IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Swanley Avenue, MANCHESTER, M40 8GB

Looking NE from Miles Platting station, the signalbox at Brewery Sidings is in the middle distance, with Wilsons brewery's 1970s buildings on the left. In 2008, nothing recognisable is left, the whole area having become part of Manchester's urban regeneration zone, the station closed and the tracks realigned and resignalled.

Leading to St Augustine Street. Ruislip Avenue runs off to the left leading to the new Monsall tram stop.

Monsall is a new build on the line of a former dismantled heavy rail line. Taken on the first day of operation of the Metrolink extension to Oldham. As the electronic screen tells us, a tram is approaching. We are also informed that the next tram to St Werburgh's Road will be along in 14 minutes. And if the time is correct then comparing it to the information in the photograph's EXIF data the clock in my camera is 12 minutes fast (less an hour slow as it's still set to GMT).

Padlocked bicycle lockers next to some Sheffield stands on Ruislip Avenue next to Monsall tram stop.

Tramlines to Oldham and Rochdale at Monsall.

Monsall is a new build on the line of a former dismantled heavy rail line. Taken on the first day of operation of the Metrolink extension to Oldham. Looking towards Oldham from the steps down from Ruislip Avenue.

A lift takes passengers from Ruislip Avenue to the Manchester-bound platform at Monsall tram stop. Monsall is a new build on the line of a former dismantled heavy rail line. This was taken on the first day of operation of the Metrolink extension to Oldham. The lift wasn't in operation but I was informed it would ready for use in about half an hour. Fortuneatly I was able to use the steps.

The tram line uses what was until the 1970s the primary railway route between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale. Jocelyn Street bridge's ironwork shows that the line was originally quadruple track. Additional supporting brickwork was added as part of the project to downgrade the Manchester-Oldham-Rochdale route from trains to trams.

The station area as seen in early 1989. The former Area Manager's offices and all station buildings had been demolished by this time (see here for photo of the main station building http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1009589). Tickets had to be purchased on the train, though passengers boarding or alighting were a distinct rarity. In the left distance, the dome belongs to a former cinema on Oldham Road, by 1989 in use as a bingo hall.