Manchester South Junction & Altrincham Railway

Long before the Euston and Manchester Electrification Project brought 25 kV a.c. traction to the Manchester, the city was host to electrified railways introduced by the innovative Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, which I hope to ruminate on in the future. Electrification was next introduced on the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway. Manchester London road station (now renamed Manchester Piccadilly) was opened as a terminus in 1842 to serve two main line railways: the Manchester and Birmingham (from the south) and the Sheffield, Ashton-under Lyne and Manchester Railway (from the east, then opened as far as Godley). The need to link-up with other railways around Manchester, particularly the Liverpool and Manchester was recognised and the two companies promoted a line to the west of Manchester London Road on a brick viaduct linking up with the Liverpool and Manchester (known as the South Junction Line), together with a branch to Altrincham. The Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJ&A) originally opened in 1849 using steam traction, extending from new through platforms adjacent to Manchester London Road station, Oxford Road station and Knott Mill and Deansgate station, the line then splitting to serve Altrincham or join the Liverpool and Manchester Railway at Ordsall Lane.

Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Electrification

Following the 1923 Grouping, ownership and operation passed to the MSJ&A Railway Committee representing the L.M.S and L.N.E.R. The L.N.E,R. were keen on electrification; the L.M.S. perhaps less so. After a difficult period, an electric service using 1500 volts d.c. finally started operation in 1931, using standard 3-car electric trains of a design already in use on the L.M.S.


MSJ&A overhead electric unit at Altrincham circa 1930 (Public Domain)

In 1971, following conversion of the line to the British Rail standard of overhead 25 kV a.c. electrification, a modernised service was introduced on the line using Class 304 Electric Multiple Units. This class, introduced in 1960, was built in three batches as 4-car sets and were widely used. Maximum speed was 75 m.p.h. and I enjoyed some spirited runs travelling on this class, particularly after 1984 when refurbishment of the class reduced them to 3-car sets.


3-car Class 304 near Sale (Photo: Wikimedia Creative Commons)

This electric service continued until the end of 1991 when the line was closed to allow Manchester Metrolink to take over much of the line. Many of the existing overhead supports were retained as part of a new 750 volts d.c. scheme using modern trams. Towards Manchester, significant re-routing was made and the Metrolink trams now use part of the abandoned C.L.C. route, including the listed 'Birdcage' viaduct as far as the site of Manchester Central (whose arched train shed remains, converted into the G-MEX exhibition centre, forming part of the Manchester Central Convention Complex) before descending to street level through the centre of the city then passing through the Undercroft of Piccadilly Station. Piccadilly was the original terminus of Metrolink but the success of the project has led to a number of new extensions.


Manchester Metrolink: Deansgate-Castlefield with a 'double' unit arriving from St. Peter's Square direction.

Related posts on other websites

Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway (Wikipedia).
British Rail Class 505 (Wikipedia).
British Rail Class 304 (Wikipedia).
The Manchester South Junction & Altrincham (BR Class 505) Stock (LNER Encyclopedia).
Metrolink Altrincham Line (Wikipedia).

Usual disclaimer: the above links worked when this post was published but may cease to work in the future if the site owner makes changes.

Related posts on this website

To Altrincham via the former C.L.C.
Manchester by Rail
The Cheshire Lines Committee Routes Today

Book References

[1] ‘British Electric Trains’ by H. W. A. Linecar (Ian Allan) 2nd edition 1949.
[2] ‘DC Electric Trains and Locomotives in the British Isles’ by R. L. Vickers (David & Charles) ISBN 0-7153-8674-3.

My Pictures

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Manchester Metrolink.
Manchester Area Rail.
Altrincham Station