Disused Stations: Oldham Mumps Station Date of visit: 26.9.2009, 1.10.2009 & 27.4.2010 Notes: Oldham Mumps opened on 1st November 1847 as a terminus station on the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railways Middleton to Oldham branch. The branch had originally been opened as far as Oldham Werneth by the Manchester & Leeds Railway (M&LR) on 31st March 1842 to connect Oldham to the M&LRs Manchester to Leeds main line at Middleton. The Manchester to Leeds line had opened throughout on 1st March 1841. Oldham Werneth was on the edge of the town, and so the M&LR obtained an Act to extend the line a mile further on the 30th June 1845. A contract was let to George Thompson in October 1845, and work began straight away. On 8th July 1847 the M&LR changed its name to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (LYR).

By 1850 Oldham Mumps was served by ten trains per day. These connected Oldham to Manchester Victoria, but many trains in the Manchester direction terminated at Middleton where passengers could catch onward connections to Manchester. On 12th August 1863 a further extension of the Middleton to Oldham line opened to goods services. This six-mile extension was to Rochdale, which was on the same Manchester and Leeds line as Middleton, and it effectively created a loop from Middleton to Rochdale via Oldham. On 2nd November passenger services were introduced on the new line to Rochdale. By this time Oldham Mumps, now a through station, was being served by twenty-four trains in each direction running between Rochdale and Manchester Victoria. Again some of the services started or finished at Middleton. In March 1864 the Royton branch opened from the Rochdale line, diverging at a point a few miles to the north of Mumps station. From 21st March 1864 passenger services began between Oldham Mumps and Royton. The line from Middleton to Oldham Werneth had a very steep incline (the Werneth Incline) of 1 in 27.

Until 1854 the incline had been cable-worked. Various proposals had been put forward to create a direct line from Werneth to Manchester that avoided the incline, but it was not until the LYR obtained an Act in 1873 that anything was done. The 1873 Act authorised the LYR to build a line from Thorpes Bridge Junction - which was on the Manchester to Leeds line, but closer to Manchester - to Oldham Werneth. A contract was let on 30th June 1875, and on 17th May 1880 the new line opened. In 1884 the LYR decided to rebuild Oldham Mumps station, probably because the original facilities were no longer large enough. They awarded a contract to Thomas Wrigley for £19,517 to build a new station, and at the same time to widen the line. The new facilities were ready by March 1887, with a single-storey entrance building on the west side of the line. It was constructed from yellow brick and had a canopy over its frontage.

From the entrance building a subway connected through to a large island platform on which stood other single-storey buildings containing passenger and staff facilities. A large canopy provided protection from inclement weather. At each end of the island platform there was a single-track bay platform. Passengers accessed the station by means of a subway. On the south side of the passenger station there was a large goods station with numerous sidings, three goods sheds, gantry crane, stables, cattle pens etc. The entrance to the goods station was in Hamilton Street. With the opening of the new line a route had been created from Thorpes Bridge to Rochdale, via Werneth, that eventually became known as the ‘Oldham Loop Line’. Trains serving Mumps continued to run between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale, but most of them now travelled via the newly-opened line. There were fifteen in each direction. A few services continued to run via the Middleton line. On 1st January 1922 Oldham Mumps station became part of the London & North Western Railway (LNWR) when that company took over the LYR.

However on the 1st January 1923 the LNWR was in turn absorbed into the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS). In 1925 the LMS carried out improvements at the station which included demolition of a waiting room to allow the Manchester-end bay platform to be extended. Some steps were filled in, and a new waiting room was built. Ticket collectors’ booths were erected at the top of slopes that led to the subway. The work was carried out as the LMS had a plan to electrify the line between Mumps and Manchester which was never realised. By 1938 Oldham Mumps station was still being served by fifteen local trains on the Manchester Rochdale axis. It also had twent- two services, many of them shuttles that ran to and from Royton. On Friday evenings a train to Glasgow and Edinburgh via Rochdale called at the station. On Sundays-only a train that originated at Royton and ran on to Blackpool Central via Manchester Victoria served Mumps, as did another that started at Milnrow and ran to Southport via Manchester Victoria.

On 1st January 1948 Oldham Mumps became part of the nationalised British Railways (London Midland Region). During the last year of fully steam operated services in 1958 there were eighteen trains in each direction running between Manchester and Rochdale using the Thorpes Bridge route, and three Saturdays-excepted trains called that had originated from Middleton Junction and travelled onward to Rochdale. Interestingly there was only one Saturdays -excepted train that ran from Werneth to Middleton which had originated at Rochdale. By the early 1950s the main entrance building was in a state of disrepair, and the station generally was looking shabby. The local press complained bitterly, and in 1955 British Railways announced that the station would be reconstructed. Design of the new facilities was undertaken by J Taylor Thompson, the Chief Civil Engineer of BR London Midland Region. The work was carried out by Gerrards of Swindon and cost £30,000. The new facilities included a single- storey brick-built entrance structure with large windows to provide plenty of light. The building had a flat roof. The station canopy was repaired and cut back, and electric lighting was installed throughout.

The new facilities were completed on 3rd of August 1957. In June 1958 British Railways introduced Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) onto the Oldham Loop. A Cravens-built type of DMU (later known as class 104) which had twin power cars used the line as they were easily able to cope with the steep gradients. The service pattern at Oldham Mumps was a train every twenty minutes to Manchester, via the Thorpes Bridge line, and northbound trains every twenty minutes. The northbound service destinations alternated with a service to Rochdale (every 40 minutes) and a service to Royton (every 40 minutes). Two Saturdays-excepted trains continued to call on their way to Rochdale from Middleton Junction, but there was no service in the other direction. In total there were twenty-nine trains between Manchester and Rochdale and twenty five between Manchester and Royton: this was the highest-ever frequency of service enjoyed by Oldham Mumps. The Reshaping of British Railways (Beeching Report) of March 1963 recommended the closure of the Royton branch to passengers but made no reference to the Oldham Loop or any of its stations.

