Stockport and its disused railway history.

In this video we visit the town of Stockport to the south of Manchester. We are looking at some railway history in the area. We start at The river Mersey at an old railway junction of the Cheshire lines committee . We look at archive railway photos to determine how Heaton Mersey Junction used to look. Then on to Tiviot Dale station which is now an abandoned railway station on a disused railway line. We enter the Tiviot dale disused railway tunnel. Inside the abandoned railway tunnel is some amazing railway architecture. The tunnel is cut into the red sandstone of Stockport. We then look at the Dodge hill air raid shelters . Finally we finish out urbex journey at the Brinnington tunnel

[@antsuxx]

Fantastic home territory when I was a young fireman on steam traction.worked those lines and visited the old depot at Heaton Mersey both on and off duty .Great stuff Martin ❤️

[@MartinZero]

Great stuff Antony

[@viennacat1]

Amazing to see how the M60 literally smashed its way through the area, I imagine it must have been a complex stretch of motorway to complete due to the rivers and the old railways. Thanks as always Martin, really enjoyed watching this one.

[@keithhoughton4308]

This book would answer your question if you can find a copy. M63 - Motorway through a town: The story of the building of the M63 through Stockport and it's impact on the town. I remember them building it.

[@RJSRdg]

The most complicated bit is probably the junction where the M60, M56 and A34 meet. Not only is the junction hemmed in by the river, but it is threaded in over and under three different railway lines, and when built, one of the slip roads encircled a hospital!

[@stehaughton5074]

It seems a real shame previous councils pull them biuldings down,most of which would surely be some kind of national treasures. Top Job Martin 👍👍

[@PaddyWV]

This is what pained me when they started banging on about a "Cross North" High Speed Line. You just knew they'd bulldoze a new line through the Countryside, knocking down houses left right and centre. Yet there are Disused lines aplenty, still in an abandoned state that with a bit of ingenuity, say as light rail tram-train networks, that could solve so much congestion.

[@user-ob8cz1dr2n]

I grew up in Brinnington from 1961. On your map where it shows Brinnington Hall now stands St Pauls primary school, and we lived 3 doors away. At the bottom of the school playing field is the stone wall on the top of the abutment to the entrance to the Brinnington tunnel ((Portwood end)as shown in your video. As a kid we use to stand on that wall and wait for the train coal waggons to come through the tunnel. If the train slowed down enough, we would jump on top of the coal and get a free ride into Tiviot Dale Station. Crazy days!

[@haroldhorseposture9435]

Bloody fantastic, as usual Martin. I take it you've had a look round Arnies Flickr page ? There's a few more of that area in there, including the sidings at Georges Rd. Arnie and I started on the railway together, 03-10-77 , as guards. We learned that road together, and got up to some great adventures and escapades . We did that much , back in the day. I had met Jimmy Maddox before I started on the job, he was a mate of the manager of the tyre depot I worked at , and I put some tyres on his car . Small world. Jimmy was a great bloke, as were just about all of them - the crack on the job was beyond belief. And the ale........Oh, Man !! The bank down from Woodley was known as 'A.W.B.', meaning unbraked trains were drawn slowly onto the branch at Woodley under extreme caution, the guard left his brake van and started to apply wagon handbrakes. The train moving all the while .When the driver considered he had enough brake force , a horn code would be sounded , and you'd get back on board. The M.O. was that sufficient handbrakes were to be applied so that power needed to be applied to draw the train downhill . You would then stop at Brinnington signal box, and lift the hand brakes .Local instructions in the General Appendix would have specified a time to make the descent, which, as enshrined in the Rule Book , 'Must not be reduced' Can Imagine this would give the health and safety police fits these days ! The truncated remains of the branch from Woodley remains in use , for stone trains and the G.M. waste trains, there being a sidings for the latter off the erstwhile branch. The gradient is falling severely at the stone terminal , and the road ends at a stop-block right up against a retaining wall underneath a Morrison's supermarket. Gets really snotty in leaf-fall season. And with about 2800 tons behind, you need to be a bit sharp and pay attention, else it will be 'clean up on aisle 9' ! There is still a refuge , in the sandstone wall , on the Northbound side of the M60 , just before going under the viaduct when heading South. Gives a good pointer to the exact location of the line, and how the motorway has taken it . We had good jobs over that road, especially a trip job , Target 29 , with a regular driver , Eric Clough. A lovely fella. You did the scrapyard at Geoges Road, and the the Cadbury's chocolate warehouse , where the Pets at home store is now. The job was often referred to as 'The chocolates' . You got a handout there off the warehouse blokes. Then off to Skelton to run-round and return , but often , Cloughie would stop at random , no regard for following traffic , timetables or wanting to get an early finish , to pick apples, hazelnuts and other wild offerings. All at leisurely pace , and nobody got too razzed about ti. All very gentlemanly . A few years back , at a Guide Bridge traincrew reunion , the last one Cloughie attended before he passed, he came up to me , and presented me with a bar of Cadbury's, 'Here y'are, mate, I got yer this' . priceless. He'd remebered me from all those years ago , and this really moved me . Then as soon as I'd put it down to go and get us both a pint, our kid scoffed it .Rotter. He was mortified when I tellt him from whence it came. Happy days . Bloody happy days. I miss them cruelly.

