History of Manchester - 5. Railway City!

[@TheDanMartin]

A great documentary series - thank you. I can’t help but feel Manchesters streets, canals, railways and architecture holds many secrets which are being withheld from us.

[@rufdymond]

I really do wish Manchester would take better care of its heritage - there are so many weeds growing out of our viaducts, railway bridges and canal embankments....it’s makes so much of the city centre look tatty and uncared for. We could and need to do much better.

[@extrude22]

It’s network rail who are responsible for maintenance of the viaducts, not the council

[@davidsedlickas8222]

This vlog is the greatest historical post on KZbin with out doubt. A masterpiece of work.

[@lescampbell4196]

Loved this one too. As I said on your canal video, those geese rule the area, even the plod have stopped traffic to let them cross! I've seen an urban explorer film of Mayfield Station (I am in the group) and there is talk of re opening it to help Piccadilly, everything is virtually untouched

[@michaelpilling531]

Hello Ollie - greetings from Poland. I found your superb channel quite by chance and what a wonderful find. Manchester born and in 1948, you've brought many memories of growing up in Altrincham and Manchester. I left the area in April 1963 moving to north London following my Dads promotion with The Prudential. I've only been back 5 or 6 times since so your video has brought me up to date. I'm hooked and propose to take a look at some of your other productions.

[@lifeschool]

7:17 You might be wondering why most of the big bridges in Manchester are made from red bricks. There are two types of red brick - the normal ones for building houses are Manchester Reds and I think they come from the Lune Valley/Claughton Moor Quarry. The thicker deeper red bricks are probably Nori (pronounced Nor-eye) from the Accrington brickworks. They used these on most viaducts because they were the strongest bricks in the world at that time. If you look at the Accrington viaduct on streetview, you can see they could only afford to use Nori bricks under the arches, the rest is stone. If you ever fancy a guided tour, just give us a shout.

[@ashyclaret]

Or possibly that it matched the rest of the town made of stone. Also I've never heard of Nori bricks pronounced that way.

[@lifeschool]

@@ashyclaret - Yes Nor Eye, not Norry. Its Iron spelled backwards, as they got the letters on the moulds the wrong way around when they pressed the bricks. I live in Accrington.

[@pineislandpeter]

A great video , thank you for the effort you put in to the history of M/C railways , you did mention briefly M/C Exchange and left out that M/C once had the longest railway platform in the WORLD . The video is great thanks . Being a M/c can driver for twenty one years ,I once picked up the Rolling Stones on M/C Central station and Jagger payed me off

[@johncallaghan4616]

I'm a fellow Manc, but 6,000 miles away, Fell onto your Channel by total accident, but what a fantastic accident - learnt more about Manchester in this series than I ever knew growing up there - Superb job, keep up the great work !

[@jonsouth1545]

not quite as far away but born in Manchester and never forgiven my parents for moving away when I was 10 hihihihi, Currently living in Poland but Manchester will always have a place in my heart.

[@jimmyviaductophilelawley5587]

Hi Olly....great work mate...I've written a poem about "people like us"...let me know what you think... "Viaductophile" I'm a chronic viaductophile, I just can't get enough of that feeling, When i see a gulf spanned with brutal elegance, Embankment as foreplay, Enmeshed in the dance of the landscape, Created to carry the weight of the world wherever it needs to go, Passengers and freight, And post that cannot wait, So span the river, Cross the gorge, The iron works, the mine, the forge need linking to the town, And railways can't go up and down too much, you see, So now my Higher Power is Brunel! And I dribble at the Ribblehead and swoon at Miller's Dale, Maidenhead gets me all worked up and the Forth Bridge cannot fail To drop the jaw, In deepest awe..... They just don't make 'em like that anymore! So now my browsing history is littered with bridges and tunnels and cuts, I need to put it all in perspective..... I know I'm a viaductophile, but, If this isn't love Why does it feel so good?

