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Bury And Tottington District Railway
All photographs of this railway in date order.
![Undated, but British Railways era, view of Holcombe Brook goods shed showing the track layout, conductor rails and the start of the 1:40 descent to Greenmount and Tottington marked by a <I>Pin down brakes</I> notice. [See image 21335] for a picture of a passenger train passing this spot at the end of the passenger platform. Photocourtesy of Bury Historical Society. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) //]](/images/29000/29570.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![Share certificate issued by the Directors of the Bury and Tottington District Railway Company to Joseph Melland Smith on the twenty-eighth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine. The line opened 3 years later in November 1882.<br>
<br><br>[Ian Dinmore //1879]](/images/22000/22453.jpg "Bury")
![A L&YR railmotor stands in Holcombe Brook station with the engine facing the buffers and railway staff posing for the camera. An undated photo that may have been taken around 1905, when the railmotors were introduced to compete with a new tram service and additional halts opened on the branch. It was certainly taken before 1913 when the branch was electrified. [See image 22369] for a view of the same spot some 47 years later with another L&YR loco on the last weekend of service. Photo courtesy of Bury Historical Society.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) //1905]](/images/29000/29490.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![Another 1905 view of the then new railmotor service at Holcombe Brook terminus. Here the crew poses in front of what we would now think of as the <I>driving trailer end</I> of the unit before returning to Bury Bolton Street. [See image 21492], taken from the same position forty seven years later, that also shows the station building, the house with the hexagonal tower and Holcombe Hill behind. Photo courtesy of Bury Historical Society.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) //1905]](/images/29000/29525.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![One of the Dick Kerr overhead electric rail coaches that operated experimentally on the Holcombe Brook branch for five years before the line was converted to third rail operation in 1918. This interesting photo, taken between Tottington station and viaduct, also shows the OLE masts, several bases of which still survive alongside the old track bed. [See image 21770]. Photo courtesy of Bury Historical Society.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) //1913]](/images/29000/29271.jpg "Tottington")
![Immediately after the steam push pull trains had taken over from the electric trains on the branch L&YR 2-4-2T 50829 pulls in to Brandlesholme Road Halt, serving a suburb of Bury, on the 4.16pm from Bury Bolton Street to Holcombe Brook. Electric operation officially finished three days later so this would have been one of the first steam operated services. Brandlesholme Road passed over the bridge and is still the main road from Bury out to Holcombe Brook. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 22/03/1951]](/images/21000/21749.jpg "Brandlesholme Road Halt")
![Snow on the ground but the young fireman has his sleeves rolled up so the cab of the L&YR 2-4-2T must be nice and warm. 50731 stands at the Holcombe Brook terminus with the push pull coach in February 1952 after another run up the branch from Bury Bolton St. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/02/1952]](/images/21000/21427.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![<I>That ramp looks treacherous.</I> A clear but cold day at Holcombe Brook terminus shows the small station building, at the top of a steep ramp, sitting at right angles to the track and behind, on Holcombe Hill, the 128 feet high Peel Tower. This was built in memory of Sir Robert Peel, founder of the Metropolitan Police, who was a son of Bury. Opened in 1852 the tower is still a local landmark. [See image 23868] for a modern day comparison of this scene.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/02/1952]](/images/21000/21492.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![50731 looks to be working hard with its single coach from Bury, near Sunnywood Halt, but the Holcombe Brook branch was a 1:50 climb for most of its length and 1:40 on the final mile where goods trains were limited to seven wagons if unassisted. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/02/1952]](/images/21000/21599.jpg "Sunnywood Halt")
![<I>Arctic conditions at Holcombe Brook</I> is Cam Camwell's description on the back of this picture, even though there is some thawing on the ground. The steam heating is certainly warming the single autocoach as 50731 stands in front of the station building and retaining wall waiting to return to Bury. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/02/1952]](/images/21000/21867.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![Classic <I>Cam Camwell</I> branch line station study showing Woolfold, with the only loop on the Holcombe Brook branch. As can be seen, unlike the main line, the loop here was never electrified, and so was effectively goods only. All trace of Woolfold station has now gone, as has the small viaduct just beyond the platforms. View down the gradient towards Bury.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/02/1952]](/images/22000/22058.jpg "Woolfold")