Nevertheless, September 1964 saw a decline in services calling at Mumps. The service between Manchester and Rochdale became irregular, with trains calling at Mumps about every 45 minutes in each direction. Trains between Royton and Manchester Victoria were reduced to seven on weekdays in each direction, eight on Saturdays, and there were none on Sundays. From 7th September 1964 no trains operated from Middleton Junction. In 1966 further changes took place, including the closure of the Royton Branch on 18th April (as recommended by Beeching) but also Oldham Central station (which Beeching implied was to be retained) on the same day. The service pattern was altered so that trains ran between Manchester Victoria and Oldham Mumps, with fewer continuing onward to Rochdale. By 1968 the Mumps service had settled into a thirty minute frequency in each direction. Alternate northbound trains continued beyond Oldham Mumps to Rochdale giving only an hourly frequency to that town (although services were also provided to and from Manchester Victoria via Castleton).

It escaped the attention of the Beeching Report, however the British Railways Network for Development map of March 1967, published when Stanley Raymond was Chairman of the British Railways Board and Barbara Castle the Secretary of State for Transport, showed that Oldham Mumps to Rochdale would not form part of the ‘basic railway network’. Subsequently a footnote in the May 1972 passenger timetable advised that the Secretary of State had given consent to the withdrawal of passenger services between Oldham Mumps and Rochdale. However, by this date, the South East Lancashire North East Cheshire (SELNEC) Passenger Transport Executive (Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive – GMPTE - from April 1974) had stepped in and agreed to fund the continuation of the service. From the introduction of the May 1979 timetable trains that ran only as far as Oldham Mumps were extended to run to Shaw & Crompton. The thirty-minute interval service at Oldham Mumps was retained.

In the May 1989 timetable a half-hourly service to Rochdale was introduced, with extra services at peak hours running to Shaw & Crompton By the mid-1980s the bay platforms had been taken out of use, and the remaining sidings were removed. Unlike other stations on the line Oldham Mumps kept its buildings and its canopies and retained its staff. In the 1990s the main entrance building was demolished, and the station’s facilities were concentrated on the island platform. In May 1995 the last alteration was made to the train services that called at Oldham Mumps. From this date Mumps was served by a half-hourly train in each direction between Manchester Victoria and Shaw & Crompton, and a half-hour frequency service between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale which ran as an express service between Mumps and Victoria. In the mid-1990s the GMPTE had been looking at extending its 1992-opened Metrolink tram system. One idea that had been considered as early as 1984 was to use the Oldham Loop as a means of extending tram services to Oldham and Rochdale.

By the beginning of the 21st century plans had been drawn up, and a few years later funding was in place to carry out the required works. To enable these works to go ahead the Oldham Loop had to close. Oldham Mumps station, along with all of the others on the line, closed on Saturday 3rd October 2009. For the first time since 1842 Oldham no longer had a railway, and Oldham probably achieved the distinction of being the largest town in Britain without a train service. A number of special services, including steam hauled trains ran on the last day to celebrate the line and its history. Many local people turned out to watch the last trains run. The last train to depart from Oldham Mumps station was the 23:25 Manchester Victoria to Rochdale service. Demolition began almost immediately, and by May 2010 there was nothing left of the station except the signal box which was demolished on 28th July 1010. On the 13th of June 2012 the Metrolink tram line opened to a point just to the west of Oldham Mumps station.

A temporary tram stop opened also to the west of the former station to provide a terminus for the line until a new tram/bus interchange facility was completed. Tickets from Michael Stewart , Route map drawn by Alan Young Other web sites: Lost lines , a selection of pictures of the Oldham Loop line taken on 30th September 2009, shortly before closure. Class 25s and Much More web site has a feature called Farewell to the Oldham Loop with 51 pictures taken in August 2009. Sam Dixon's UK National Rail, Heritage Rail & Former Rail web site with 124 pictures of the Oldham loop line take two days before closure. Tom Fenton's web site also has a feature Farewell to the Oldham Loop with 27 pictures taken in August 2009. Alan Perryman's Thistle 5 web site includes 93 pictures from the last day of the Oldham Loop. Oldham Mumps Railway Station Privacy Oldham Mumps Railway Station Oldham Mumps railway station opened on 1 November 1847 to serve the town of Oldham .

The station was a primary station located on the Oldham Loop Line 7 + 1⁄2 mi (12 km) north east of Manchester Victoria operated and managed by Northern Rail. The name of the station is taken from its situation within the Mumps area of Oldham, which itself probably derived from the archaic word "mumper", slang for a beggar. The station was reached across the dual-carriageway Oldham bypass, a difficult walk from the town centre . A pedestrian underpass led to the island platform, where there was a ticket office. The station closed due to the conversion of the line to Metrolink on 3 October 2009 and, by May 2010, had been completely demolished. The station canopy has been saved. It was bought by the East Lancashire Railway after a successful public fund-raising campaign. It is hoped that the canopy will be installed at Bury Bolton Street.

In June 2010, the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) announced that as part of the conversion of the former Oldham loop, it would submit a planning application for a temporary Metrolink terminus at Oldham Mumps , close to the site of the former railway station . Services to the temporary terminus commenced on Wednesday 13 June 2012 The temporary Metrolink stop is reached by crossing Oldham Way or can be accessed by the free Metroshuttle service, which links the stop with the town centre and bus station . A permanent stop will be provided by 2014 on the site of the former B&Q store. It will be a tram/bus interchange and is part of the future Metrolink extension through Oldham town centre. Read more about Oldham Mumps Railway Station: Tram Services , Gallery Other articles related to " mumps , oldham mumps railway station, station, oldham mumps": Oldham Mumps Oldham Mumps Car Park​ Metrolink car park Metrolink Park and Ride facilities are only available to Metrolink customers during the hours of service. Overnight parking is not permitted.