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Great stuff Jimmy! I love it. Sounds exactly like me too.

[@PatMcDonald41]

Wow! The work you’ve put into these is enormous. They are brilliant.

[@johnwilliams9240]

Excellent vid. 95%+. As an old soldier I appreciate an instructor who assumes his pupils know nothing and therefore teaches from basics. Lots of maps and Ariel photos teach then it’s up to the pupil to learn. Looking forward to your next vid. John

[@lawrencelowe193]

What wonderful places with incredible engineering structures. You really do your homework. Would lovelove to see more THEN and NOW photos. Especially if you could actually stand in or on locations and show these from a past and present point of view. Cant see enough of these...Thank you✌

[@Terry.W]

Thanks for the amazing history of Manchester.

[@andzzz2]

Just imagine if these historic sites were in London. You would never hear the end of it. Also not a chance they would be so neglected. That said I love the ways things moulder in Manchester.

[@desperatemohammedantheworl5833]

A criminally under subscribed/viewed channel. Enjoyed this, been meaning to explore Liverpool Street area for years but don't get into central Manchester anymore (don't think I've been all year)

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Thanks very much!

[@Louise-qk2po]

Geese own all Manchester canals. The geese are crazy.

[@dangermouse2235]

Ive lived there for most of my life and I still didnt know half of what I just learned. Cheers for another and waiting for another.

[@jimmycburfield5997]

Absolute quality viewing.

[@tao-yuchang2017]

I'm from Taiwan. A British friend introduce me your channel. Very fascinating and a well-made film introducing Manchester.

[@stephenbowker824]

Can’t understand why you don’t have more viewers 👌👍🖐

[@jimmyviaductophilelawley5587]

14:30 we used to get up on that viaduct when they did free gigs at castlefield arena...remember a really good one with 808 state and Clint boon experience!

[@MonsieurBrideau]

Hang on a minute, you mean to say I've visited Manchester more times than Victoria, and she was an actual Queen? Pffft! Enjoying these snippets of history, well researched and put together.

[@mknight2098]

Absolutely outstanding in every aspect

[@mroconnell1775]

Outstanding, keep it up lad.

[@mikeclarke3882]

That was great Ollie. Really, very interesting well shot and very well edited. Growing up in the 60's and my dad being a railwayman I had an interest in trains, and remember many trips that started in either Exchange or Central station, and occasionally, London Road/Piccadilly. I also remember getting trains to Liverpool from Oxford Road sometimes too. Can't wait for the next 'episode' and a look at the life of those who actually made Britain great by virtue of their skill and hard work. I'm so over looking at history through the lens of the wealthy and their extravagant lives. Stay safe!

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Fantastic, thanks Mike.

[@richardjellis9186]

Now... Go away and make a separate 8hr long video, totally dedicated to Manchester's railways. Everything, and I mean, EVERYTHING.! Don't leave a stone unturned.! Not even a pebble.! PLEASE, that is.!🤞!. Love it. Rich 🥰🥰🥰.

[@valerielongmore5040]

Excellently presented and delightfully informative, really enjoyed it, it flowed well like the Ir well, lol, loved the brass band music too. Well done!

[@richardjellis9186]

I'm gonna watch this video over and over.!😁🥰😁!.

[@matthewgartell6380]

I absolutely love manchester and its people. Great vid.

[@stevynw1048]

I came across this channel quite by accident and have become a bit of an addict. Ollie certainly does his research and has a great enthusiasm. I'm in my 60's now and live in Suffolk but as a boy I used to go off exploring the lost industrial landscape of Manchester and Salford (my hometown). There was no Salford Quays then and the deserted docks were fascinating to explore. The Central Station was an empty abandoned wreck. I have a personal interest in this episode on railways. My great grandfather was killed in the Irk Valley bridge disaster (one for you to look up!). In another episode you make a brief reference to the 'Scutlers'. If you haven't already done it this may be of interest to your viewers. Pitched street battles in the streets! Andrew Davies book on this is worth a read 'The Gangs of Manchester'. Looking forward to viewing lots more of your videos, brilliant!