[@marshaktboy]

Wow, this is sentimental for me. My late father had a concrete testing and drilling company and I helped out one day drilling test cores along the roof in the Tiviot Dale tunnel - this was to , I assume , see what the strata was , above the brickwork. I am not sure if this was anything to do with the damage caused by the motorway but it was a working line when we were there. Great to see it - thanks for the video Martin, outstanding as usual.

[@NOMADCREATIVESOLUTIONS]

always good to see a class 40 in it's natural habitat

[@MartinZero]

Definitely

[@antoniodillon9297]

I live in Stockport and growing up been fascinated with it's history, and learnt a lot about the old Woodley line having grown up in brinnington right by its old line. Not many people know but tucked off in a bit off a hidden section of woodland cut off between lower bredbury and the motorway a good section of the old line still exists with the old sleepers and evidence of rails still in the ground. One of my favourite spots as it's the only real piece of it left to see

[@TheNapalmFTW]

Driven on that bit of the M60 before and never realized that tunnel was there. Thanks Martin

[@darreno9874]

That steel support in the tunnel below the Church was incredible. Nice work guys. God bless

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Darren

[@hairyairey]

It's a shame that for so many different reasons that's not going to last as a solution.

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

Hi Martin. As regards the old Cheshire Lines Railway through Stockport Tiviot Dale as it was, I worked one of the last freight trains through that section from Heaton Mersey to Portwood back in 1980, very soon after that damage was done from an excavator. That was when I was a guard at Buxton, taking stone to a depot at Portwood owned by Tilcon, which got demolished to make way for a Tesco hypermarket. Arnie Furniss, I knew quite well because he started on the railway the same time as me, and we were on the same course at Manchester Victoria guards training school, back in 1977. By coincidence, when I started to train as a driver at Crewe in 1989, Arnie was on that one as well! The particular line through the old Tiviot Dale was relaid with hew track in parts, back in 1978, and what a waste. There was another tunnel along that line which went under the huge Stockport viaduct, called Wellington Road tunnel. Anyhow thanks for this presentation, Martin, and your team, it's brilliant.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Ffranc great that you knew Arnie

[@robertgirdwood1801]

Thanks Arnie for the amazing pictures, really helped..

[@jetsons101]

Martin please say "Thanks" to your team for this fine watch. Hey James "Choo Choo." Your videos have come so far along, the narration, information, old maps and photos and yes the banter between the team is all top-notch. Love the "Oh, they left the gate open" lol. Those tarts will make for a tight fit. Thanks again and keep History Alive.....

[@MartinZero]

The tarts were great, Thanks Mike

[@mrtaylor8060]

Did I miss something in this video? What tarts and their tight fit? I didn’t see any women with the team. So what went on in that tunnel? Can someone explain?

[@nedseagoon5101]

Another great vid Martin. As soon as I saw the pic of the 40 I knew it would be one of Arnies! Top man. He’s got some really good stuff on Flickr.

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

They really hit the spot :)

[@andrewlee109]

Proud to have all this history on my door step. Born in 78 had to believe the disused stations still existed then. Heard many times how these tracks and tunnels were still there after all these years. Thanks for the history lesson. Now I know why the deadline is just up from the tiviot. Great vlog Be interesting to see if you could dig up some history of the canal that used to go through stockport. Outside one of the mills in reddish there’s a piece of it remaining.