Total Car Parking Spaces Blue Badge Car Parking Spaces 0 Oldham travel guide - Wikitravel By plane[ edit ] Manchester International Airport ( IATA : MAN) ( ICAO : EGCC). [1] in South Manchester is the nearest airport to Oldham. Nearly 100 operators fly to and from hundreds of locations worldwide, including most major cities in Europe. Direct trains run from the airport station to Manchester Piccadilly run throughout the day while travelling by car is only 30-45 minutes away via the M60 and M56 motorways. By tram[ edit ] Manchester Metrolink operate services from Oldham Mumps Interchange, towards Rochdale up the old railway line and the line runs through the town centre down union street towards Manchester. By bus[ edit ] Oldham is a 25 minute bus journey from Manchester on First Manchester services 180 and 184. Some journeys on the 184 route cross the Pennines to Huddersfield - this journey takes approximately one hour. By car[ edit ] Oldham is located close to two motorways, with the town centre 15 minutes away from both the M60 and M62 motorways.

Oldham can be accessed via J22 (A62 Hollinwood) and J21 (A663 Broadway) of the M60 and J20 (A627(M)) of the M62 motorway. The M60 and M62 provides Oldham with links to several other towns and cities within a short drive of the town, including Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Liverpool, Rochdale, Stockport, The Trafford Centre and Warrington. Manchester is a 25 minute drive from Oldham town centre with the two places linked by the A62, which continues on to Huddersfield and Leeds. Places that are within 2 hours of Oldham include Blackpool, the Lake District, the North Wales coast, the Peak District and the Pennines. By coach[ edit ] National Express [2] is the major coach operator running several services to places across the country. Coaches depart from the main bus station, located at Cheapside. Get around[ edit ] Transport in Greater Manchester is overseen and co-ordinated by the GMPTE (Information: 0870 608 2 608) [3] .

GMPTE sells a number of tickets which are valid for multiple operators, such as the any bus day ticket or the Wayfarer. If you are planning to do a lot of travelling in one day, these might be your cheapest option. Information can be also obtained from the GMPTE Travelshop located next to the Civic Centre at Oldham bus station. By bus[ edit ] The main bus operator in Oldham is First Manchester who's headquaters are based at Walshaw street near Oldham Mumps. There is the 83 service which provides 10 minute frequency between Sholver in Oldham and Manchester Picadilly Oldham street terminus (10 minute frequency Monday to Saturday daytime until approx 6pm then service reduced gradually to every 30 minutes until the last bus at just after 11pm, 30 minute frequency all day Sunday).

Also there is the 180/184 service which provide 10 minute frequency between Oldham bus station and Manchester, the 180 runs every 30 mins between Greenfield and Manchester, and the 184 runs every 30 mins from Uppermill, with an extra bus terminating in Grotton and finally the 184 to Huddersfield every hour monday to Saturday daytime and every 2 hours on Sunday daytime There are several buses serving all areas of Oldham. They include the following (Service destinations in brackets): Chadderton - 58 (Middleton-Rochdale) and 59 (Rushcroft-Middleton/Manchester) Delph - Bus 350 (Ashton-under-Lyne) See[ edit ][ add listing ] Oldham Coliseum theatre has a full programme of repertory theatre and an annual pantomime. The theatre enjoys an enviable reputation for ambitious productions and excellent performances with appearances from many famous actors. The Coliseum is located within a short walking distance from the shops in Oldham town centre down Yorkshire Street. Oldham Museum is situated in a former 'Friends Meeting House,' on Greaves Street.

The Museum has a programme of changing exhibitions as well as a permanent display, "Going up Town" where visitors can step back in time to the days when the town was dominated by the cotton industry. The museum is a 5 minute walk from the town centre, with plently of bus services heading into Oldham town centre stopping nearby on Union Street. Tandle Hill Park is a mixture of magnificent beech woodland and open grassland with a wide panorama of the surrounding countryside. There are several walks around the park and links to Crompton Moor. The 409 service provide frequent links from Oldham via Royton with the park a short walk from the main road, the A671 Rochdale Road. Alexandra Park is located to the south of Oldham town centre. It is a vital link between town and countryside for both people and wildlife. The visitor centre contains displays and information on the history of the park as well as countryside events. These are held both in the park and in other areas. The centre is open by prior arrangement. Please contact if you would like to visit. The 408 is the closest bus service to the park running hourly from the bus station.

The 425 service runs close to both the north and south sides of the park. Services heading from Oldham towards Holts Estate will serve the north side of the park, while services towards Fitton Hill serves the south side. Daisy Nook Country Park is a beautiful area offering people of all ages the chance to enjoy a peaceful walk looking at wildlife amidst varied countryside. The park includes beautiful woodland areas, a lake, a canal and flower filled meadows with bridleways and footpaths, which link to other countryside areas. At the John Howarth Countryside centre there are activities for children and a souvenir shop. There is also a cafe and toilets with access for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The 409 provide frequent links from Oldham travelling towards Ashton-under-Lyne. Saddleworth Museum and Art Gallery is housed in a former textile mill in the village of Uppermill, which is now part of the Oldham Metropolitian Borough but was part of the West Ridings of Yorkshire. Exhibitions feature local archaeology, handicrafts and customs, from the Romans the present day. There are preserved looms and other items of textile machinery, from some of the many mills in the area.

The museum gallery features work by contemporary artists and travelling exhibitions. Guided tours are available by prior request. A shop and Tourist Information Centre provide an opportunity to acquire a souvenir of the visit. The Museum can be reached by bus by the 184 from Oldham, the 350 from Ashton (or from Oldham via Delph, which is a longer route than the 184 which runs via Lees) and is a 10 minute walk from Greenfield train station. The museum is currently closed for refurbishment until Spring of 2016 The Huddersfield Narrow Canal runs through the Saddleworth area of Oldham. It re-opened in May 2001 following a £30 million restoration project funded mainly by the Millennium Commission and English Partnerships. It is more than 50 years since the waterway was last open to through navigation. The waterway runs for 20 miles between Ashton-under-Lyne and Huddersfield - passing through the scenic Saddleworth villages of Greenfield, Uppermill and Diggle - before entering the Standedge Tunnel through the Pennines.