[@iangrange7124]

Hi Ollie cool video as ever, you touched a little on Gorton tank, if your interested there is still evidence on a street by the name of Redby st on Ashton old road, also if you walk up what is now Wood st which is the other side of Aston old road to the junction with Parkhouse st there you will see the main entrance to the Steel foundry with one of the original gate post still standing, also look up Tram st there you will find the last serviving Train shed with the train entrance on South st, hope you find this useful. Have a Merry Christmas Ollie to you and yours 🎅 🎄

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Cheers thank you, good info. Bit late now, but Merry Christmas to you too and Happy New Year!

[@spesinfracta]

Great Video, loved the brass band music!

[@davidsumner4335]

Another informal but informative film to quote Mr Chumly-Warner. But really, such a lot of research and time to make these brilliant insights to Manchester's history should be seen by a wider audience. I have enjoyed every vid and got the T-shirt (bees), thanks!

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Haha thank you, i appreciate that 😊

[@Tom_Roberts]

Great - well worth the effort that you have put into producing this.

[@richardjellis9186]

Love the enthusiasm and delivery of this video. Am new to your channel, and will be watching the others. Rich 🥰🥰🥰.

[@philclennell]

I love the advert for Elgar's Symphony No 1 at 12:41 - presumably the Halle under Hans Richter. All this and railway history too, a heady mix indeed!

[@MsStevieWoo]

Wow - so much historic information in this video. Ive been casually trying to understand the canal system and the rail system. As a child growing up in birkenhead i was taught about the revolution. Later years i grew up in london learning to enjoy a spot history , unfortunately it slowly got covered over and the same is now happening in manchester. I work in deansgate, regularly ride on the canals and old rail routes. I regularly ride around trying to find remnants of old manchester. One building is right next to grocers warehouse and i can't find any history on it. Only acces is via the carpark with with the roman stone in ......... thanks for this vid x

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

Recently run up against your videos - started with the 2 MSC videos and started on the Manchester series. Very well done videos, so keep up the good work

[@juppa]

Great video in a lovely series! Looking forward to the next one. Quality work. :)

[@alanvaughan6531]

Love my 'Manc Land"

[@fp30e]

Love this video Ollie. You make really interesting videos. Thank you. Take care.

[@lescampbell4196]

Another great video. I noticed the geese sounding off early on, they're taking over Castlefield, even the police stop traffic to let them cross Deansgate

[@Davejezz]

Another great and interesting video. Thanks Olli.

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Thanks Dave!

[@mkendallpk4321]

Just discovered your channel a week ago and very impressed! Keep up the good work.

[@danielaltmann8493]

Can't wait for the next episode now!!!

[@19bob53]

Worked in Africa House and Bridgewater House in the early 50s also Solway House, in Aytoun Street' before that building became part of the courts.

[@duxberry1958]

03:20 the Black piller behind was used for Prince,s Bridge built in 1830 by Stephenson

[@alicetickle]

What a fabulous video. I’m glad i found you - keep it up mate. All the best

[@kevinhiggins910]

Very interesting , must see these next time I am in Manchester.

[@David_Owsnett]

This is a very good video.

[@markfaz8689]

Excellent, A lot of work and research have gone into your videos...Top marks 👍

[@christophetolzane]

Hi ! Another great and well documented video. Thanks. A French viewer :-)

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Merci, glad you found it interesting!!

[@RingwayManchester]

Brilliant mate, hope you're ok and had a good xmas and new year!

[@neilsutcliffe9782]

Great vid, as usual!