![<I>Winter gricing</I>. On a cold February day in 1952, two enthusiasts wait between trains at the Holcombe Brook terminus during a visit shortly before closure. The little station building sat at right angles to the line in an elevated position overlooking the platform. The raised area now forms part of the village pub car park but the old platform and goods yard have been occupied by a small development of shops. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/02/1952]](/images/22000/22104.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![There is still some snow on the ground as 50731 pulls its autocoach into Woolfold station on its way from Bury Bolton Street to Holcombe Brook, the scene captured by Cam Camwell and his pals in February of 1952. This picture, looking towards Tottington and Holcombe Brook, shows the buffers of the elevated sidings in the goods yard behind the station building, all now swept away. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/02/1952]](/images/22000/22201.jpg "Woolfold")
![A view looking towards Bury at Brandlesholme Road Halt. The distant signal will be for the home signal protecting Tottington junction and the East Lancashire main line north of Bury Bolton St. [See image 21238] for a view of a train climbing through the cutting under the bridge. Side contact electric 3rd rail still in place. Print credited to N R Knight<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 05/02/1952]](/images/21000/21571.jpg "Brandlesholme Road Halt")
![There are two months to go before the end of passenger services to Holcombe Brook. Woolfold signal box is evidently switched out as L&YR 2-4-2T 50731 propels its single coach away from Woolfold station (SD 789121) and onto the viaduct as it heads for Bury. On the back of this print it is credited to N R Knight.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 05/03/1952]](/images/21000/21383.jpg "Woolfold")
![Holcombe Brook bound push pull set with L&YR 2-4-2T 50655 climbing through the cutting between Woodhill Rd Halt and Brandleshome Rd Halt (SD 797117). The line was electrified in L&Y days but the equipment was worn out by 1951 and with only a short life expectancy the branch reverted to steam haulage from 1951 until closure. This photo was undated but believed to have been taken on the last weekend of service, 3rd May 1952. (A visit in December 2008 found the cutting filled in up to the level of Brandlesholme Road and a housing development under construction.)<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/05/1952]](/images/21000/21238.jpg "Brandlesholme Road Halt")
![A push pull set sits at the simple terminus at Holcombe Brook after another run up the short branch from Bury. Note the side contact third rail still in place and the mineral wagon in the goods yard. The station site is now occupied by a small shopping centre (Map reference SD 780151). Undated photo but thought to have been taken on last weekend of passenger services.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/05/1952]](/images/21000/21279.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![Lancashire and Yorkshire Radial 2-4-2T 50655, and its push pull set, runs into the Holcombe Brook terminus from Bury past the small goods shed and yard. Side contact third rails still in place from the electric service that had ceased the previous year. Undated photo but thought to have been taken on the last weekend of passenger services.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/05/1952]](/images/21000/21335.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![Last weekend of passenger services at Holcombe Brook sees enthusiasts capturing the scene but few ordinary passengers. This interesting view also shows the signal box, goods shed, yard crane and a mineral wagon on elevated coal drops. 50655 stands in the platform and I have been reminded that these humble branch line duties were a far cry from the express trains the 2-4-2 tanks were built for. They were fitted with two scoops to use water troughs in either direction on the L&YR main lines. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/05/1952]](/images/21000/21444.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![Holcombe Brook branch closure notice posted at Tottington station, also announcing the closure to passengers and parcels, on and from Monday 5th May 1952, of Woodhill Rd Halt, Brandleshome Rd Halt, Sunnywood Halt, Tottington, Woolfold, Greenmount and Holcombe Brook. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/05/1952]](/images/21000/21531.jpg "Tottington")
![Cam Camwell's visits to the Holcombe Brook branch were made at weekends and so the pick up freight workings were not captured. At this time they would have been in the hands of L&Y A Class 0-6-0 locomotives although later Bury shed had an allocation of LMS 2MT<br>
2-6-0s that were used. If anyone has any pictures of these goods trains that can be put on the website I know our Editor will be pleased to receive them. Here L&Y 2-4-2T 50655, with its 26D (later 9M) shedplate, stands at the terminus on the last weekend of passenger services. Although the background detail in this picture is not clear the start of the 1:40 gradient can be seen beyond the signal box. [See image 29490] for a view of the same location taken around 1905.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/05/1952]](/images/22000/22369.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![Another last weekend of services picture on the Holcombe Brook branch of the Bury and Tottington District Railway, but unfortunately it is also the last submission in this small collection of pictures. A smart looking Bury crew pose for Cam Camwell from the footplate of L&YR Radial 2-4-2T 50655 as they run into the Holcombe Brook terminus after another 3¾ mile run from Bury Bolton St, calling at six intermediate halts and stations on the way. The official closure date was Monday 5 May 1952.<br>
