The Staley and Millbrook Goods Yard in the 21st century, (Google Maps).
Since publishing the first three articles about the Micklehurst Loop. I have had a trickle feed of comments, particularly about the Staley and Millbrook Goods Yard. This short addendum to the first article seeks to bring those items together in one place. It is the fourth addendum to that first post. [1][2]
The adjacent satellite image extracted from Google Maps satellite images shows the Goods Yard and notes some of the key features still on the site in the 21st century. For more comments, please see the notes which follow.
I visited the site again on 5th March 2021 and wandered around among the trees for over an hour.
There is an excellent survey of the Staley and Millbrook Goods Yard and the Hartshead Power Station on the website http://www.28dayslater.co.uk. A number of superb photographs have been collated there. [7]
Further Images of BEA No. 2 0-4-0ST ‘BEANO’
Gerv Wright has kindly sent me two further images of BEA No. 2 0-4-0ST at the end of its working life in 1977 being prepared for and being transported off site. ‘Beano’ was its nickname!
BEA No 2, Jan 1977 (c) Gerv Wright. [3]
BEA No 2, Hartshead, Jan 1977 (c) Gerv Wright. Of additional interest in this picture is the backdrop. The view is taken from the Micklehurst end of the site In front of the good shed is the coal conveyor still apparently at its full extent. Also visible, to the left of the picture, is one of the lighting towers which feature later in this post. [3]
Yard Lights – Concrete Lighting Columns
An on-line acquaintance, Ben Hampson, sent me an image of the Goods Yard via a Facebook group, ‘The History of Mossley (Tameside)’. [4] That image is an excellent view across the site of the Goods Yard when it was still in use and shows three concrete lighting towers as well as the fireless loco in operation. At the back of the scene, the coal handling facilities, the conveyor and the goods shed can be seen peeking out of the gloom. Ben sourced that image via Gary Taylor on ‘The Real Mossley’ Facebook group. [10]
The Staley and Millbrook Goods Yard min operational days. Of interest are the lighting columns and the fireless locomotive, the goods shed, the coal handling facilities and the coal-conveyor, copyright unknown, sourced via Ben Hampson and Gary Taylor from ‘The Real Mossley’ Facebook Group. [11]
A visit to site on 6th March allowed me to see the three towers shown on the above image. These next three photographs were taken on 6th March. They show the towers and give an excellent idea of the appearance of the Yard in 2021!
This is tower No. 1 as identified on the satellite image at the start of this post. The small body of water can be made out immediately beyond the tower. (My photograph – 6th March 2021).
Tower No. 2 on the satellite image above. This photograph is taken from the top of the bank to the South east of the old yard and looks down on the Yard. (My photograph – 6th March 2021).
This photograph shows Tower No. 3 which is close to the remains of the engine shed. The photograph is again taken from the bank above the Yard, (My photograph – 6th March 2021).
The Engine Shed
Ben also asked why I had not included anything in previous posts about the Engine Shed which accommodated the two shunters which worked the site. My only excuse is that I walked past it without working out what it was. So, on 6th March a took a bit of time to pick it out and take photographs.
Reddit.com carries a monochrome photograph of the fireless loco exiting the engine shed, which appears to have been sourced from the Transport Library. I am not certain of the copyright position on this image, so was not planning to include it here, however, when I copy and paste the link it automatically embeds in this post. Clicking on the image takes you directly to the source. [6][8]
Hartshead Power Station owned two locomotives for shunting the yard accessed via the Micklehurst Loop, both are mentioned in the text above. I believe that the 0-4-0ST stands on one of the lanes giving access to the engine shed which is off this image to the left, (c) J. Sutherland. [9]
The next few images are pictures taken on 6th March 2021 which show the engine shed as it is is the 21st century.
This first panorama shows the site of the engine shed from the bank above the old Goods Yard close to the lighting tower (no. 3 above), (My photograph – 6th March 2021.
This second panorama shows the site of the engine shed from track-bed level, (My photograph – 6th March 2021).
A closer shot of the Engine Shed from track-bed level. The churned ground in the foreground is typical of much of the Goods Yard site, which appears to have been used recently as an off-road vehicle playground, (My photograph – 6th March 2021).