The 180 and 184 provide a 10 minute frequeny towards Saddleworth from Oldham with the 184 running near to the canal through Diggle, Marsden and Huddersfield. Hollingworth Lake Country Park and Visitor Centre is a popular location for visitors. It is located outside the Oldham area but is visited by plently of Oldhamers. It was known as the "The Weighvers' Seaport". Now once again visitors can enjoy many outdoor attractions and an excellent Visitor Centre. Spanning 118 acres with the dramatic backdrop of Blackstone Edge, the lake is on of the most popular days out in the area. With boating, nature reserve, trails, events, guided walks, visitor centre, community arts, environmental exhibitions, play and picnic areas. The car is the best way to travel there but parking is limited. The 452 service runs an hourly service from Rochdale via Milnrow. The 452 can be connected with the 409 at Rochdale or the 58 service at Milnrow.

Do[ edit ][ add listing ] The current redevelopment of the old derelict town hall is set to provide a 7 screen cinema along with many restraunts such as Nandos, the completion date is still unknown but hopefully by the end of 2016 will see completion. Oldham Leisure centre provides swimming pool and gym facilities. Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] Oldham has two main shopping centres, Town Square Shopping Centre and The Spindles. The two centres are connected together to form one big shopping centre but were until recently run by separate companies. There are several big name shops based in the two shopping centres. In Town Square shopping centre, there are: River Island Waterstone's Next Other stores are located on High Street, including Gamestation, Home Bargains, Poundland, Primark, Sports Direct and Top Shop. There is a Sainsbury's and a TK Maxx located on Union Street and there is also Tommyfield's market, which located to the north of the town centre, offering an indoor modern market hall and an outdoor market, which is steeped in history, character and tradition.

Tommyfield is Oldham’s best known market and was established over 140 years ago, Tommyfield prides itself on being one of the largest open air markets in the North West. It is also a highpoint among English markets, as it’s literally the highest market in the country, nestling in the centre of Oldham amidst the impressive back drop of the Pennines. For those who find that Oldham doesn't offer everything they need, a short trip to Manchester and The Trafford Centre provide more options. Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] The best fish and chip shop is Levers chippy located outside the Tommyfield Indoor market. Mcdonalds on the high street is great for good old favourites. You can also get really good food at the J D Wetherspoon pub The Squire Knott on yorkshire street. Stay safe[ edit ] Oldham, like many other areas in Greater Manchester, has its rough bits and more rundown areas where crime is higher. Avoid drug dealers and users as there is a gang war in Oldham mostly in Glodwick and St. Mary's and rival drug gangs are carrying out "Hits" and it is best to avoid this as you may get caught up in this.

The main rundown and rough areas are: Glodwick Glodwick is a fairly notorious area of Oldham, paticurly as this is where the race riots where. Although this can be a vibrant community, and a multicultrual area, it is best to avoid Glodwick at all costs as it is known as a "No-Go Area", because there have been incidents where gangs would turn hostile to people they don't like. Fitton Hill Although this area is getting better, there is still quite a lot of crime, Just use your common sense and avoid trouble. Sholver This area is still quite rough but is not as bad as it used to be. 'Holts Estate houses many of the towns finest, you will find most of them in the job centre trying to get benefits. Yorkshire street Oldham town centre at night on Friday and Saturday can be rough as there are a lot of intoxicated people coming out of and standing around nightclubs causing trouble and getting into fights, the main nightclubs are Liquid & Envy, club revolution and Bees Knees The current issue is all the illegal immigrants and Romanians coming over, they beg in the town centre and still claim benefits from the job centre.

Get out[ edit ] Blackpool for Blackpool Pleasure Beach (take tram to Manchester Victoria, change on the Metrolink to Piccadilly or travel from Victoria to Salford Crescent then take train to Blackpool North. Chester (take tram to Manchester Victoria, change on the Metrolink to Piccadilly, then take direct train from Manchester Piccadilly) Huddersfield (Take 184 service to Huddersfield, or 180/184 to Greenfield station and change to local train service or travel to Manchester Piccadilly for frequent train service) The Lake District for a bit of greenery in a National Park to the north. Of international poetic repute and one of the most beautiful parts of England. Oldham and Rochdale Line — Manchester Metrolink — LRTA Metrolink Introduction > Oldham and Rochdale Line: updated 30 June 2016 Manchester to Oldham and Rochdale The 22.5 kilometre former Oldham loop line has been converted to Metrolink, the last trains ran on Saturday 3 October 2009. Rail services continue on the Calder Valley line between Manchester, Rochdale and Leeds.

During the conversion period; both commercial and GMPTE subsidised services bus in the area were modified, normal bus fares applied on all the services. The line has been completely rebuilt, all the stops are new. Former station platforms and buildings have been removed. On 13 June 2012 services to Oldham Mumps started, they were extended to Shaw and Compton on 16 December 2012. Rochdale Railway Station services started on 28 February 2013. Oldham town centre line opened on 27 January 2014. Rochdale town centre line opened on 31 March 2014. See City Centre for a description of Victoria, Piccadilly, Deansgate–Castlefield and the lines between them. Victoria station roof and Metrolink stop upgrade Network Rail have built a new ETFE roof for this part of the station. The Metrolink stop has been rebuilt. There are two double sided platforms with three tracks. At present trams are using the outer faces of both island platforms. This layout will allow future turnback arrangements for the full Metrolink phase 3b including Second City Centre Crossing.

