Skelton Junction
Encyclopedia
Skelton Junction is a complex of railway junctions to the south of Manchester
in Timperley, near Altrincham
. Both the Cheshire Lines Committee
's Liverpool
to Manchester line and the LNWR's Warrington and Altrincham Junction Railway
fed into the junction from Liverpool in the west. The Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
provided a connection from the Altrincham direction and a short spur from Timperley towards Stockport, while the CLC's Stockport, Timperley and Altrincham Junction Railway continued east to Stockport
.
The line via Broadheath and Lymm to Warrington closed on the 7th July 1985 and has now been lifted.
The line via West Timperley and Partington is still intact as far as Partington, but has been disused since October 1993, when all regular freight work to the chemical works ceased. The Great Central Railway connection north from the CLC to the MSJ&A Rly towards Timperley Station closed before the 2nd World War.
There used to be a small marshalling yard including a turntable in the fork between the Altrincham and Partington lines. The yard was traversed by a long concrete foot bridge known locally as The Black Bridge. This has now been replaced by a shorter green steel bridge, however it is still known as The Black Bridge.
The only line currently in use is the line from Altrincham towards Stockport; this is used by the Chester to Manchester Piccadilly via Altricham and Northwich service. Additionally various freight workings use the line including heavy block trains carrying limestone from quarries at Tunstead (near Buxton) to alkali works at Northwich.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in Timperley, near Altrincham
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
. Both the Cheshire Lines Committee
Cheshire Lines Committee
The Cheshire Lines Committee was the second largest joint railway in Great Britain, with 143 route miles. Despite its name, approximately 55% of its system was in Lancashire. In its publicity material it was often styled as the Cheshire Lines Railway...
's Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to Manchester line and the LNWR's Warrington and Altrincham Junction Railway
Warrington and Altrincham Junction Railway
The Warrington and Altrincham Junction Railway railway was created by act of parliament on the July 3 1851 to build a line between Timperley Junction on the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway, to provide a through route to Manchester, and Warrington Arpley on the St Helens and...
fed into the junction from Liverpool in the west. The Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
The Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway was a suburban railway which operated a 13.7 km route between Altrincham in Cheshire and London Road Station in Manchester....
provided a connection from the Altrincham direction and a short spur from Timperley towards Stockport, while the CLC's Stockport, Timperley and Altrincham Junction Railway continued east to Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
.
The line via Broadheath and Lymm to Warrington closed on the 7th July 1985 and has now been lifted.
The line via West Timperley and Partington is still intact as far as Partington, but has been disused since October 1993, when all regular freight work to the chemical works ceased. The Great Central Railway connection north from the CLC to the MSJ&A Rly towards Timperley Station closed before the 2nd World War.
There used to be a small marshalling yard including a turntable in the fork between the Altrincham and Partington lines. The yard was traversed by a long concrete foot bridge known locally as The Black Bridge. This has now been replaced by a shorter green steel bridge, however it is still known as The Black Bridge.
The only line currently in use is the line from Altrincham towards Stockport; this is used by the Chester to Manchester Piccadilly via Altricham and Northwich service. Additionally various freight workings use the line including heavy block trains carrying limestone from quarries at Tunstead (near Buxton) to alkali works at Northwich.
Location map