IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Abbeystead Avenue, MANCHESTER, M21 7DP

Looking east from the bridge over the disused railway line (shortly to be re-opened as part of the Manchester Metrolink network). The For Sale / To Let signs relate to properties (probably apartments) on Chelsfield Grove. Chelsfield Grove was originally a short cul-de-sac of interwar semi-detached and detached houses, with Broughton Park Rugby Club at the end. When the rugby club relocated in the 1990s, the site was developed for housing and the road extended.

The disused railway line to Chorlton was re-opened as far as the new St Werburgh's Road stop in July 2011. The tracks were extended a short distance beyond the station. Work was well underway extending the route SE along the former heavy rail line to Didsbury. The line to Manchester Airport will leave the South Manchester Line just north of this point, to run across the triangular area of grass (already fenced off from the adjoining playing field), crossing Chorlton Brook, and joining Mauldeth Road West near Chorlton High School.

The new Metrolink route to Chorlton / St Werburgh's Road opened in 2011. Track had been laid for a short distance beyond the St Werburgh's Road stop, and was in use as a headshunt. Work was well underway on the next two extensions to the network - a continuation of the South Manchester Line along the disused railway to Didsbury, and a line to Manchester Airport. The latter will leave the existing line just north of this point. The photographers position is at the foot of Twenty-seven Steps - a flight of steps (not actually 27 of them) leading up to Mauldeth Road West adjacent to the railway bridge.

The new Metrolink route to Chorlton / St Werburgh's Road opened in 2011. Track had been laid for a short distance beyond the St Werburgh's Road stop, and was in use as a headshunt. Work was well underway on the next two extensions to the network - a continuation of the South Manchester Line along the disused railway to Didsbury, and a line to Manchester Airport. The latter will leave the existing line near this point, cutting across former school playing fields and Chorlton Brook to join Mauldeth Road West.

This is just beyond the temporary end of the line after the St Werburgh's Road tram stop. The line will be extended across this view, along the disused railway line to East Didsbury.

The new tram route to Chorlton / St Werburgh's Road opened in 2011, with tracks being laid a short distance beyond the St Werburgh's Road stop. Work was well underway on the next two extensions to the network - a continuation of the South Manchester Line along the disused railway to East Didsbury (along the trackbed seen here), and a line to Manchester Airport which will leave the existing line just behind the photographer's position.

Mauldeth Road West was constructed in the 1920s, crossing the existing railway line by means of a substantial bridge. The road rises up to cross the line on substantial embankment. Steps on the north side of the road next to the bridge lead down to track level, a footpath then following Chorlton Brook to Nell Lane. Old maps suggest there was a bridge here before the dual carriageway was constructed, carrying a lane which led past Hough End Hall, though the current roadway is substantially wider. The name twenty-seven steps is a name that was certainly current during the late twentieth century, although I don't know if the location is still known by that name. There certainly aren't twenty seven of them (around thirty?).

Mauldeth Road West was constructed in the 1920s, crossing the existing railway line by means of this substantial bridge. Older maps indicate that prior to the new dual carriageway being constructed there was already a railway bridge here carrying a lane from Hough End Hall. Although only a double track line, space was left for future doubling to four tracks. The railway was closed in the 1960s and for many years the public had unrestricted access along the trackbed under this bridge. However the line had recently been opened as far as St Werburgh's Road as part of the Metrolink tram network, and work was underway to extend the line to East Didsbury, and this section was already well fenced off. The small building probably houses electrical equipment related to the overhead lines. Expect the graffiti to be removed before the new line opens.

From the top of Twenty-Seven Steps, near the railway bridge. This wide dual carriageway was constructed in the late 1920s (replacing a narrower lane that passed Hough End Hall), and connected to a widened Hardy Lane, which terminated at Hardy Farm, some way north of the foot crossing over the Mersey at Jackson's Boat. An extension of Hardy Lane was planned, but never constructed. As a result, even today, the road carries much less traffic than it was built to take. The central reservation was reserved for tram tracks which, as far as I know, were never laid. However just after the last tree seen in this view, the planned Metrolink line towards Manchester Airport will join from the right, and run along the centre of the road to its junction with Barlow Moor Road / Hardy Lane

Work was already well underway preparing the route of the new extension to the tram network This will leave the South Manchester Line after the St Werburgh's Road stop, running right to left across this view to join Mauldeth Road West, where it will run along the central reservation to Hardy Lane. The buildings form part of Chorlton High School.