Metrolink lines are shown light green on the diagram. The main line railway is shown blue. Manchester to Oldham Leaving Victoria the line passes under Cheetham Hill Road bridge and joins the former Bury Electric Line Route. It initially rises with the Rochdale main line before falling to reach Collyhurst Tunnel, which curves to pass under the main line, and rises again. At Irk Valley Junction, about 1.8 kilometres from Victoria Station and near the Metrolink depot, this line branches off the Bury line. It runs over the Smedley viaduct and the eastern half of the Cheetham Hill loop line. A connection from the Depot towards Monsall is now in use. Monsall, the first new stop has two side platforms to the west of Jocelyn Street. There are two foot paths from Monsall Street down to the outbound platform; a ramped one from near the junction with Rushwick Avenue, also a stepped one from a point east of the end of Lathbury Road. From Ruislip Avenue steps and a lift give access to the inbound platform. Cycle hoops and lockers are provided at this entrance.

Ramps from platforms and a track level pedestrian crossing have been provided at the east end of the stop. Central Park stop, an impressive structure with a feature canopy, is part of The Gateway a new entrance from Oldham Road to phase one of the business park. It is located to the north the railway line and on the west side of the road. Bus interchange facilities are also included. Stairs and a lift are provided between both side platforms and ground level. Ramps from platforms and a track level pedestrian crossing have been provided at the west end of the stop. Oldham Road, the rail and Metrolink lines are at similar levels. The pedestrian route passes under both lines before rising again, towards Northampton Road. There is a steeper dive and rise for the roadway. In the 320 metres between The Gateway and Thorp Road a new concrete bridge has been built to carry Metrolink. A central load bearing ‘fin’ along the top which supports this bridge; together with the twisting design enables it to pass over the railway and then quickly drop to go through a two track bridge under Thorp Road. Metrolink tracks then run alongside the railway towards Dean Lane.

At Newton Heath and Moston stop, formerly Dean Lane, the Manchester bound track and platform have been rebuilt for Metrolink. The single bi–directional line and platform is similar to Navigation Road on the Altrincham Line. A foot path has been provided, this splits into a long all ramped part and shorter part with some steps. Cycle hoops are provided at the road level. Double track running resumes beyond the stop. Freight trains use the former Oldham bound track for access to the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Depot. Failsworth stop has two new side platforms, both having steps and a lift from street to platform level. A ramp behind each platform gives access to a foot track level crossing at the north end of the stop. Hollinwood stop has a stairway and lift from Hudson Street to each side platform. There are two sets of bollards across this street, fixed on the outbound and removable on the inbound side. Alongside the inbound line and south of Hudson Street; a decked car park opened on 1 September 2012, it provides 195 park-and-ride spaces exclusively for the use of Metrolink passengers. This stop is close to junction 22 on the M60.

Ramps from the platforms to a track level foot crossing have been provided at the north end of the stop. These also connect with the existing shared use pedestrian/cycle path at the south end of the bridge over Hollinwood Avenue and the M60. Cycle lockers and hoops are provided adjacent to this point. South Chadderton is between Drury Lane and Stanley Road. The embankment has been lowered here and the subway removed. A footpath, which passed through the subway, has been diverted slightly to the pedestrian track crossing at the stop. Located close to ground level, on the Manchester side of the former subway, both side platforms have access ramps and steps linking to the pedestrian track crossing and surrounding footpaths. Freehold at Block Lane is a new two side platforms stop. The outbound platform is on the north–west side of the line, west of Block Lane and parallel with Agnes Street. Access is from Robinson Street, cycle hoops and lockers are provided here. A new footbridge over Block Lane on this side of the line and track level foot crossing link the platforms. The inbound platform on the south–east side of the line is east of Block Lane.

Both platforms have stairway and lift access from ground to track level foot crossing/bridge level. A ramp and steps connect this level to each platform. Disabled parking and passenger drop–off is also provided east of Block Lane and north of Ridings Way. Oldham temporary line For phase 3a the railway line through Werneth station site, tunnels and south of Oldham Way was converted to Metrolink. A temporary Mumps island platform was the only stop; located next to the footbridge over Oldham Way and the tracks. It had ramps down to foot track level crossings. Through the old Mumps Station site; the track was lowered to, approximately, the level of Oldham Way. The bridges plus retained embankment stonework and earth fill which carried the rail line over Mumps roundabout were removed. Mumps roundabout and its subways have been replaced by extending Oldham Way (A62) across the site to Bottom o’ th’ Moor. A new signal controlled ‘T’ junction was made with Lees Road. Metrolink Phase 3a crossed this junction under signal control at ground level. This phase 3a route has now closed.

Oldham town centre line This begins at the bridge under Featherstall Road South. Leaving the former railway/phase 3a alignment the route turns northward, passing behind buildings on Featherstall Road South. Westwood Business Park has a new entrance on West Street. The route has a signal controlled crossing of West Street and runs to the west of Greenwood Builders. It turns eastward passing west then north of a covered reservoir, to run parallel with and along the south side of Middleton Road. Westwood stop has 2 side platforms west of Winterbottom Street. There are steps from each platform to track level foot crossings at both ends of the stop. The outbound platform, adjacent to Middleton Road, also has a ramp towards the western track crossing; also the inbound platform has ramps towards both track crossings. The line crosses Winterbottom Street at a signal controlled junction and then turn south running alongside the Oldham Way slip road. It passes under the flyover at surface level, through the section to the north of centre, and has signalled road crossings. At Manchester Street roundabout pedestrian underpasses have been removed and replaced by a surface level footpath with signalled road and Metrolink crossings.

This and two new road traffic lanes for eastbound road traffic from Manchester Street to Oldham Way pass through the centre section under the flyover. From Manchester Street roundabout the line is in a cutting across an elevated area, previously occupied by The Pennine Way Hotel, before passing under John Street. Car park access arrangements have been modified, enabling the route to reach Oldham King Street stop. After crossing King Street trams run along Union Street, sharing with road traffic till the junction with Peter & Hobson Streets. Between that junction and Clegg Street it is tram only with an island platform Oldham Oldham Central stop which has a ramp at both ends. East of Clegg Street there is sharing with road traffic till Prince Street, which has been extended to Oldham Way and is the new link road. Crossing this link road the track curves slightly southward using the former car park and bus stop bays which were just south of Yorkshire Street. Oldham Mumps stop is just east of the link road with side platforms; then east of the platforms there are three saw tooth bus stop bays on each side of the track. The track to the east of the bus stops curves round to the left taking over the route between Bell and Brook Streets.

