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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A set of British Postcards, Blackpool, Chorley and Compstall.

 I have recently been going through some of my postcard collection with the intention of selling a few off, and whilst in the process of sorting and listing I thought it might be of interest to feature some of the postcards on here. Todays selection is 2 from Lancashire and 1 from Cheshire, all counties in the north of England.

Blackpool.

The card although unwritten and undated was probably from the 1950's and was published by Sandman Brothers of Blackpool. The images features are of Blackpool Tower, a gondola, Starlight Parade and Gynn Gardens.

Chorley.

The Chorley Postcard was posted in 1986 and is a typical example of a 1980's quite boring postcard. The card features images of St Marys Church and Chorley Town Hall.

Compstall.

Compstall is a suburb of Stockport in Cheshire and although it has been written on, it appears to have never been posted. The images are names as the Watermeetings, and the Aquaduct and Viaduct.

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Reddish South: A Glimpse into One of Britain's Quietest Railway Stations

Nestled in the community of Reddish, Stockport, lies Reddish South Railway Station, a stop often found among the UK's least used. With just two scheduled stops per week, both on a Saturday morning in each direction, this unassuming station holds a fascinating history of rise, decline, and a community's fight for its future.

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From Bustling Hub to Quiet Corner

Reddish South opened its doors in October 1845, when the Manchester & Birmingham Railway completed the line between Stockport and Guide Bridge. Barely a year later, it became part of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) following a significant merger.

In its early years, Reddish South was a bustling hub, boasting two island platforms, a signal box, an engine shed, and a large goods yard. However, its fortunes began to shift in May 1899 when train routes were redirected, significantly reducing passing rail traffic.

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Surviving the Axe, But Not the Neglect

The decline continued, and by the 1960s, British Rail underwent massive downsizing as part of the infamous Beeching cuts. Despite many stations and lines facing closure, Reddish South, along with the Stockport-Stalybridge line, remarkably survived. Yet, survival didn't equate to investment. The station suffered from neglect: the line was reduced to single track, one of the island platforms was filled in, station buildings and the engine shed were demolished, and eventually, the sidings and surrounding land were sold off for redevelopment.

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A Request Stop and a Community's Campaign

By the 1980s, Reddish South had become a mere request stop. This was further reduced to a "parliamentary service" – a solitary train once a week, at 9:22 am on a Friday, travelling from Stockport to Stalybridge.

In 2007, proposals emerged to close Reddish South and Denton station to its north, while keeping the line open. This sparked a local campaign for more services and much-needed investment. A dedicated local group has since worked to brighten up the station, adding a vibrant mural, a flower bed, and a welcoming picket fence.

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The Present Day: Potential Waiting to Be Tapped

Today, Reddish South continues to grapple with a lack of investment and facilities, offering only those two Saturday morning stops. The nearby landscape, however, hints at its potential. Numerous residential buildings border the station, and a large Morrisons store sits just behind the mural – all representing potential passengers.

In 2019/20, a mere 158 passengers used the station, averaging just three per week. This stands in stark contrast to Reddish North Railway Station, located a mere mile away, which served a staggering 242,000 passengers in the same period – over 1,531 times the usage of Reddish South.

The future of Reddish South remains a testament to the dedication of its community, hoping to transform this quiet stop into a thriving part of the local transport network once more.

(Pictures taken on 15th December 2020 using a Nikon d3300 SLR.)

The stations only entrance, the infilled section to the right was once trackbed making the station multi platform, it is now served by 1.

Despite low usage, a lack of investment, and 1 train a week stopping the stations limited facilities are looked after by Friends of Reddish South.

To the stations northern end, past a limited size fence is the disused section of the platform. The construction site to the right used to be the stations goods yard.

The fence represents the end of the used part of the station.

The used part of the station, showing the lack of facilities and shelters.

Freightliner 66610 passing through the station, the line is mainly used by freight trains.

The station viewed from the bridge, the former goods yard having houses constructed on it.

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

Please take a moment to share this post, follow me on social media, and explore my work on Clickasnap and Photo4Me using the links below. Your support means a lot!

All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.