[@billcook112]

Many memories of the Tiviot (Teviot) Dale Station, I was on the last passenger train to run to Glazebrook and return in the January. As we left the station closed for the final time. The lines to the far top left of aerial photo were Heaton Mersey engine shed. I've lots of stories of the area, I lived up the line in Woodley.

[@haroldhorseposture9435]

Yeah . Mersey men .....'Couldn't get up on 't coaling stage without a run-up and a banker!' And never strayed out of dight of Sykes' bleachworks chimney.

[@carlrehnberg4581]

Perfect end to the weekend, Martin doubled over in a tunnel. Happy Swede!

[@lorrainemerry8661]

Yet another great video. Thank you, Martin and gang.

[@williamball9314]

Another fantastic video, Martin & team. Thank you so much

[@dartacus.spartacus1988]

It always fascinates me how fast nature takes back it's land as soon as people leave the area, you would think nobody has been there for 200 years but it's actually not so long ago.

[@hairyairey]

It's starting to take back that block over the Tame next to the motorway as well. Weeds growing out of brickwork are never a good thing!

[@user-zq1kx3lv1l]

Hello Martin, I have been looking lately, at some older You Tube Videos of Stockport, My home town for 81 years, When I was living at my up bringing home, I lived close to Vernon Park, but now live in Offerton. & having just watched this video of yours, it has opened my eyes to many places I had no concept of. I like watching content like this, and I so admire the trouble that you go to with your research. You must make a lot of good friends to get the material that you use in your video content, and I am envious of some of the places that you get to find, during your You tube excursions. Thank you for this posting, which I have only just had presented to me by Y/T Brian of Offerton.

[@kavorka75]

This is fascinating, thanks a lot.

[@updistant]

Top job lads, really enjoyable watch, thank you.

[@kohedunn]

Thank you Martin and friends ! A very enjoyable ramble through historical landmarks long gone and full of memories ...Loved it ☺

[@lofasch6349]

Thank you for documenting our local history. I'm hooked on your videos

[@stevenhayes2589]

Thanks Martin another brilliant video love to see abandoned tunnels. Looking faward to the next one.

[@paulcharlesworth9114]

Great video. Know the area well and you showed us a new side. Thank you.

[@malcbury9739]

Yet another fascinating video from you and the gang 👍

[@whyyoulidl]

EPIC!!! Many thx guys.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for the fantastic tour today. A real journey back in time. Cheers mates.

[@ianr]

Great video Martin and Co, very enjoyable! 👏🙂 I explored the railway around Heaton Mersey in the early 1980's. At that time the CLC Bridge over the Mersey was still in situ, also the track, albeit with rusty rails. Eventually it was all cleared to make way for the motorway, I think the bridge was demolished around 1986.

[@MartinZero]

Wish I had seen that

[@RJSRdg]

I think one of the bridges was blown up by the Army as a training exercise.

[@talesofbazzilbrush5800]

great video pal always love old railway stuff

[@nigelericogden3200]

Thank you guys, thank you Arnie, wonderful vid 🙏

[@MrMansun95]

What a contrast between the tunnel when it was in use and now !! Hidden history another great video Martin !

[@bobingram6912]

Another cracking explore, thanks guys, and Arnie - great B & Ws with a story behind them plus showing then and now, you just don't know what's next to you or beneath your feet. Great stuff Martin. James actually had a teaspoon!!!!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@simonabbott7323]

Martin & crew, absolutely fantastic stuff, thank you so so much, all of you, for your blood, sweat and tears! I have lived in Stockport most of my life, apart from a few years away in London and Manchester. On Chestergate in Stockport Town Centre (adjacent to Merseyway shopping centre), there is a complex of underground shelters, now re-opened as an attraction. I have been down the re-opened shelter, but never been down the Dodge Hill tunnels. But, someone I knew (sadly departed now) reckoned he went down in 1977 and reckons the Dodge Hill tunnels were linked to the main tunnels in Chestergate, before the M63 (now M60) cut them off. 28dayslater have got some good pics inside Dodge Hill tunnels. There also used to be tunnel entrances cut into the rock on the L/H/S as you go up Brinksway. He said they were linked, too. Now, whether they actually were or not, I'm not sure. It's a fair way between Brinksway and Chestergate!