There is a Park and Ride facility on the land south of the line and north of Oldham Way providing an efficient and convenient tram/bus/car interchange. Oldham to Rochdale Derker stop is south of Yates Street. The inbound platform has a footpath access from Yates Street. The outbound platform has a lift and stairs from Yates Street; cycle stands and lockers are at the upper level. Ramps are provided from both platforms to a foot track level crossing at the south end of the stop. An over 250 space car park has opened. Shaw and Crompton stop is south of Beal Lane. Platforms have ramps from pavement level. A single faced outbound platform is on the west side of the line. The double sided inbound platform is on the east side of the line, its western face for through trams and eastern face for terminating trams. Road traffic and tram signals have been provided for the line to cross Beal Lane. A remodelled car park, north of Beal Lane, provides 44 spaces. There are 5 cycle lockers and 5 ‘Sheffield style’ cycle stands to accommodate 10 bicycles, providing parking for 15 bicycles.

In April 2015, to the south of Beal Lane, an additional 46 car parking spaces opened. This makes a total of 90, 7 of which are Blue Badge Bays. Two motorbike spaces have also been provided. Newhey stop has two side platforms to the south–east of Huddersfield Road. The outbound (Rochdale) platform ramped path has a folded back route, with some steps shortening it. Cycle hoops and lockers are provided at road level of the inbound platform ramped and stepped paths. Milnrow stop has two side platforms. The outbound (Rochdale) platform has a ramped path to Elizabethan Way also a stepped path to the southern end of Harbour Lane North. The inbound platform has a stepped path to the north–western end of the existing path between Harbour Lane North and car park. Both platforms have a ramp down a track foot crossing at the south–eastern/car park end. The inbound platform also has a short stepped path. Cycle hoops and lockers are provided between ramp and car park. Kingsway Business Park stop serves the large scale Business Park development and housing on the other side of the line.

For Newbold the embankment between Kingsway and Milnrow Road has been altered so this stop is near ground level alongside the Morrisons supermarket car park. A new foot path from Kingsway runs alongside the outbound (Rochdale) track; which has foot level crossings to ramps at both ends of an island platform. There is a further short ramp to car park level. The route becomes single track to the south of the eastern Metrolink bridge over Milnrow Road. A new three section flyover has been built within existing railway land. The sections are an earth embankment just to the north of the former loop line track, a new bridge over the main line and a concrete viaduct. After the east and west bridge abutments were built, the steel bridge was installed during a 72 hour possession of the rail line on 1st to 3rd January 2011. From the flyover, the route continues along a former loop line track bed. High Level Road has been closed to road traffic, although there is a footpath along its full length. Just east of the bridge over Richard Street, the tram route crosses from railway to road alignment.

It then becomes double track and turns right into a reserved way on the west side Maclure Road, this extends to Drake Street. Rochdale Railway Station stop is alongside the Health Centre and Church and has an island platform with a ramp the station end. More than 200 park-and-ride spaces, at Hare Street, are available to passengers travelling on Metrolink and heavy rail services from Rochdale. The station subway, which had been closed for 36 years, has been refurbished and reopened on 10 July 2015; shortening the walking distance to both trains and trams. Road junction layouts and one way street modifications have taken place. Northbound general traffic uses the the eastern side of Maclure Road to Drake Street. Southbound general traffic uses Richard Street and Station Road. Rochdale town centre line At the end of Maclure Road, a signal controlled junction allows trams to turn right onto a reserved section on the south side of Drake Street. Along Drake Street from the junction of Drake Street with Milnrow Road to Water Street there is shared on–street running, here general traffic turns into Water Street. Then the outbound track is tram only while the inbound is shared with a bus lane.

There is a short single line section on the outbound track from the end of Fleece Street, over the Butts Bridge, to the town centre stop. Provision of the planned double track here would have required significant structural improvements to or replacement of Wellington Bridge over the River Roch. The route terminates at Rochdale Town Centre stop on the north side of Smith Street, this is an island platform with ramps at both ends and track level pedestrian crossings at the Drake Street end. Rochdale Interchange, on the south side of Smith Street, opened on 17 November 2013. Oldham and Rochdale Line: top of page This page was written and illustrated by Tony Williams. Contact manwebm@lrta.org if you have any comments, ideas or suggestions about these pages. Oldham Transportation - Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips Oldham Transportation "Tatton Park Entry Ticket Including Mansion "Tatton Park Entry Ticket Including Mansion Gardens and Farm""Tatton Parks means many different things to each visitor.

Set in 1000 acres of parkland the former Egerton family home is regarded as one of the most complete historic estates in the UK.WItness life above and below stairs at Tatton's Mansion wander at leisure through our glorious Gardens and take the family to meet our rare breed animals at the Farm. There are regular family events throughout the year (additional charge) such as car shows outdoor theatre and horticultural events. There are several speciality shops to browse and a fun retaurant and Gardener's Cottage tearoom to relax in. Take time to wander through the 1000 acres of parkland which are home to red and fallow deer in addition to seasonal birdlife. Take a picnic London Rock Legends Small Group Tour by Minivan "You'll see the house where Jimi Hendrix lived and died where Freddie Mercury and Queen hung out and Led Zeppelin's London HQ plus many more. The real fun of this tour is hearing inside stories from your informed and knowledgeable rock guide.You will also see sites connected with the Rolling Stones Eric Clapton and Cream Pink Floyd Bob Marley the Clash London Rock Music Tour See the Itinerary for more information about each tour option."""Music lovers!

