interchange by David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
SomeDriftwood, CC BY 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Manchester Archives
Matthew Hartley from Helmshore, Lancashire, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Ardfern, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Neil Turner from Sowerby Bridge, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Manchester Evening News
The Locoshed
Dennis Turner / Radcliffe viaduct
Ingy The Wingy from Lancashire, England, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Curtis Moore
#trams #metrolink #mcr

[@ewanhetting]

As a mancunian i can say the metrolink is a godsend. The bay platform at Crumpsall was bult to be the terminus of the Trafford centre line. Hwever due to it openingh during the pandemic, it only went as far as Cornbrook and at the time is not in regular passenger use. The bridge at besses is also unique as it is the only rail bridge to pass over 2 roads at 3 different elevations it passes over the m60 as well as bury old road. Absoloughtly loved the video though. amazing detail and history of the line.

[@nogamertag225]

Ok but am i right in thinking that the island platform would have been used when ashton trams had to terminate at crumpsall because of the work at piccadilly gardens a couple of months ago?

[@davebaker4620]

That’s why the Bessie’s bridge was built upside down with the beam support on top 😊

[@hydry6317]

when i was a kid it was just this line and Altrincham with those old blue T68 trams. I'll always be nostalgic for that era but the overall experience has definitely improved over the years. My mum even used to travel when it was still a train line. We both agree though that over the years the line has definitely slowed down. More stops and slower speeds between certain stops

[@crellercorps]

8:55 MY HOMEEEEEEEEEEEE Probs shouldn't be doxxing myself here but the blast of utter familiarity was too much to contain

[@theblockybanana5537]

As a Mancunian, its "Besuz uh-tha barn"

[@lrvproductions]

The tramway is honestly a nice thing to have in manchester.

[@johnpirie4804]

We can't do without it considering the amount of vehicles it takes off the roads of Manchester. It's as vital to the city as the Underground is to London.

[@marcelwiszowaty1751]

Interesting! I'm from the North West originally and, although not from Manchester, I know it relatively well... at least the city centre. I'm old enough to know of the original PiccVic underground scheme... I was very excited as a kid to know that Manchester was going to get an Underground, just like London's. Unfortunately it finally fell by the wayside but at least it meant that Metrolink was born and it's great to see it go from strength to strength... many more routes and a second city centre route to handle all the extra traffic generated. Somewhat ironically it's now being seriously suggested that an underground link will be built to link Piccadilly and Victoria... history repeating?

[@GWVillager]

It may repeat itself exactly - I simply can't see a project like that receiving funding in the current climate unfortunately, though it would be nice (and relieve the Castlefield Corridor!).

[@marcelwiszowaty1751]

@@GWVillager Indeed! Proposals were being suggested before we ended up in this current financial mess but, as you say, it wouldn't be at the forefront of discussions. However I'm still certain that eventually it will be seriously considered... even if it turns out that they conclude it wouldn't be viable on economic grounds. This would only become evident after a proper study. Of course in a perfect world it would happen, the tangle of rails and wires around Piccadilly Gardens would disappear, and the gardens themselves would expand to be the proper green space they deserve to be.

[@spiritofcantaolisboa-p8871]

The Bowker Vale ticket machine at the end of the Outbound platform beneath the bridge might be more protected by the elements and falling debris from trees, as the area is surrounded by Heaton Park dense vegetation.

[@spiritofcantaolisboa-p8871]

Out of Radcliffe towards Bury, is possible to see an overgroun vegetated set of disused tracks, sugesting how busy that part of the line was back in the heavy rail Era to and from Bolton and Clifton for instance.

[@spiritofcantaolisboa-p8871]

Whitefield seems to be the Summit of the line. The downhill route between this station and Radcliffe is one of my favourite stretches with those viaducts one after the other above the line. At least one featuring the old Turquoise and Sivler branding livery dating from T68 trams Era.