[@gedaustin8680]

Fantastically interesting and very well presented,

[@PeterBroadhead]

Loving all these vids. Well done mate 💐

[@eamonnca1]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that Oxford Rd station was designed by the same architect who designed Sydney Opera House

[@suesmith4366]

Amazing found out assorts today, love the Ariel shots 👍🏻😎

[@philthorpe7671]

Really great video well presented and so interesting, im a recent recruit to your channel and you have me hooked! looking forward to the next one as i have exhausted your previous work thanks so much for keeping me entertained in these dire days

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Thanks very much! I appreciate it :)

[@duxberry1958]

09:16 to the far right of the Bridge is a Tunnel it was used to move Goods from Grocers Warehouse to another warehouse more nearer to the center of Manchester ...

[@Andrewjg_89]

Interesting video. How railways dominated Manchester but some only survive and exists today. Including 3 Manchester railway stations-Piccadilly, Victoria and Oxford Road.

[@chrism8705]

Fantastic very informative love the arches we have a twisted brick arch on the ethelfleda railway viaduct bit dibnah esc music to 👍🏼 keep it up look forward to next one

[@wolfslair31]

Loved it - Castlefield Viaduct is one of my favourite city landmarks. Though am yet to visit the new park/green space that's since opened upon it.

[@daviespaulaann8913]

Top class video and brilliant insights luv ur work 👏 ❤ 💙 x

[@kalidasbiswas5322]

Very good vedio, and description congratulations sir

[@sandrinemaubeche-qz9sh]

Amazing research and well put together. Well presented, accurate, visual and info well connected. The whole série is fascinating. So many layers of informations to put together in a guided tour of this city. Have you done a street art yet? I have not seen on you tube.

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sandrinemaubeche-qz9sh]

Do you offer guided tours?

[@mickd6942]

Excellent video

[@extrude22]

Another great video

[@MrFifaisbest]

Mayfield is not abandoned it’s been turned into an entertainment venue, Warehouse Project host many raves there nowadays. It’s mad how I’ve shuffled in an old station

[@jamesmcdonagh7270]

My man your absolutely a legend but can you tell a story about straingways not just the prison but about straingways it self x😊

[@jorgedasilva2054]

just found your channel, and really like your videos.

[@neonskyline1]

Amazing stuff, great vid again well done, if my son had of stayed in manchester he would have talked like you, he sort of looks like you as well ha

[@TheGrifter62]

Thanks. Really interesting. I think a city break is in order

[@beveridge1942]

Brilliant!

[@1Three8Fiver]

That beast is also the busiest two track section in Europe, also the cause of the massive amount of delay minutes accumulated due to the short sighted budget constraint of failing to build another viaduct alongside to increase Piccadilly to 16 Platforms. All the services prior to covid that ran the Chat Moss that weren't operated by Transpennine (the majority) had to be held up at a minimum 10 minutes a piece just waiting for TPE being the higher priority intercity service over the Northern and Transport for Wales commuter services.

[@eamonnca1]

I've often thought the Castlefield Viaduct is under-utilized. If you built a bike bridge from Woden St to the west end of the viaduct, you could open up a bike route from Salford to somewhere around Central Station. I know there's an old footbridge at the end of Woden St but it goes under the arches and you have to go up steps to get onto it.

[@chrisshaw9836]

great videos

[@webrarian]

One of your best! Ok, I like railways and I'm particularly drawn to the social impact they had. But that has nothing to do with the crocodile of geese :-)

[@markanthony4655]

Here is something for maybe a future video if you are interested. In 1840 the line between Liverpool and Manchester was the first to have standard time (GMT) until then railways ran to " Railway Time" which was local and there could be a time difference of 7 minutes between London and Bristol as Midday, where the Sun is at its highest is local as the Earth moves from East to West. Here is an excerpt from a wiki page, if you are interested.

[@theunderrated86]

Nice and very informative video, in particular as a rail enthusiast. The best bit is no doubt the bit about Beyer Peacock. Being an Indonesian who grew up on both places, I'm proud I can be a bit on both sides of the history. There are a couple of Beyer Peacock tram locos in Indonesia, and some of them still remained. But back to Manchester. Just a shame that some of the stations have become disused. But on the bright side, at least some of the disused tracks are now reused for the local Metrolink line. Looking forward to your video around Manchester Ship Canal if you have one.