This is the ideal way to discover London's rock music history. Choose either the morning or afternoon tour or book them both for a comprehensive London Rock Music tour. These small-group tours (maximum 16 people) cover everything from rock 'n' roll landmarks in bohemian Soho to the north London neighborhoods of Camden Town Hampstead Village and Heath Muswell Hill Archway and Islington." Pages - Home How do I plan my trip First check if there is convenient station or stop near you using the map above. If you need more information about times and tickets call Traveline 0871 200 22 33 (Calls cost 12p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge) or use our new-look journey planner for Greater Manchester (opens in a new browser window). Which ticket shall I buy? If you park and ride from a Greater Manchester rail station the most economical ticket is a day return. Rail tickets are cheaper after 9.30am on weekdays and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Tickets are available from staffed stations or ticket machines, otherwise pay on the train.

If you are going to Manchester then your rail ticket allows you to use Metrolink trams free in the city centre. To find out about other rail tickets, including Rail Ranger and Evening Ranger tickets click here . If you park and ride from a Metrolink tram stop the most economical ticket will be a return. Metrolink tickets are cheaper after 9.30am on weekdays and all day on day Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. To find out about other Metrolink tickets, including MetroMax day and family tickets click here . Terms and conditions for Park & Ride permitted car parking hours These terms and conditions are applicable for the following Park & Ride sites: Brooklands, Stretford, Navigation Road, Bury, Crumpsall, Prestwich, Radcliffe, Whitefield, East Didsbury, Ladywell, Hollinwood, Oldham Mumps, Rochdale Rail Station, Derker and Shaw and Crompton stops. These are shown on the map below.

The following extended hours will apply for permitted parking: a) Customers parking a vehicle on a Friday will have to remove it before 12 noon on Saturday; and b) Customers parking a vehicle on a Saturday will have to remove it before 12 noon on Sunday. All customers must remove their vehicles before the end of the tram services on Sunday to Thursday. Customers must note that they are not permitted to park a vehicle continuously for the duration of the weekend. The car parks included will be monitored and parking charge notices issued for vehicles identified as being in breach of the above terms and conditions. All vehicles and property are left in the carparks at their owners risk and no liability will be accepted for damage, loss or theft. Metrolink reserves the right to change or update its Park & Ride terms and conditions at any time. This includes the right to withdraw any or all sites without notice. Customers must note that not all Metrolink Park & Ride sites are included. The sites not included will be subject to the usual terms and conditions which state that Metrolink Park & Ride facilities are only available to Metrolink customers during the hours of service and overnight parking is not permitted.

Customers who have any queries in relation to the terms and conditions for permitted parking can contact TfGM Customer Services telephone line on 0161 205 2000 or email customer.relations@tfgm.com . Disused Stations: Oldham Werneth Station Date of visit: 27th Sept. 2009 & 21st August 2010 Notes: Oldham Werneth was the original terminus of the Manchester & Leeds Railway’s (M&LR) Oldham Branch which opened on 31st March 1842. The branch connected Oldham to the M&LRs Manchester to Leeds main line at Middleton. The Manchester to Leeds line had opened throughout on 1st March 1841. The station was to the west of Oldham’s town centre which, by the 1840s, had already become an important textile manufacturing centre. Werneth did not remain a terminus station for very long as the M&LR obtained an Act to extend the line a mile further into the town on 30th June 1845.

A contract was let to George Thompson in October 1845, and work began straight away. On 8th July 1847 the M&LR changed its name to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (LYR). The extension opened to a new terminus at Oldham Mumps on 1st November 1847, and from that date Oldham Werneth became a through station on a double- track line. The extension had to pass through two tunnels, the first of which was immediately east of Werneth Station. The station was in a cutting. It had a street level building which was accessed via a stone-sett road that led up to the station entrance from Railway Street, which was on the south side of the line; the main entrance faced south onto the approach road. The station building was single-storey, of brick construction. It straddled the two railway lines below below but was supported between the two tracks by columns. Werneth had two platforms that stretched west from the station building. Steps led down to each platform. The station was also provided with an overall roof.

An iron footbridge crossed the line at the west end of the station and served as an alternative access to passengers, as it had a link into Featherstall Road which crossed the line to the west of the station by an over-bridge. Extensive goods facilities were developed on both sides of the station, with sidings, stables and coal offices to the north, and two goods sheds and a 10-ton crane to the south. The yard to the south was in a very confined space, and one of the goods sheds could be reached only by using turntables. By 1850 ten trains per day in each direction served Werneth. The services connected Oldham to Manchester Victoria, but many trains going in the Manchester direction terminated at Middleton where passengers could catch onward connections to Manchester. On 12th August 1863 a further extension of the Middleton to Oldham line opened to goods services. This six-mile extension was to Rochdale, which was on the same Manchester and Leeds line as Middleton, and it effectively created a loop from Middleton to Rochdale via Oldham. On 2nd November passenger services were introduced on the new line to Rochdale.

By this time Oldham Werneth was served by twenty- four trains in each direction running between Rochdale and Manchester Victoria. Again, some of the services started or finished at Middleton. Werneth was also served by one train per day in each direction between Manchester London Road and Oldham Glodwick Road, operated by the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway (MSLR). The line from Middleton to Oldham Werneth had a very steep incline (the Werneth Incline) of 1 in 27. Until 1854 the incline had been cable-worked. Various proposals had been put forward to create a direct line from Werneth to Manchester that avoided the incline, but it was not until the LYR obtained an Act in 1873 that anything was done. The 1873 Act authorised the LYR to build a line from Thorpes Bridge Junction - which was on the Manchester to Leeds line, but closer to Manchester - to Oldham Werneth. A contract was let on 30th June 1875, and on 17th May 1880 the new line opened.

