Visited with Bungle.
Fairly recently (October 2009) the line known as the Oldham Loop closed to rail traffic, transport chiefs have had the line earmarked for conversion to 'light rail' traffic since 1984, to those familiar with Manchester, that translates as Metrolink. A tram system. After a referendum on congestion charging that was ultimately intended to fund or release government funding for the Metrolink extension resulted in a resounding no the plans ground to a halt.
However, the Metrolink's 'Big Bang', that was to see it extend from the city centre as far as Rochdale and Ashton-under-Lyne was quickly rejigged into a 'little bang' and will see the tram lines run as far as Oldham and Droylsden. For now. Eventually the funding will be in place to complete the plans and extension in full.
My interest in visiting were the two tunnels between the two stations mentioned in the title, Werneth tunnel measures 471yards and Central is 449yards long. the 2 are separated by a short cutting.
Part of the Metrolink plans require the trackbed to be lowered by around four feet to accommodate the power gantries. So for the minute most of the track is still in place although much of the rail infrastructure such as signal posts, cabling ducts etc..has already been removed. The signal box whilst still there in spirit has been stripped, the bottom part of the lever frame was still extant, although it was an electric box.
Pics.
M
Fairly recently (October 2009) the line known as the Oldham Loop closed to rail traffic, transport chiefs have had the line earmarked for conversion to 'light rail' traffic since 1984, to those familiar with Manchester, that translates as Metrolink. A tram system. After a referendum on congestion charging that was ultimately intended to fund or release government funding for the Metrolink extension resulted in a resounding no the plans ground to a halt.
However, the Metrolink's 'Big Bang', that was to see it extend from the city centre as far as Rochdale and Ashton-under-Lyne was quickly rejigged into a 'little bang' and will see the tram lines run as far as Oldham and Droylsden. For now. Eventually the funding will be in place to complete the plans and extension in full.
My interest in visiting were the two tunnels between the two stations mentioned in the title, Werneth tunnel measures 471yards and Central is 449yards long. the 2 are separated by a short cutting.
Part of the Metrolink plans require the trackbed to be lowered by around four feet to accommodate the power gantries. So for the minute most of the track is still in place although much of the rail infrastructure such as signal posts, cabling ducts etc..has already been removed. The signal box whilst still there in spirit has been stripped, the bottom part of the lever frame was still extant, although it was an electric box.
Pics.
M