[@josolo7747]

The bury line is painfully slow these days. Used to be so quick

[@Thornaby37]

Excellent video 👍 It is interesting to note that the track layout at Bury Interchange (with the scissors crossover just south of the platforms) is identical to when the line was still part of the British Rail network

[@itsonlyme9938]

Bowker Vale foot bridge was built in the 1930,s at the same time the station was built. Crumpsall Station had its own coal yard railway sidings where the new housing is built in around 1980 ish . I looked up old photos of the coal sidings on a site called from Britain above, aerial photos in which in the distance you can see the ground being cleared for Bowker vale station circa 1930.

[@ispivideos]

Explored the Bury line in the early days of Metrolink when I was at Salford Uni. Went to every station on that line and had a good explore. Shame there was no KZbin at the time (early 1990's).

[@GWVillager]

That would have been really interesting, I wonder how much has changed since then.

[@ispivideos]

@@GWVillager Not been back to Manchester for some years. I guess the real change is that iMetrolink has got a lot bigger. At the time they were talking about expansion, massive expansion.

[@lrvproductions]

Also the T68s were withdrawn because of their undercarriage rusting away because of the dull weather of Manchester.

[@GWVillager]

Yes, they were originally going to be retained iirc.

[@johnpirie4804]

The M5000's are less expensive to operate than the T68's and cause less wear on the track

[@GWVillager]

@@johnpirie4804 That is true, one of the benefits of lighter vehicles.

[@ianrobertson2634]

It was more due to poor quality steel. The oldest M5000s are 14 years old now and as far as I know have no issues with rust. The T68s were also very unreliable towards the end. Breakdowns were very common. The M5000s are boring but extremely reliable and do the job well.

[@julianl6369]

I spoke to a driver at Bury interchange back in the first year or so of the trams starting, and he told me that the trams, having been built in Italy, they used a water based mastic for the windows. Very quickly, the Manchester rain had it running down the glass, and they had to go into Bury's old BR shed for waterproof mastic to replace it.

[@spiritofcantaolisboa-p8871]

Have you notice along the trackside the amount of dumped 3rd Rail white ceramic isolators between Abraham Moss and Basses?

[@spiritofcantaolisboa-p8871]

Now Level Crossings gone and trams have dramatically toreduce the speed in case both road traffic and pedestrians emerge due to lack of barriers.

[@suchcone]

Fun(?) fact - the heaters on the trams run on - you guessed it - 750V DC! They just connect the heaters to the overhead wires. And why not!

[@GWVillager]

No need to made it more complicated than necessary I suppose!

[@AndrewG1989]

Manchester Metrolink is the best tram network in Greater Manchester and the M5000 trams are so efficient. I like to travel to Manchester just to ride on the Metrolink & M5000 trams. And the Metrolink extension to Port Salford is in planning and could be completed in the next few years.

[@GWVillager]

It is a very nice system.

[@AndrewG1989]

Indeed

[@mikefish8226]

Personally, I preferred the line being a train line. The trams are terribly slow. The tram from Manchester Airport to Piccadilly is only 5 minutes faster than the bus. What Manchester desperately needs is West and North facing terminating train platforms and Picc-Vic through trains.

[@BnFGProductions]

I think the Manchester Airport tram is a bit misleading in all honesty - it reallt just provides a tramline through Wythenshaw etc which is quite handy (if a bit slow). Trains still run there which are much quicker.

[@DevilishScience]

I used to live in Whitefield when it was a train line, and steam trains at that, which you could see from the school playing fields. Oh and at 0:26 you misspelt Piccadilly

[@GWVillager]

I did mis-spell it yes... oh well! Steam trains at Whitefield must have been something.

[@itsonlyme9938]

PS Prestwhich and Whitefield had also sidings

[@itsonlyme9938]

It was at first it was called Store Street because that is where the original entrance was and is still there boarded up

[@seblikestransport]

Besses’o’the’barn is pronounced Besses of the barn.

[@fatcontrole1]

Saw the video and expected some awful pronunciations. Not to be - well done!