The Ghost Station: A Journey to Denton Railway Station

In the vast and intricate network of the UK's rail system, some stations are bustling hubs, and others are quiet, forgotten corners. Denton Railway Station falls squarely into the latter category, holding a unique and almost legendary status as one of the least-used stations in the country. A visit here isn't just a trip; it's a step into a peculiar slice of modern railway history, a story of managed decline, strategic survival, and a single weekly train service.

A Ghostly Presence

For many, the first thing they learn about Denton Railway Station is its astonishingly low passenger count. With an average of just one passenger a month in some recent years, it is a frequent and prominent feature on the list of least-used stations in the United Kingdom. This isn't due to a lack of local interest, but rather a deliberate policy that has stripped the station of almost all its services and facilities. You'll find no ticket office, no waiting room, no shelters, and no disabled access. The platforms themselves are overgrown and quiet, a stark contrast to the once-busy mainline that used to run through here.

The Train That Keeps the Station Alive

The reason for this minimal service is a fascinating quirk of railway legislation. It is far more complex and expensive to formally close a railway line than it is to simply keep it operational with a bare minimum service. By running just two trains a week—one in each direction on a Saturday morning—the rail company can avoid the costly and lengthy process of a full closure program. This single, weekly service has earned the line the nickname of a "parliamentary train," a service that exists purely to fulfil a legal obligation. As the text mentions, the future of the station is uncertain, as congestion on the line makes it difficult to add more services, but its continued existence is a testament to this unique policy.

Echoes of a Busiest Past

Looking at Denton today, with its lone island platform, it's hard to imagine that this was once a vibrant and busy junction. The station once boasted four platforms, and the line itself was a major artery carrying trains to London Euston. The stark, overgrown platform and the "Way Out" sign that seems to lead to nowhere are poignant reminders of the drastic cuts of the 1960s that reshaped the entire rail network. The station's decline is a microcosm of the wider changes that saw many lines and stations fall victim to rationalization and modernization.

Denton Railway Station is a unique and captivating place, a site that tells a larger story about the evolution of Britain's railways. It stands as a monument to a once-great network and a quirky footnote in the ongoing saga of our public transport system. For rail enthusiasts and curious travellers alike, it's a place to visit not for its convenience, but for its compelling and unusual history.

The pictures were taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 15th December 2020, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

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Soaring Above the Clouds: A Glimpse of My Journey from Manchester to Venice

The hum of the engines, the gentle sway as we taxied down the runway... there's always a thrill in the moments before take off. On October 29th, 2018, that thrill was amplified by the anticipation of reaching the enchanting canals and historic streets of Venice. I was lucky enough to capture parts of this journey from Manchester Airport all the way to Marco Polo Airport through the lens of my trusty Nikon D3300, and I'm excited to share those moments with you.

Forget those blurry, through-the-window phone snaps! These videos offer a clearer, more immersive perspective of the world unfolding beneath the wings. From the initial ascent, leaving behind the familiar patchwork of the English countryside, to the breath taking arrival over the Venetian lagoon, each clip holds a little piece of the magic of flight.

What can you expect to see?

• The Departure: Witness the bustling activity of Manchester Airport receding into the distance as we climb into the vast expanse of the sky.
• A Sea of Clouds: Marvel at the ethereal beauty of a seemingly endless white blanket stretching as far as the eye can see – a truly awe-inspiring sight.
• Changing Landscapes: Keep an eye out for the subtle (and sometimes dramatic!) shifts in the terrain below as we journey across Europe.
• The Grand Finale: Approaching Venice: Experience the unique perspective of gliding over the intricate network of islands and waterways that make Venice so utterly captivating. Seeing it unfold from above is an unforgettable experience.
• Landing at Marco Polo: Feel the gentle bump as we touch down, bringing our aerial adventure to a close and marking the beginning of my Venetian exploration.

These aren't professionally edited masterpieces, just raw, unadulterated glimpses of a personal journey. Think of them as a virtual window seat, offering a unique vantage point on a trip I'll always cherish.

The first clip shows the take off from Manchester Airport.

The following 2 pictures were taken during the flight the first somewhere over the Peak District shortly after take off and the 2nd somewhere over the Alps shortly before landing. Clicking either image should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

The next 2 clips were taken over the Alps and Italy, the weather changed between them even though they were only a few minutes apart.

The Alps.

Northern Italy and very cloudy below, a complete difference to the weather over the Alps.

The final clip shows the plane landing a Venice Marco Polo Airport. The surrounding area was flooded on the day I arrived Venice was suffering some of it's worst flooding in half a century.

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All the pictures video remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Littleborough Station: Gateway to the Pennines and a Slice of Railway History

Nestled on the western fringe of the Pennine hills, Littleborough Railway Station stands as a vital, yet unassuming, gateway. This two-platform halt, serving the charming town of Littleborough in Greater Manchester, resonates with the echoes of a rich railway heritage. Imagine the scene: the rhythmic clatter of train wheels approaching, the crisp Pennine air carrying the faint scent of coal and damp stone, a testament to the station's long service.

Before us lies the Summit Tunnel, a feat of Victorian engineering, plunging deep beneath the rolling hills, connecting Lancashire with Yorkshire. Littleborough, in its role as the last stop before this subterranean passage, holds a unique position in the region's transport network.

The station itself, while modest, caters to the modern traveller. Two staggered platforms, designed with accessibility in mind, offer basic shelters against the unpredictable northern weather. The hum of ticket machines, a constant companion when the station's manned ticket office is closed, fills the brief silences between train arrivals. To the east, the line stretches towards Walsden, while westward, it leads to Smithy Bridge, each stop a chapter in the railway's ongoing story.

Tracing its roots back to July 1839, Littleborough Railway Station was initially the western terminus. Picture the bustling scene of 19th-century passengers, their luggage piled high, embarking and disembarking, the station a hive of activity. For two years, it served as the frontier, until the monumental Summit Tunnel, a testament to Victorian ambition, was finally completed in 1841, forging a continuous rail link across the Pennines.

The station's history is not without its dramatic interludes. In December 1984, a devastating fire engulfed the Summit Tunnel, bringing rail traffic to a standstill. Littleborough once again found itself a terminus, a temporary dead-end, until the tunnel's triumphant reopening in August 1985. The resilience of the railway, and the community it serves, is palpable.

These moments, captured on the 26th of May 2015 with a Polaroid is2132 bridge camera, offer a snapshot of a station that has witnessed the ebb and flow of time. The images, below invite you to visualise the station's quiet strength, its enduring presence in the heart of Littleborough. Each platform, each shelter, each ticket machine tells a story, a story of connection, of history, and of the enduring spirit of rail travel in the Pennines.

Clicking any of the images should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

Thanks for looking, please take a moment to share and follow me on social media, and check out my portfolio on Photo4Me via the link below.

All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.