Kitson Saddle Tank BR No. 47000 about to leave Sheep Pasture Top with the SLS & MLS High Peak Rail Tour, April 25th 1953.

Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch. Its end at Tarleton. 21 June 1986

'Fifedown' in the tidal lock.

Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch. Its end at Tarleton. Tidal lock to the River Douglas beyond. 21 June 1986

The white boat is 'Boadicea'

Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch. Locks 1 & 2 at Burscough. 21 June 1986

Light engine near Burn Naze North, 1959, WPS @ c.18m

Llangollen (RUA @ 5m 40ch). Loco "Burtonwood Brewer" (Kitson 5459 of 1932). 01 September 1985

Llangollen station (RUA @ 5m 40ch). 20 April 1986

In the station is Kitson 0-6-0 Saddle tank “Burtonwood Brewer”, originally Austin No 1 at the Austin Motor Works, Longbridge

Llangollen station (RUA @ 5m 40ch). 20 April 1986

In the station is Kitson 0-6-0 Saddle tank “Burtonwood Brewer”, originally Austin No 1 at the Austin Motor Works, Longbridge

Llangollen. Horse-drawn trip boat to Horseshoe Falls. 24 May 1987

LNWR Poynton Colliery Branch. 'Lane' within golf course. (Formerly linking Park and Anson pits). 06 July 1985

LNWR Poynton Colliery Branch. Hockley, Poynton. The former Engine Shed. 06 July 1985

Now used by E J Cadman, Builders’ Merchants, Est. 1927

LNWR Poynton Colliery Branch. Looking down Ladies Incline from near Hockley. 06 July 1985

Longsight station (CMP2 @ 187m 08ch). Row of imposing houses East of the station. 30 May 1987

Only one house occupied

Longsight station (CMP2 @ 187m 08ch). West side approach road. 30 May 1987

DMU Parcels (Newspapers) Van

Longsight station (CMP2 @ 187m 08ch). West side approach road. 30 May 1987

Opened 10 April 1843; closed 15 September 1958 but used afterwards for excursions to the nearby Belle Vue Pleasure Gardens. Class 31 loco hauling train to Sheffield

Manchester Central station (MAJ @ 34m 03ch), now the G-Mex centre. 28 March 1987

Manchester Liverpool Road station (OLL1 @ 0m 25ch) exterior. 28 March 1987

Manchester Victoria station (MVE1 @ 0m 0ch). Exterior from Exchange station. 28 March 1987

Manchester Victoria station (MVE1 @ 0m 0ch). Platform 12. 28 March 1987

Class 47 diesel locos, 47007 ‘Stratford’ in Railfreight livery, & 47487.

Marple Aqueduct. Circular opening in the spandrel wall. Winter 1962-63

A feature of all three spans, employed to reduce weight. Grid Ref: SJ 9552 9005 [PF-012-390]

Marple Aqueduct. Damage to the Spandrel Wall. 1962-63

A lack of maintenance in the first half of the 20th century led to water seeping into the puddling and stonework of the aqueduct and, during the very cold winter of 1961/62, freezing and thawing of the water resulted in the outer face of the north-east arch collapsing into the river below. On 09 January 1962, some 30 feet of the wall fell and further damage occurred during the winter of 1962/63, which was colder still. There was a strong movement from the BWB, and local politicians, at the time to demolish the viaduct but in the end it was repaired and was a major factor in the reopening on the Peak Forest Canal. Grid Ref: SJ 9552 9005 [PF-012-390]

Marple Aqueduct. Decrepit boat coming off the Aqueduct

Grid Ref: SJ 9552 9005 [PF-012-390]

Marple Aqueduct. Kayaks & Rowing Boats on the canal.

Grid Ref: SJ 9552 9005 [PF-012-390]. Not dated but the kayaks suggest 1960s

Marple Aqueduct. Out of water. 1962-63

The damaged section of the spandrel wall can (just) be seen on the right-hand side of the viaduct, about half way along. The Society's own publication on the Peak Forest Canal (Grahame Boyes and Brian Lamb, The Peak Forest Canal: An Engineering and Business History, 2012, pp181-3) deals with the aqueduct's collapse and subsequent scheduling and restoration: 'on the night of 9 January 1962 the outer face of the north-east arch (the non-towpath side at the Marple end) was found to have collapsed. Stop planks were placed across each end of the aqueduct, which was then drained and a temporary pipe laid across to maintain the water supply. Grid Ref: SJ 9552 9005 [PF-012-390]. In the distance is Romiley Bridge, all that remains of the 91 metre long Rose Hill Tunnel.

Marple Junction. Narrowboat "Ripple" passing through the stop lock. October 2006 or April 2007

The retaining wall behind was being rebuilt to prevent damage to the property above. Patrick Moss (owner of "Ripple" at the time) is at the tiller, possibly with Irvine Holmes. Photo taken by Ian Moss's Sister-in-Law, Vera Young.

Marple. "Lock 17" - a floral display next to lock 13

Also on the route of the old branch to the lime kilns. Exact location not identified and the area indicated would have a major road in view on the immediate left.

Middleton Foot indicator 13th June 1951.

Used to signal the state of the incline to staff at the top.
S = Stop
G = Go
B = Standby

Middleton Incline from the bottom c.1930 showing one of the sets of catch points.

The gradient had a length of 708 yards and the continuous rope a length of 1670 yards. The line was single track until April 2nd 1894.

Middleton Incline with a rake of four wagons supporting 60-foot rails descending.

Middleton Incline. Deeley 0-4-0T No.41536 about to ascend the Incline in steam.

A rake of wagons is standing behind on the siding to Middle PeaK Coal Yard.

Middleton Incline. Deeley 0-4-0T No.41536, has arrived safely at Middleton Top.

Middleton Top Engineman's House and Locomotive Shed 5 June 1950.

Although the locomotive 50860 is now in BR ownership it still displays 'LMS' on the tank sides.

Middleton Top Gradient Post and Signal Box.

Middleton Top outside indicators 13th June 1951

The indicators tell the staff the state of the incline.

Middleton Top Shed after being burnt to the ground in 1906.

The two LNWR 2-4-0 tank engines lost their paint survived the blaze and became LMS No.6424 (2244) and LMS No. 6428 (2278). In fact the latter lasted another 46 years, finishing its days as British Railways No.58092 & working the Sheep Pasture to Middleton Bottom section single handed for its last 20 years.

Middleton Top Water Tank with the Fireman measuring the volume with a dipstick. 4th May 1934. The locomotive is LMS No.7521.

The locomotive is LMS No.7521, formerly LNWR No.2868 and NLR No.78..