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Notes: The Tyldesley Loopline was opened by the London &v
North West Railway Company on 1st September 1864, to provide
a link between Eccles (located on the famous 1830 Stephenson
line between Manchester and Liverpool), and Wigan (located
on the main West Coast line which ran from London to Glasgow).
In 1870 an additional branch line (the Roe Green Loopline)
was opened to Bolton, via Walkden Low Level. The station was
initially opened at Walkden with Low Level being added 2.6.1924.
A key function of the lines was to support the surrounding
collieries in conjunction with the Bridgewater canal, the
largest of which was at Mosley Common, one of the biggest
pits in the UK at its prime.
The Tyldesley Loopline extended from Eccles, through Monton
and Worsley to Roe Green, where it turned westwards through
Ellenbrook. At Roe Green, the Roe Green Loopline diverted
northwards through Walkden to Bolton.
Roe Green itself was the scene of a major rail crash in on
11th February 1926, when several wagons and a brake van broke
loose from an engine at Little Hulton, thence proceeded down
the gradient through Walkden into the vicinity of Roe Green.
Here, an emergency plan was hastily put into operation and
the carriages were diverted into a small siding adjacent to
Beesley Bridge. They smacked into the bridge, breaking up
in the process and depositing their contents far and wide,
before bursting into flames. The contents of one wagon being
boxes of Daddies Sauce, and the other crates of Wellington
boots.
The lines were managed by several companies before their
closure in the late 1960s. The Tyldesley Loopline was finally
closed under the 'Beeching Axe' on 5th May 1969, when under
the control of British Rail. The Roe Green branch line closed
in October 1969.
Since the 1980's parts of the line has been progressively
reclaimed and now forms an integral part of the Salford network
of recreation
pathways. More recently, the Greater Manchester Passenger
Transport Authority has promoted the concept of reclaiming
some 7km of the old line as a bus corridor.
See also Worsley
& Monton Green Station
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