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Thanks very much. I bet its nice to see the old locos in Indonesia.

[@desperatemohammedantheworl5833]

Loving the brass band music.

[@alanhowarth2345]

Can anyone tell us the name of the band we are hearing

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Hi, its 'The Ash Grove' by Dodworth Brass Band. One of my favourites.

[@richardberechula2942]

Another enjoyable vid - thanks for all the hard work in putting together and presenting a new and interesting episode in your series, Ollie. A handful of supplementary comments from a local with a rail background (& professional experience, to boot): - there were a LOT MORE goods stations, warehouses and freight-yards than just the ones you mentioned in the early part of your vid. In fact some of these 'others' were visible in your map-shots as well as in your panning 'Earth'-views (too many to lists here). There were also another handful of Mancunian stations, tho' strictly-speaking just outside the city-centre itself (such as to the west of Castlefield - little stations pretty close to one another - such as Ordsall Ln, Cross Ln, Seedley and Weaste Ln, not forgetting Race St right by the Ship-Canal Docks). . Two other features worthy of inclusion if you're calling it a 'Railway City' are: (i). Motive-Power Depots/Traction Maintenance Depots ....... ie. 'engine-sheds': The major ones here include Longsight and Newton Heath (both luckily still active) as well as Trafford Park, Gorton shed, Belle Vue, Patricroft shed/Eccles and Agecroft (all 5 long-gone); you could also include the extensive (now gone) Red Bank Carriage Sidings & depot; and (ii). Railway Works ....... there were more than just Gorton Tank and Beyer, Peacock - facing it across the Main-Line. VERY EARLY ON, private locomotive-builders were building their engines on a very small scale at tiny works in locations effectively within the city-centre ! ( www.gracesguide.co.uk/Globe_Works , www.gracesguide.co.uk/Atlas_Works ) as well as on a far bigger scale in the Patricroft area, next door to Eccles ( www.gracesguide.co.uk/Nasmyth,_Wilson_and_Co ). The railways companies themselves had their own works (erecting-shops and mini-foundries) at Collyhurst and at Salford (Middlewood) but these soon outgrew their premises and major works were set up at Gorton ('Tank'), Dukinfield and Horwich. . A half-dozen railway companies had a presence in central Manchester - 4 of which had major facilities nearby to the city. Not much is left of any of these today.

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Wow thank you for the info, it's quite a handy summary! Yes I tried to stick to the basics of the city centre and anything that can still be seen today. I didn't want the video to be too long but I'd love to look at each of these places in more detail in future. Thanks so much

[@richardberechula2942]

@@BeeHereNowuk Cheers, Ollie! Am sure you're already familiar with THIS: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Central_railway_station#/media/File:Manchester_RJD_47.JPG - goods depots & passenger stations are shown ("Docks" sta. was also called "Race St" ...... 'cos there used to be a racetrack nearby there - in the days of Trafford PARK). shedbashuk.blogspot.com/2018/10/manchester-area-sheds-updated-and.html Although there are scant traces of Gorton Tank or its associated infrastructure, directly opposite there are still Beyer Peacock works' erecting-shops together with a handful of other buildings; MOST of Dukinfield RC&W (carriage & wagon) works is still extant, as are various parts of Horwich Loco-works. I've been fortunate to've been granted permission to have a good gander at all these locations in recent years and to soak up what's left of the atmosphere {I'd like to think those permissions could be given yet again, this time around, should you wish to explore}.

[@desperatemohammedantheworl5833]

I'd have been tempted to include Salford Central in this video as it's better situated for parts of west Manchester than Salford itself (but I think it was the right editorial choice not to include it simply because it's not in Manchester) I remember stumbling across Salford Central during one of my almost daily time killing saunters around Manchester while skiving school 30 odd years ago and due to it's location being puzzled by it's name.

