MEMORIES OF GROWING
UP IN HYDE 1945 -1950 (3)
Just before the
railway bridge over Brookfield
Lane, there was, at that time, a narrow cinder
path running parallel with the embankment that led to Godley Station. In those
early post war years, this was a busy junction with a complete set of “Midland Region” buildings. The main line, formerly
The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, provided passengers with a stopping
suburban service from Manchester to Hadfield and Glossop and an express service
form Manchester to Sheffield, Parkeston Quay and London Marylebone along the
old Great Central line to the Capital.
But to catch these express
trains you had to go to Guide
Bridge!
The other line was
the old Cheshire Lines Committee and a purely
goods line, mainly for coal trains from the Yorkshire
coalfield to Fiddlers Ferry Power station. Occasional excursion trains
might stop at Godley for signal checks. There was no passenger service.
Godley had marshalling yards, a turntable and two signal boxes.
Godley Junction was
a good train spotting place. Express passenger trains headed by Thompson
B1 4-6-0 engines called “Springbok” or “Gazelle” or
named after directors of the old pre nationalised LNER railway, would thunder
through Godley, all the buildings shaking as they did so. Once a day at
about 8.55p.m. there would an express “fish” from Grimsby, leaving its powerful aroma as it
sped through. The twice hourly suburban trains to Glossop were hauled
mainly by C14 Gorton Tank Engines and very sprightly they were too! Many
nights, coming home from school, I would wait for 5.18 “Godley Flyer”
from Manchester London Road,
an antiquated formation of two coaches, an engine and a lead coach from which
the driver operated the train. I would use this train because it
was very fast with its first stop at Godley some 20 minutes
after leaving the city. Many hours were spent taking engine numbers, especially
the Robinson Gorton “O4” 2-8-0 goods engines that ferried coal and
empties to and from Manchester and the Yorkshire coalfield. The express trains were mainly
composed of what are now known as “Gresley Teak” coaches and very
fine they looked as we wistfully imagined travelling on them. Some had
restaurant cars, especially the London
trains.
When I was not
playing at The Oaklands, I was on that station. I came to know the
stationmaster very well as he was a Lay Reader at Godley Church
where I was a choirboy. Reginald Walter Bellaers was a tall man and
looked very fine in his gold braided uniform which he wore from time to time.
He had come from a post at Northenden and was the last of the old
railwaymen. In his retirement he was ordained and became Perpetual Curate
of St Mary Broadbottom. I visited him until his death – a lovely
man in every way.
In the early ‘50’s,
the rot set in. All the station buildings were demolished and a hideous
and uncomfortable bus shelter replaced the waiting rooms. A temporary
prefabricated office outside the curtilage of the station was all that was
left. We could see that the Cheshire
Lines business was on the wane. The main line was axed beyond Hadfield
but there were to be some benefits. A smart electric 30
minute train service replaced the old steamers and eventually a new station was
built adjoining Godley Arches at the A57 trunk road. The old Godley
Junction station was never very busy as it was too far for people to walk up
that long drag from the main road. In the early 50’s we would
be seen carrying heavy cases en route for Bournemouth every August because Gran
had a privilege ticket and travelled free!! Grandad was a railwayman and
this perhaps explains a lot about me because from childhood, railways have
fascinated me.
Going back to that friendly
engine crew of my second article - the driver would prime his boiler when
we were messing about and we were covered in soot and water: the smoke and
steam and paraffin oil was a pure delight – until we got home and mother
had other ideas!!!
Thanks to Joe for the photos and of course Roger for the great account !