[@mosty3]

Hi Simon Your friend was quite right they did all link up in 1970 went down the old air raid shelters lots of times saw all the old bunk beds. rooms with open toilets. It got so bad with chalk marks on the wall to show the way back we once got lost ,but eventually after panicking found the way out. Lol

[@DJunclepaul2nd]

Really brilliant video thank you Martin

[@DesigntowinLew]

Fascinating stuff , thanks for the vid .

[@barbhenderson4867]

Brilliant Martin, so interesting x

[@paylnyles]

One of your better videos, really enjoyed it x.

[@gerryegan4872]

Great video as always guys. Looked great and a lot of fun. Great view's. Thanks for showing this video. Keep doing what you are doing. I look forward to seeing your videos. I love reading maps to do with the railway. Thanks again guys.

[@davidnm21]

Fascinating and informative video gents. Great to see, although very sad, the railway history that went through here. That tunnel walk was fascinating. Well done lads the tea and Portiguese tarts at the end were well deserved 👍

[@richards091]

That was another great video Martin.

[@rontanser9369]

Thanks Martin and Crew a very interesting little video when the built the motorway never thought the railway line Would ever be used again

[@Phil-M0KPH]

Another great explore marvellously enhanced with maps and old photos.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Brilliant. Filming excellent. You all had so much fun. Great brew and good cake. All that history you were exploring was amazing. What a wealth of info and research you put into the video. Thank you so much. Old photos very nostalgic looking back.

[@outsidethepyramid]

nice one ! enjoyed every minute of that

[@madgebishop5409]

another cracking video guys, really interesting stuff!

[@silverstar1964]

Great video Martin, you packed in a lot of interesting things for us to enjoy. Good to see the lads enjoying the upgraded snacks as well. Keep up the good work :)

[@rogermorris6957]

Thanks Martin and the team for a very interesting vlog I have walked a lot of the line but not through the tunnel and to see the supports fascinating

[@mordanthamster2753]

Great video as always.

[@leemorris3805]

Martin !!! Another classic MZ video!! Thanks so much . Love the "industrial" electro music. Drone shots, tunnels , old maps, old photos bridges...a brew! All the ingredients that go to make up a classic MZ film. And of course great history. Well done👍

[@agentbertram4769]

Very enjoyable video Martin. My days of Urbex are finished and it's good to see your work to remind me what life's about. Thanks mate!

[@kenclarke1952]

Blimey your brave!! wouldnt catch me going thru that tunnel. Great vid .Thank you.

[@jamesbradshaw4675]

Another interesting video Martin cheers 👍

[@PhilEvansOnline]

From Arnie, to you to us. The true spirit of sharing, I love it!

[@Paul-eb4jp]

Fantastic stuff, I can't believe how much I got drawn in.

[@wideyxyz2271]

Superb as always.

[@nomdeplume798]

Good to see you back Martin.

[@elizabethannferrario7113]

great guys enjoyed the video !

[@brianaveriss7972]

Enjoyable video Martin, thanks guys.

[@andyroid7339]

Very nice video Martin! The photos really helped to bring the video and the history 'to life'.

[@boilerroombob]

Welcome back martin fantastic video m8 x

[@davidmunro1469]

Thank you Martin and team. These pictures feel like time travel. You always have the best brew up and I am not there to share.

[@Simon_Nonymous]

A great accompaniment to my Sunday dinner; thank you Martin, James, Liam and Roy. I've spent too much time driving on the M60 there, good to see there is beauty and history not too far away wherever you go.

[@notsohairybiker]

Another great explore.

[@grahampartridge9335]

Another great vid, take care lads

[@daviespaulaann8913]

Great video well done txxx

[@cabacs8062]

Brilliant video. I remember some of the Tiviot / Portwood area before the motorway, as I would travel with my dad in his lorry bringing stone for the M63 construction from Buxton. Great pics from Arnie too!!

[@stevesrepairs5778]

Thanks Martin for a fantastic vlog with all the historical info'. Take care and all the best. Stevie

[@mikemoult6999]

Absolutely brilliant video Martin really enjoyed it only wish I had been there with you

[@MrJeep75]

Awesome stuff

[@pambrown8697]

So sad, beautiful old station...

[@efccb3669]

What I love about your videos is the way in the ruins of massive industrial structures how nature takes back what it once had.

