Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2011 18:54:45 GMT
Paid a quick visit to Cresswell/Cheadle today to try and find what's left of the branch line in respect to the recent interest shown by MCR in re-opening the line.
It is impossible in places to see where the line once ran at the start and end locations. At Cresswell, there is very little evidence of there ever being a junction there and no old track could be seen at both ends. I didn't investigate 'in-between' as for a start, just after the invisible track left the main line you are confronted with a gate and past this is residents' back gardens by the look of it.
Similarly at the Cheadle end, 'Station Road' is a bit of a misnomer now as it is a brand new housing estate road with no indications at all of it ever having been a road to a station. I went further down towards Cresswell to accesss the old trackbed (trackbed?? what trackbed?) from the Industrial Estate, where the line curves sharply on an embankment. It is all terribly overgrown and muddy and again no sign of any old track at all. Wading back towards where the station used to be is just a muddy path with an imposing 'PRIVATE KEEP OUT' metal gate at the end of it where new houses have been built across the old track.
I never actually saw the line when it was in use so it was especially hard for me to locate it now it is so obscured with new developments.
As for reopening? Oh dear, No chance I'm afraid in my opinion.
Not without repossession of private land, relaying of new track, knocking a few newly-built houses down :-) and a hell of a lot of faith!
Some pics;--
At Cresswell, where the Cheadle branch would leave the main Derby-Crewe line.
A closer look at the branching point.
About 20 yards into the branch;
Oops! No way ahead sorry.
Looks like someone would not like a railway back here!
Approaching Cheadle station or where it must have been at one time
A closer look.
Sorry, once again, no entry.
Turning round and showing the approach embankment from Cresswell.
It is impossible in places to see where the line once ran at the start and end locations. At Cresswell, there is very little evidence of there ever being a junction there and no old track could be seen at both ends. I didn't investigate 'in-between' as for a start, just after the invisible track left the main line you are confronted with a gate and past this is residents' back gardens by the look of it.
Similarly at the Cheadle end, 'Station Road' is a bit of a misnomer now as it is a brand new housing estate road with no indications at all of it ever having been a road to a station. I went further down towards Cresswell to accesss the old trackbed (trackbed?? what trackbed?) from the Industrial Estate, where the line curves sharply on an embankment. It is all terribly overgrown and muddy and again no sign of any old track at all. Wading back towards where the station used to be is just a muddy path with an imposing 'PRIVATE KEEP OUT' metal gate at the end of it where new houses have been built across the old track.
I never actually saw the line when it was in use so it was especially hard for me to locate it now it is so obscured with new developments.
As for reopening? Oh dear, No chance I'm afraid in my opinion.
Not without repossession of private land, relaying of new track, knocking a few newly-built houses down :-) and a hell of a lot of faith!
Some pics;--
At Cresswell, where the Cheadle branch would leave the main Derby-Crewe line.
A closer look at the branching point.
About 20 yards into the branch;
Oops! No way ahead sorry.
Looks like someone would not like a railway back here!
Approaching Cheadle station or where it must have been at one time
A closer look.
Sorry, once again, no entry.
Turning round and showing the approach embankment from Cresswell.