[@floswason8776]

My uncle Johnny worked at Liverpool rd had horses and drays used to do deliveries l can remember coal being delivered to our house by horse and dray

[@TIMBOWERMAN]

I think Victoria Station was named that for London's Victoria Station

[@mknight2098]

I would have guessed the Queen Victoria

[@fasthracing]

Great work. Which of your video's covers Little Ireland?

[@itsonlyme9938]

Store street station entrance is still there in Store street bricked up, there is a photo of it on Manchester city archives

[@mikealphamikeoscar3754]

Such a shame that our globally historical city is so underwhelming when it comes to history and heritage. We would rather build over out history for profit 📈

[@geoffreyhansen8543]

Would you ever consider doing a video about the Stockton and Darlington Railway?

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Yes definitely!

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

Glued to this again lol

[@archiebald70]

Hope that dog didn’t catch any of the geese 😮

[@richardjellis9186]

You should team up with Martin0 eh.! Your come out with some GREAT content between yous.!🤞!. Rich 🥰🥰🥰.

[@paultowle7507]

Is the music called Ash something or other ?

[@mickd6942]

Noticed that whenever you speak in your videos it upsets geese for some reason lol

[@richardjellis9186]

A tip for future videos... Leave the photos on screen a little longer. So we(I.!.) can orientate and picture better.!🤞!.

[@cjscorah]

Press the pause button

[@richardjellis9186]

13:26... Couldn't have put it better myself.!🤬🤬🤬!.

[@socklesslad]

Piccadilly station is obviously named after the street of the same name - but do you know where that name came from? Is it just named after the street in London or does it come from somewhere else?

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Sorry I couldn't find where the name piccadilly originally comes from. I'm sure someone knows

[@socklesslad]

@@BeeHereNowuk Thanks for having a look anyway.

[@andrewnelson4057]

How is it "The World's First Inter-City Line", when nether Liverpool (1880) or Manchester (1853) were Cities?

[@DaedalusYoung]

It was the first railway that ran scheduled trains with paying passengers, as well as goods trains, on a double tracked line from one town to another. The term inter-city line was a later invention, but the L&MR ran like one, so in that sense, it was the first inter-city line. They just didn't call it that yet at the time. Compare with how the now call the Antikythera mechanism one of the earliest known (if not the earliest known) analog computer. Of course they didn't call it that at the time, but that is what it was, if we were to name it using modern terms.

[@andrewnelson4057]

@@DaedalusYoung The Stockton and Darlington, ran between Darlington, and Middlesbrough in 1825 with both goods, and passenger trains..... Therefore beating the L&MR by five years.

[@DaedalusYoung]

@@andrewnelson4057 The Stockton and Darlington Railway opened in 1825, but sections of this line employed cable haulage, and only the coal trains were hauled by locomotives. The L&MR was also the first to be entirely double tracked, the first to have a signalling system, the first to be fully timetabled, and the first to carry mail.

[@martf8014]

is that your bike?

[@BeeHereNowuk]

The red one is 🙂

[@richardjellis9186]

What a MASSIVE bunch of bastards network rail have been. Doing this (maybe) irreversible damage to the MOST IMPORTANT station, and surrounding land, IN THE WORLD.!!!. I'm really surprised that Manchester city council let them get away with this. Like, REALLY SURPRISED.!!!. All this could have been done South of the river. At more cost, probably not (see 23:27.. PLENTY OF ROOM.!!!.), but it COULD have happened if Mcr council had even the tiniest set of balls.!. Too f'ing late now tho eh.!

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

This I take it is the disconnection of the Liverpool Road station from the national network. I agree, it was a disgrace and a crying shame.

[@jonsouth1545]

@@russellfitzpatrick503 especially as before they did it the Science museum would do occasional trips on the line using replica steam engines, I remember taking one as a kid and I was hooked on trains ever since.