[@theowdgit9790]

Fantastic as usual Martin and team. That James he's mad as a box of frogs lol 👍👍👍

[@Caustictherapy]

Finally ... been telling you to do Stocky for a while .. some new stuff I didnt know about too .. Glad to see they got the lights in Brinny Tunnel working ... and its normally a swimming pool when I go for my lunchtime walks through there LOL ... Nice video as always :)

[@TeriWilde]

I love the old stories of the way Britain was shaped through industrialisation and development... and I like the term "Disused" rather than "Abandoned"

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Steve

[@petersimms4982]

Great vid lads, never thought Stockport was so interesting! Luv the piccy of the lads on the reinforcing girders in the tunnel,reminded me of an album cover :)

[@wombal177jim]

I remember crossing the skew bridge many time as a kid it was a buzz especially if a train came over, as you used to cross inside the bridge magic memories

[@DAVIDKEN5556]

keep up the good work lads

[@Sim0nTrains]

Some lovely footage of the remains of the former railways around Stockport, really enjoyed watching this, those fences must had been a pain that day.

[@lauriecooper8194]

Thanks Martin, absolutely fascinating.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Laurie

[@showmanpete2805]

great vid thanks for sharing

[@russhillery7239]

Another great video well done all

[@mkendallpk4321]

Martin, you and your channel are real gems may you both shine for a long time to come. Now to the miracle - James brought a spoon! Thank yous to both Liam and Roy for their expertise.

[@glenjones6980]

I just love how the same places feature in different videos but each video deals with a different topic. Referencing the other videos for context but not confusing things by trying to tell the different historical points all in one. Decades of driving trucks and visiting the area, passing things that went unseen or spotting something and wondering what the story was, these videos have answered some of those long forgotten questions. Fascinating as always Martin.

[@NigelHay]

another top quality production. love seeing comparison photos, especially the train waiting to go into the tunnel and then the second photos once it came out. driven past that area many times and never knew it was there.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Nigel

[@mikestuart5119]

Really enjoyed this video & I can’t believe how green Stockport was.

[@BusterCapInYoAss]

Great content Martin. Got the shock of my life when the video started, Liam looks so similar to my older brother (but like, 30 years back) lol

[@geoffgreenhalgh3553]

Very informative as usual.

[@bulldogsdontbite3950]

Fantastic memories of the old town,as a kid & his dog I played down by the concertina bridge & the old sidings towards Stockport,later as a teenager I would walk my dogs from Bredbury down the disused line at the back of brinni through the tunnel & on to portwood at the back of the old crane works.I no longer live in the town Martin but you've made a oldish man feel quite sentimental,great documentary mate with the lads you've unlocked some lost great memories.

[@stevebarbier5602]

Magic video Martin, never knew any of that was there zooming past at 70 mph. More railway stuff as well please, thanks for that............................👌👌

[@petedemaio168]

Echoing everyone else. Simply wonderful. I could watch these all day. Perfect historical context. You could spend the next hundred years covering old railways in towns like this, and that would probably just cover the Midlands. Your work is appreciated! And best wishes to the rest is the crew.

[@ruthbrierley1798]

Cracking video Martin! I wish someone would make videos like this about Birmingham's industrial/railway past.

[@Cowley46]

That was a cracking video and really interesting. I've used the Britain From Above website a lot when researching Liverpool's old docklands and its railways and it really is, like you say, a great way to put some reality into old maps. Also having Arnie to put first hand stories into an old photo was a nice bonus. Top job.

[@allanp865]

Just found your channel today, i live in heaton mersey not far from the first bridge crossing you covered and remember it well as a kid in the late 70's -Early 80's. We even used to cycle up & down the motorway whilst under construction at the slip road at the pyramid roundabout. Amazing video and some of it was even new to me & ive lived in the area since 1973. Great video, looking forward to the next.

[@iandarall4551]

Good you giving credit to the people that help supply info

[@allansmith4447]

Excellent video as always Martin, I too was a young Fireman and then Guard ( at Guide Bridge ) and passed along this route many times and Arni Furness was a guard there too, nice to hear he is still with us as there are not many of us left who worked over these lines.

[@skapunkno1]

Everytime I pass that big red brick wall on the M60 I've wondered what it was for years and years, love these videos.