<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/05/1952]](/images/22000/22452.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![Last day of passenger services picture at the Holcombe Brook terminus, taken from the end of the platform just beyond the signal box. Two coach push pull set at the platform and enthusiasts milling around. By Cam's usual standards this picture is not of a high quality but it does provide a useful comparison with other recently submitted pictures that look towards the buffers at Holcombe Brook.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 03/05/1952]](/images/29000/29655.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![Woodhill Road Halt was the first stop on the Holcombe Brook branch after leaving the East Lancashire line at Tottington Junction. Situated in a Bury suburb this view, back down the hill towards the main line, is undated but believed taken on the last day of passenger services after the dc electrics ceased and steam push pull trains had taken over for the last fifteen months of the branch passenger services. Print credited to N R Knight.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 04/05/1952]](/images/21000/21532.jpg "Woodhill Road Halt")
![L&YR 2-4-2T 50651 climbs away from Woolfold station with its <I>last day</I> push pull train from Bury Bolton St, next stop Sunnywood Halt, on its way to Holcombe Brook. This print had no location details but there was only one passing loop on the branch, the points for which can just be made out behind the rear coach. The line in the foreground is the shunting neck for the goods yard. The raised signal indicates the signal box was switched out on this occasion. Print credited to N R Knight. [See image 21839] for a modern day 'Then and Now' comparison picture of the location. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 04/05/1952]](/images/21000/21646.jpg "Woolfold")
![Although this print of 50651 and its push pull set has no details it is believed to have been taken on the last day of passenger services, just outside the Holcombe Brook terminus at the start of the 1:40 gradient down to Tottington, hence the wagon brakes notice. Unfortunately, this small collection of branch pictures does not contain any of Tottington or Greenmount stations in operation. Does anyone have any that they could supply to our editor to <I>complete the set?</I>.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 04/05/1952]](/images/21000/21728.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![L&YR 2-4-2T 50651, with a 26D Bury shedplate on its smokebox, calls at the small Woodhill Road Halt on its way to Holcombe Brook on the last day of services. Conductor rails still in place alongside the line. (Does anyone have pictures of the electric trains on this branch?) I visited this site in December 2008 and found that not only has the station gone but also the embankment has made way for housing too, with the spoil apparently moved up the hill to fill in Brandlesholme Road cutting [see image 21238], where houses were also being built. Print credited to N R Knight. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 04/05/1952]](/images/21000/21831.jpg "Woodhill Road Halt")
![Just over one year after closure of the Holcombe Brook branch to passengers a RCTS railtour passes Sunnywood Halt (SD 785125) on its way back to Bury behind L&YR Radial 2-4-2T 50855, renumbered but still in LMS livery. The Six Bells Junction website says this was the Manchester & District Railtour and the train engine was another Radial tank 50644 but 50855 banked the train up this branch and led it down again. Tottington's mills can be seen above the train, the large building on the right being next to the station.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 26/07/1953]](/images/21000/21364.jpg "Sunnywood Halt")
![Notice alongside a boarded crossing, probably at Sunnywood Halt, on the Holcombe Brook branch stating in no uncertain terms: <br>
L&Y RAILWAY COMPANY. <br>
PERSONS using this crossing are STRICTLY FORBIDDEN<br>
to touch the RAILS provided for supplying ELECTRIC CURRENT<br>
to the trains and anyone TRESPASSING in this manner does so ENTIRELY AT OWN RISK. I presume there were a few of these signs along the length of the branch, and perhaps the Manchester to Bury line too, and wonder if any have survived. <br>
<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 26/07/1953]](/images/21000/21656.jpg "Plates, signs and notices")
![Fifteen months after closure and over two years after electric services ceased this message was still displayed on the shelter at Sunnywood Halt in July of 1953. The wooden halt had opened in 1905, in conjunction with a new steam railmotor service, and so its working life was only 47 years.<br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 26/07/1953]](/images/21000/21683.jpg "Sunnywood Halt")
