In the mid nineteenth century, there were many proposals to construct new railways. Some of these were overly ambitious and never saw the light of day, others were superceded by revised schemes. In this article we will look at some of those planned railways as announced in the regional newspapers.
Dukinfield Station
In November 1845, The Sheffield, Ashton-Under-Lyne and Manchester Railway was seeking Parliamentary powers to construct a railway from Dukinfield to Bradshaw Edge, Whaley Bridge or at some intermediate point. A branch from New Mills to Hayfield was also proposed.
In December 1846, special trains from Manchester and Sheffield carried directors and shareholders of the Sheffield and Manchester Railway to the Dog Lane Station at Dukinfield. The occasion was the ceremony of cutting the first sod of the new Whaley Bridge branch. Having arrived at Dukinfield, the guests had to walk about a mile along the tracks to Flowery Field where the event was to take place. A polished steel spade was provided and carried various inscriptions including the arms of the company and the names of the directors. The shaft was adorned with a profile of the Queen. The spade was presented by the Chairman, Mr John Chapman, to F.D.Astley Esq who then cut a large sod which he then wheeled away. Returning he called for three times three cheers for the Whaley Bridge Branch. After each of the directors had cut a sod, it was the turn of the navvies who had soon made a pretty large opening. The company then returned by train to Manchester where they were entertained to dinner at the Albion Hotel.
In August 1847 it was reported that 80,000 cubic yards of earthworks had been raised, five bridges had been built and four others in hand. The foundations for the viaduct at Marple were about to be commenced. Much of the route from Dukinfiedl to Hyde was ready for ballasting. Possession of the land between Marple and Whaley Bridge had not yet been obtained but the whole of the line had been staked out.
The company had spent some £85,000 on the line and it had been completed as far as Hyde. When the company wanted rails for use elsewhere, they found the price to be too high and did not think it expedient to buy them at that time. They therefore lifted them from the Whaley Bridge branch.
In February 1849, the company announced that works on the Whaley Bridge branch had been entirely suspended.
In 1854, at a meeting of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Company, it was stated that the North Western Company was supporting the proposed line from Stockport to Disley and Whaley Bridge and this was considered an unfriendly gesture. The company already had parliamentary powers to build their own line from Newton near Hyde, to Whaley Bridge and had already purchased land for the purpose. it was now proposed to seek powers to complete the railway in opposition to that now proposed. They also considered it advantageous to build a line from Woodley to Stockport and branches to Hayfield and Bugsworth.
The railways linking Hyde, Marple, New Mills and Hayfield were of course subsequently completed. There is still visible evidence, near to the site of Gow Hole sidings, of the earthworks including a bridge, which would have taken the line towards Whaley. Construction of the Midland line throught the valley took over much of those workings. The dotted red line on this map shows the proposed alignment.
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Another proposal in November 1845 sought to link Sheffield with Macclesfield. The line was to commence close to the Sheffield Station of the Sheffield, Ashton-under-lyne and Manchester Railway and terminate in or near the town of Macclesfield either at it's own station or by forming a junction with the Manchester and Birmingham Railway.
The precise route was not given in the newspaper report although it appeared to pass through the Hope Valley and Whaley Bridge.
Application was about to be made to Parliament for the necessary powers.
