Altrincham Interchange were proud to be named Cheshire’s Best Kept Station 2022 ….

Here are some images of the Friends of Altrincham Interchange and staff celebrating at the Interchange ….

Baker’s Bridge – where’s that?  This was the response when a member of FoGS read the name in a book about the history of the railway line from Manchester to Crewe.  Our volunteers have never heard local people refer to the road bridge near Goostrey Station as Baker’s Bridge.

A quick internet search revealed that a man called William Baker had a signifiant role in the development of Victorian railways.  In 1859, following the death of Robert Stephenson, he became chief engineer for the London and North Western Railway Company.  As well as leading operations in London, he worked on stations around the country including in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and Crewe. He also designed railway bridges such as that at Runcorn, and he was involved in the construction of a new harbour at Holyhead.

So why was the bridge at Goostrey called Baker’s Bridge?  It turns out that, between 1834 and 1839, William Baker was articled to George Buck and worked with him on the Manchester and Birmingham Railway.  FoGS discovered that the keystone on the north side of the original bridge at Goostrey was carved William Baker, 1841, resident engineer, M and B R. Unfortunately this keystone was broken when the bridge was replaced during the electrification of the line in the 1960s. But luckily, the one on the south side with George Buck’s name was saved. At first this keystone was mounted on platform two, but now it is displayed, together with other memorabilia and recent awards, on platform one.

So the mystery was solved!  In October, this information will be included in the exhibition about local transport that is being prepared by Goostrey Parish Archive for Goosfest. If you have photos or stories relating to the history of Goostrey railway station that you could share with FoGS, please get in touch with Chris Burgess on 07976 894737.

FoGS volunteers continue to meet each month at Goostrey station. There’s a car park, but you could choose greener transport by walking or cycling (there’s a new rack for your bike).  You may have noticed a smart new noticeboard at the entrance to platform one.  It’s there to help us to publicise FoGS and Goostrey Art Studio more effectively.  You could also have a look at our website or email Craig Sidebotham on 29craimar@talktalk.net

Last Autumn, Friends of Goostrey Station were delighted that Goostrey Beavers held another meeting at our railway station.  All the children were keen to sweep up fallen leaves, to plant daffodil bulbs in tubs and to investigate the bug hotels.  They also enjoyed a craft activity in the Art Studio. Everyone worked hard and by the time they went home, the sun had set.  As their parents collected them, a casual comment about being able to see stars and planets in the night sky, led to plans for another joint meeting.

Thus, early in February, FOGS treasurer and vice chair Craig Sidebotham, himself a a keen amateur astronomer, led an astronomy session at Goostrey Scout Hut. The aim was to help the Beavers achieve a Space Activity Badge.

To be successful each had to complete four challenges :

• Point out some of the things you can see in the night sky.  It could be stars, the moon or planets.
• Point out and name at least one constellation you can see.
• Name the eight planets in our solar system and draw or make a model of one of the planets.
• Find out about a space mission, an astronaut or a planet in our solar system.

First Craig connected his lap top to a large TV screen and used a planetarium program to show the constellations and planets.  He also demonstrated how the stars move across the sky during the night.   Then the Beavers were given pictures of the sun and planets and they were asked to work out their order. After a lot of running around, the correct arrangement was established!

Next Craig used pictures to explain some of the missions into space including the Apollo Saturn 5 rocket, the moon landings and the International Space Station.  At the end of the session, all the Beavers were excited to see two astronomical telescopes. Craig explained how they worked, but unfortunately the sky was cloudy and so the children were unable to use them outside.  Perhaps this could be the focus of a second evening of astronomy!

Currently FoGS are planning another joint activity, this time with Goostrey Parish Archive.  If you have photos or stories relating to the history of Goostrey railway station that you could share with FoGS, please get in touch with Chris Burgess on 07976 894737.

FoGS volunteers continue to meet each month at Goostrey station. There’s a car park, but you could choose greener transport by walking or cycling (there’s a new rack for your bike).  You may have noticed a smart new noticeboard at the entrance to platform one.  It’s there to help us to publicise FoGS and Goostrey Art Studio more effectively.  You could also have a look at our website or email Craig Sidebotham on 29craimar@talktalk.net

As well as improving the environment around Goostrey Station, members of FoGS are interested in the history of our local railway. A few years ago they restored an oil lamp that used to illuminate the platform and they retrieved the keystone of the former road bridge; now both are mounted on the wall at the end of platform one.

Recently they located a boundary post – a marker which showed the limit of railway land – in the old sidings. Often these posts were used where it was difficult to install a fence or hedge, where there was a risk of encroachment by other landowners, or where there had been a dispute over land ownership. So we expect to find more at Goostrey. A boundary post has a very long base that was buried deep in the ground to discourage landowners from digging it up and moving it! The inscription explains its function and reads “L & N W Ry Co Boundary Post”.  It was probably made in the foundry at the London & North Western Railway’s Crewe works.

The LNWR was formed in 1846 by the amalgamation of three major railway companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway (which in practice only ran from Manchester to Crewe). The network linked London to Birmingham, Cheshire, Liverpool, Manchester, Wales and Ireland. The company built rolling stock and locomotives at three major centres: Crewe, Earlestown and Wolverton.  The locomotives were painted ‘blackberry black’ and their coaches ‘purple lake’, which gave them a distinctive appearance amongst the green, chocolate and cream of the Great Western Railway and the red of the Midland Railway.  In 1923, the LNWR was absorbed into the London, Midland & Scottish Railway.  It joined with the Midland, Lancashire & Yorkshire, Caledonian, Glasgow South Western, Highland, North Stafford, Furness and a few smaller railways.

If you have photos or stories about the history of Goostrey railway station that you could share with FoGS, please get in touch with Chris Burgess on 07976 894737.

News from Friends of Goostrey Station ….

Are you wanting some gentle exercise in the fresh air?  Then look no further than Goostrey station – you’ll get a warm welcome from Friends of Goostrey Station!

We’re glad that we continue to make the station a pleasant place to visit and we’re extremely proud that our efforts have been recognised both locally and nationally.  But it’s important that improvements continue to be made – and so we’re encouraging new people to join us. Volunteers of all ages are needed.

In December, we were delighted to welcome Ian Conway and his wife Cath to Goostrey.  Ian volunteers with a group that supports the Lakes Line and Furness Railway, so he was interested to compare his experiences with ours.  Cath was keen to see where, forty years ago, her father Richardson Irving worked with Frank Pointon – where they sold tickets, signalled the train to depart and cleaned the toilets.  She was surprised that there were six employees when Goostrey station opened in 1891. But she told us that Richardson and Frank looked after the station so well, including tending the gardens on the ‘up side of the line’, that Goostrey featured in an article in the Cheshire Life magazine.

FoGS volunteers meet on the third Sunday of each month; the first session in 2023 is on 15th January. There’s a car park at the station, but you could choose greener transport by walking or cycling (there’s a new rack for your bike!).  You may have noticed a smart new noticeboard at the entrance to platform one.  It’s there to help us to publicise FoGS and Goostrey Art Studio more effectively.  For more information, have a look at our website or contact our chair Dave Roberts on 07494 976779.