![Greenmount station, looking towards Holcombe Brook, and probably taken around 1960 when freight services to that village had ceased and the line cut back to Tottington. The platform has since disappeared and the cutting has been partially filled in although the bridge parapet is still visible on the road. The Kirklees cycle trail starts at the bridge and then follows the old approach path down to the trackbed then south from the old station area to Tottington and Woolfold. [See image 45152] for the same location today. Photo courtesy of Bury Historical Society. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) //1960]](/images/29000/29508.jpg "Greenmount")
![Taken after final closure, probably around 1960, this picture looking towards the buffers shows Holcombe Brook station and its goods yard. Compared to earlier pictures [see image 29655] the conductor rails and signal box have gone, and everything is heavily overgrown but the basic layout can still be seen. The site was subsequently cleared and redeveloped. Photo courtesy of Bury Historical Society. <br><br>[W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) //1960]](/images/29000/29698.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![Although the overhead wires of the Holcombe Brook branch were replaced by a third rail system in 1918, several catenary mast support bases, such as this one at Sunnywood Halt, have lasted the intervening 90 years and still sit alongside the Kirklees Trail. View towards Tottington. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/12/2008]](/images/21000/21770.jpg "Sunnywood Halt")
![This is approximately the position where Cam Camwell took his picture of the RCTS special train passing Sunnywood Halt [See image 21364] in 1953 after visiting the Holcombe Brook branch. The trackbed is now the Kirklees Trail running from Greenmount to Woolfold. Ironically, the houses that were some distance from the line have now spread until they back onto it in places and it would probably be much better used if it were open today. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/12/2008]](/images/21000/21771.jpg "Sunnywood Halt")
![It looks like there was an intention to double the line later when the Holcombe Brook branch was built in 1882. This is Tottington viaduct with its double width piers and single track arches spanning the river and mill lodge. It carried its last passengers in 1952, and final goods train in 1960, and is now part of the Kirklees Trail.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/12/2008]](/images/21000/21802.jpg "Tottington")
![Despite the 57 year interval, standing on the cutting side it was easy to imagine 50651 pounding away from Woolfold towards Holcombe Brook [See image 21646]. The Kirklees trail to Greenmount starts at this point and the site of Woolfold station itself has disappeared, as has Woolfold viaduct.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/12/2008]](/images/21000/21839.jpg "Woolfold")
![The station at Tottington, almost 57 years after the last passenger train called, but with the platform remains still in place. This view is towards Greenmount and Tottington viaduct is just a short distance beyond the overbridge along the trackbed cyclepath. The small goods yard, closed in 1963, lay to the left of the platform and is still an open area.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/12/2008]](/images/21000/21910.jpg "Tottington")
![This is an attempt at a then and now shot of Holcombe Brook station [see image 21492]. The links with the past are the Peel Tower on the hill, the small hexagonal roof on the left of the shot and the top of the retaining wall seen just in front of the parked cars. Most of the wall is now hidden by the new building, the roof of which occupies the area where the track and buffers once stood. The station building was roughly where the 3 right hand cars are now parked.<br><br>[John McIntyre 29/03/2009]](/images/23000/23868.jpg "Holcombe Brook")
![A view over Tottington viaduct, along the Holcombe Brook branch (Kirklees trail), towards Greenmount and the terminus. The local landmark, Peel Tower, can be seen high on Holcombe Moor. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 26/05/2009]](/images/23000/23852.jpg "Tottington")
![Tottington station is the only one on the former Holcombe Brook branch to retain significant remnants. In this view towards the terminus the concrete platform face can still be seen as, in the foreground, can an overhead catenary mast base last used around 1918.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 26/05/2009]](/images/23000/23856.jpg "Tottington")
![The view towards Bury through the site of Tottington station, showing the old platform face on the right and the track bed, now a cycleway and footpath, leading away towards Woolfold. The old goods yard, which survived until 1963, was behind the platform and is now an open grassed area.<br><br>[Mark Bartlett 26/05/2009]](/images/24000/24015.jpg "Tottington")
![Greenmount, penultimate station on the Holcombe Brook branch, closed in 1952 and the last goods train passed through in 1960. The bridge and platform have long been removed but the access to the Kirklees Way on the old trackbed uses the station approach. This view looks towards Holcombe Brook but the trackbed beyond here is built over. [See image 29508] for the same location in 1960. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 26/10/2013]](/images/45000/45152.jpg "Greenmount")