Demolition of the Chimneys and Cooling Towers at the Power Station.
A short section of the video below (from 15 minutes to 17 minutes into the video) shows the demolition of the Cooling Towers and Chimneys of Hartshead Power Station. [12]
References
- Previous posts relating to the first length of the Micklehurst Loop can be found at: https://rogerfarnworth.com/2021/01/31/the-micklehurst-loop-part-1 https://rogerfarnworth.com/2021/02/05/the-micklehurst-loop-part-1a https://rogerfarnworth.com/2021/02/15/the-micklehurst-loop-part-1b https://rogerfarnworth.com/2021/02/18/the-micklehurst-loop-part-1c-including-hartshead-power-station
- Other articles relating to the further lengths of the Micklehurst Loop can be found at: https://rogerfarnworth.com/2021/02/21/the-micklehurst-loop-part-2 https://rogerfarnworth.com/2021/02/22/the-micklehurst-loop-part-3
- These images were sent by email on 25th February 2021 and are included by kind permission of Gerv Wright.
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/1469097430050445, accessed on 5th March 2021.
- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157847336918314&set=p.10157847336918314&type=3, accessed on 5th March 2021.
- https://www.reddit.com/r/trains/comments/ieer3s/steam_locomotive_coming_out_of_an_engine_shed_at, accessed on 7th March 2021.
- https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/hartshead-power-station-and-the-millbrook-sidings.126098, accessed on 7th March 2021.
- For further information on copyright issues, please see: https://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/12/16/copyright.
- A check on the copyright of these images on the J.W. Sutherland Collection Site (http://sutherland.davenportstation.org.uk) has been undertaken – they are free to use provided the photographer is credited.
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/296935657118919, accessed on 7th March 2021.
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/296935657118919/permalink/2508654999280296, accessed on 7th March 2021.
- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PXDtZgymfa8, accessed on 16th March 2021.
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Roger Farnworth 
Lovely article thanks for sharing. Is there any abandoned rolling stock on the old site
Hi Daniel. I have not seen any on site. Sorry.
Roger fantastic info did you find the old coal hopper !
Sorry, no.
It does seem as though the site is going to be re-developed and there is some site clearance going on. It is possible that what remains could be lost quite soon.
Roger I know where the old coal hopper is I could show you
Hi roger I posted a comment earlier don’t know where it’s gone I know where the old coal hopper is very interesting I Could show you if want
Hello John
Thank you for the offer. Did you mean on site or on a plan?
If on site, are there particular times that work best for you?
Best wishes
Roger
Hi Roger on site any time it wouldn’t take to long it’s near the goods shed torch and boots happy days also phone/camera
Hi John would tomorrow morning (Saturday 13th) be possible for you, anytime between 10.00am and 12 noon?
Yes I could do tomorrow morning you arrange the time I live on regent drive mossley  so where would you like to meet upÂ
Sent from Sky Yahoo Mail for iPhone
Hi John
Would 10.30am at the Goods Warehouse at Millbrook be OK?
Best wishes
Roger
Yes 10.30 sat morning goods warehouse you will need a torch
Thanks John
Walking boots as well? Or would I be best with wellies?
Hi roger the ground I would imagine could be muddy I still wear walking boots looking forward to meeting you
Hi roger spoke to my brother in law sunday, he will dig out the photos of the steps and coal hopper and send them to you ,also sat morning forgot to mention the loco shed had a small turntable outside there is a map I think 1950 Cheshire which shows it
Hi Roger John again the video I mentioned showing the cooling towers being demolished ,is a visit to Stalybridge and Mossley 1995 it’s near the end
Hello, uncovered this site on a Google search for those interested in the Starbane & Letterkenny Railway. I have a photograph album taken by a surveyor/contractor at the time of building 1906-1907. The photos show the construction, machinery and people, etc.
Is this album of any interest to any of you as I can send it and donate it ? jmw078@btinternet.com
Hi, I’d certainly be interested in seeing the photos. But it may be that the Donegal Railway Museum would be the best place for it to reside.
Best wishes
Roger
anyone interested in a 1906-1907 photo album showing the construction of the railway. It contains lots of photos of the building of it, the machinery and the people, etc. Happy to donate and send to anyone. jmw078@btinternet.com
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