With the opening of the new line a route had been created from Thorpes Bridge to Rochdale, via Werneth that eventually became known as the ‘Oldham Loop Line’. Trains serving Werneth continued to run between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale, but most of them now travelled via the newly-opened line. There were fifteen in each direction. A few services continued to run via the Middleton route. Between 1880 and 1895 the LYR altered Oldham Werneth station. The overall roof was removed and replaced with canopies that covered the full length of each platform. Single-storey brick buildings providing waiting rooms and staff facilities were also constructed on each platform, at the west end of the station. As the junction between the Middleton and Thorpes Bridge lines was just to the west of the station a signal box was provided on the south side of the line just beyond the up (to Manchester) platform. On 1st January 1922 the station became part of the London & North Western Railway (LNWR) when that company took over the LYR. However on 1st January 1923 the LNWR was in turn absorbed by the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS).

By 1938 Werneth was still being served by fifteen local trains. On Friday evenings a train to Glasgow and Edinburgh via Rochdale called at the station. On Sundays-only a train that originated at Royton and ran on to Blackpool Central via Manchester Victoria served Werneth, as did another that started at Milnrow and ran to Southport via Manchester Victoria. On the 1st January 1948 Oldham Werneth became part of the nationalised British Railways (London Midland Region). During the last year of fully steam operated services in 1958 there were eighteen trains in each direction running between Manchester and Rochdale using the Thorpes Bridge route, and three Saturdays-excepted trains called that had originated from Middleton Junction and travelled onward to Rochdale. Interestingly there was only one Saturdays -excepted train that ran from Werneth to Middleton which had originated at Rochdale In June 1958 British Railways introduced Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) onto the Oldham Loop. A Cravens-built type of DMU (later known as class 104) which had twin power cars used the line as they were easily able to cope with the steep gradients.

The service pattern at Oldham Werneth was a train every twenty minutes to Manchester, via the Thorpes Bridge line, and northbound trains every twenty minutes. The northbound service destinations alternated with a service to Rochdale (every 40 minutes) and a service to Royton (every 40 minutes). Two Saturdays-excepted trains continued to call on their way to Rochdale from Middleton Junction, but there was no service in the other direction. In total there were twenty-nine trains between Manchester and Rochdale and twenty five between Manchester and Royton: this was Werneth’s highest-ever frequency of service. The Reshaping of British Railways (Beeching Report) of March 1963 recommended the closure of the Royton branch to passengers but made no reference to the Oldham Loop or any of its stations. Nevertheless, September 1964 saw a decline in services calling at Werneth. the service between Manchester and Rochdale became irregular, with trains calling at Werneth about every 45 minutes in each direction. Trains between Royton and Manchester Victoria were reduced to seven on weekdays in each direction, eight on Saturdays, and there were none on Sundays. No trains operated from Middleton Junction.

In 1966 further changes took place, including the closure of the Royton Branc on 18th April (as recommended by Beeching) but also Oldham Central station (which Beeching implied was to be retained) on the same day; Werneth goods yard on 10th October. The service pattern was altered so that most trains serving Oldham Werneth ran between Manchester Victoria and Oldham Mumps, with fewer continuing onward to Rochdale. By 1968 the Werneth service had settled into a thirty minute frequency in each direction. Alternate northbound trains continued beyond Oldham Mumps to Rochdale giving only an hourly frequency to that town (although services were also provided to and from Manchester Victoria via Castleton). In the 1970s Oldham Werneth station lost all of its buildings which were replaced with simple ‘bus shelters’ on the platforms. The footbridge was also removed and replaced with ramps that led up to Featherstall Road from each platform. It is assumed the station became unstaffed at the same time. It escaped the attention of the Beeching Report.

However the British Railways Network for Development map of March 1967, published when Stanley Raymond was Chairman of the British Railways Board and Barbara Castle the Secretary of State for Transport, showed that Oldham Mumps to Rochdale would not form part of the ‘basic railway network’. Subsequently a footnote in the May 1972 passenger timetable advised that the Secretary of State had given consent to the withdrawal of passenger services between Oldham Mumps and Rochdale. However, by this date, the South East Lancashire North East Cheshire (SELNEC) Passenger Transport Executive (Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive – GMPTE - from April 1974) had stepped in and agreed to fund the continuation of the service. From the introduction of the May 1979 timetable trains that ran only as far as Oldham Mumps were extended to run further north to Shaw & Crompton. The thirty-minute interval service at Oldham Werneth was retained.

In the May 1989 timetable a half-hourly service to Rochdale was introduced, with extra services at peak hours running to Shaw & Crompton From May 1995 Werneth was served by half-hourly Manchester Victoria - Shaw & Crompton trains in each direction; Rochdale trains continued to run at a half-hour frequency, but they passed through without stopping. This was the last alteration to Werneth’s train services. In the mid-1990s the GMPTE had been looking at extending its 1992-opened Metrolink tram system. One idea that had been considered as early as 1984 was to use the Oldham Loop as a means of extending tram services to Oldham and Rochdale. By the beginning of the 21st century plans had been drawn up, and a few years later funding was in place to carry out the required works. To enable these works to go ahead the Oldham Loop had to close. Werneth, along with all other stations on the line, closed on Saturday 3rd October 2009.

A number of special services, including steam-hauled trains, ran on the last day to celebrate the line and its history. Many local people turned out to watch the last trains run. The final train to depart from Werneth was the 23:25 Manchester Victoria to Rochdale service. Wernerth station will not be a part of the final Metrolink scheme at Oldham as trams will run through the streets of the town. As funding for the street scetion of the tramway was not confirmed until 2010 it will not be ready in time for the completion of the rest of the route. As a temporary messure so as not to delay the opening the route of the railway from Wernerth station to Oldham Mumps will be used on a temporary basis from Autumn 2011 through to 2014. Trams however will not stop at the site of Wernerth station. In late August 2010 the platforms and the track at Wernerth were still in place.

Question: Which town in Greater Manchester has a railway station called Mumps?
Answer: OLDHAM