IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Pheasant Drive, MANCHESTER, M21 7UN

The railway line was closed in the 1960s, but is to reopen as part of an extension to the Metrolink tram network to East Didsbury. Work was well underway, with the new line scheduled to open in Summer 2013. Construction work was well underway by December 2011.

Stagecoach Manchester 10422, an Alexander Dennis Enviro 400MMC, stands in the turning circle built into the junction with Wintermans Road before working an 85 to Manchester city centre via Chorlton bus station and Whalley Range.

A large green area alongside Mauldeth Road West. During the late 1920s the Council constructed garden village style housing estates along the south side of Barlow Moor Road, and at Hough End, as seen here.

The rugby ground at Hough End Playing Fields.

This wide dual carriageway was constructed in the late 1920s, and connects to a widened Hardy Lane, which terminates at Hardy Farm, some way north east of the foot crossing over the Mersey at Jackson's Boat. Prior to the construction of this road, a narrow lane led from Hough End Hall to a bridge over the railway line. A 'Hardy Lane Extension' 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.

Mauldeth Road West was constructed in the late 1920s, along with garden village style housing estates both here at Hough End and to the south side of Barlow Moor Road.

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.

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

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.