1
Sandbach station: overgrown sidings
When I first knew this station in the 1970s there were several sidings here, that were still used for storing rakes of wagons. That explains the catenary support masts being so far from the platform - the sidings were elctrified. Now it is impossible to even tell whether the rails are still there beneath the vegetation.
Image: © Stephen Craven
Taken: 27 Jan 2015
0.10 miles
2
Sandbach station: northbound stopping train
Electric unit no 323224 calls as the 09.57 to Manchester via Stockport. These 3-car units replaced the older 4-car class 303 and 310 units in the 1980s. The service is currently operated by Northern Rail.
Image: © Stephen Craven
Taken: 27 Jan 2015
0.10 miles
3
Light engine through Sandbach
The loco (Freightliner's 66592 "Johnson Stevens Agencies") was running fast through the little-used platform 3 before dodging back onto the main line to Manchester just beyond the station.
Image: © Stephen Craven
Taken: 14 May 2016
0.11 miles
4
Sandbach South Junction
The railway between Crewe and Sandbach is four-tracked. The left hand pair, called the Wilmslow Lines, carry most passenger traffic; the right hand pair, called the Manchester Independent Lines, are mostly used by freight (of which there is not much). Crossovers just south of Sandbach station allow trains to switch between them. Seen from the end of the station platform, a local train approaches the junction on the down Wilmslow line. There is a further crossover between the Wilmslow lines a few hundred metres further south
Image
Image: © Stephen Craven
Taken: 17 Apr 2016
0.11 miles
5
Sandbach station: site of the Kidsgrove branch
A line formerly ran from Sandbach to Kidsgrove, but was disused by 1970. Some of it is now the Salt Line Trail, other parts have been turned into roads or built on. The embankment topped by a wooden fence marks its route.
Image: © Stephen Craven
Taken: 27 Jan 2015
0.11 miles
6
Stopping train to Crewe
Northern rail electric unit 323230 pulls away from Sandbach on the last leg of its journey to Crewe (the 08.04 from Manchester Piccadilly).
Image: © Stephen Craven
Taken: 14 May 2016
0.11 miles
7
Southbound Pendolino through Platform 1
Avanti Pendolino unit 390010 passes through Sandbach at high speed on the 13.55 Manchester to London service (next stop Crewe).
Image: © Stephen Craven
Taken: 11 Apr 2022
0.11 miles
8
Repeater signal at Sandbach station
This will give a visual indication when the signal at the end of the platform is "off" (i.e. not red).
Image: © Stephen Craven
Taken: 17 Apr 2016
0.12 miles
9
Southbound freight through Platform 3
The container train, hauled by a class 66 diesel locomotive, would have come off the freight line from Northwich.
Image: © Stephen Craven
Taken: 11 Apr 2022
0.12 miles
10
Cycle parking by Sandbach station
A generous provision of covered cycle parking for a suburban station.
Image: © Stephen Craven
Taken: 17 Apr 2016
0.12 miles