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Manchester, Bolton And Bury Railway
All photographs of this railway in date order.
![Ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire 0-6-0 no 52443 photographed on Bolton shed in the late 1950s. The locomotive was eventually withdrawn by BR from Bury at the end of 1959.<br><br>[K A Gray //]](/images/41000/41044.jpg "Bolton")
![Fowler 7F 0-8-0 no 49592 stands alongside the coaling plant on Bolton shed in the late 1950s. The locomotive was finally withdrawn from Newton Heath in May 1959.<br><br>[K A Gray //]](/images/42000/42397.jpg "Bolton")
![BR Standard 2-6-2T no 84019 on shed at Bolton MPD in September 1958. The former L&YR depot, located alongside Crescent Road, closed at the end of June 1968, at which time it carried shed code 9K and was one of the last BR operational steam sheds. The buildings had been demolished and the site cleared by 1973. A housing estate now stands here, the main street of which is named <I>The Sheddings.</I><br><br>[Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 30/09/1958]](/images/25000/25534.jpg "Bolton MPD")
![Aspinall ex-L&YR 3F no 52360 on shed at 26C Bolton on 30 September 1958. The locomotive was withdrawn from here 2 months later.<br><br>[Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 30/09/1958]](/images/30000/30486.jpg "Bolton MPD")
![A Lancashire scene from the late 1950s with Aspinall ex-L&Y 2-4-2T no 50850, dating from the 1890s, waiting in the rain at Bolton with a local train on 7 April 1959. (Bolton station, opened by the MB&B in 1838, carried the suffix 'Trinity Street' between 1910 and 1954). The locomotive, which was a resident of nearby 26C at the time, was eventually withdrawn from Southport shed at the end of 1961. <br><br>[Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 07/04/1959]](/images/28000/28444.jpg "Bolton")
![Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 no 44000 stands in the sidings alongside Bolton shed (26C) around 1960, having been officially withdrawn from Skipton at the end of 1959. View is north towards Trinity Street station. The locomotive is recorded as having been eventually cut up at the Central Wagon Co, Wigan, in April 1962. <br><br>[K A Gray //1960]](/images/36000/36711.jpg "Bolton MPD")
![Stanier 2-6-2T no 40110 on Bolton shed, thought to have been photographed during a visit on 25 September 1960.<br><br>[K A Gray 25/09/1960]](/images/40000/40456.jpg "Bolton MPD")
![Ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire 0-6-0 52523 abandoned at Bolton MPD in September 1962, following withdrawal earlier that month.The locomotive was cut up at Campbells of Shieldhall in May the following year.<br><br>[K A Gray /09/1962]](/images/58000/58259.jpg "Bolton MPD")
![Most of withdrawn Aspinall ex-L&Y 0-6-0 no 52345 stands in the yard outside Bolton shed on an overcast day in mid 1963. Alongside on the right is WD Austerity 2-8-0 no 90267.<br><br>[K A Gray //1963]](/images/46000/46402.jpg "Bolton")
![A damp and misty morning on Bolton shed, featuring ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire 0-6-0 no 52523. The locomotive, of 1909 vintage, had been withdrawn in September 1962 and is seen here having been 'stored' at the end of a siding. The photograph is thought to have been taken during a visit on 29 June 1963 (although there is some conflict with reported disposal dates).<br><br>[K A Gray 29/06/1963]](/images/36000/36976.jpg "Bolton MPD")
![Ex L&Y 0-6-0 no 52523, minus one or two key components, stands abandoned in the rain behind Bolton shed on 29 June 1963. [See image 36976]<br><br>[K A Gray 29/06/1963]](/images/38000/38237.jpg "Bolton MPD")
![Standard Class 5 4-6-0s nos 73069+73134 coming off the MRTS/SVRS <I>North West Tour</I> at Bolton on 20 April 1968. The pair had brought in the special from Stalybridge and would hand over to 48773 for the next leg as far as Stockport [see image 22020]. <br><br>[K A Gray 20/04/1968]](/images/40000/40836.jpg "Bolton")
![<I>'All aboard!'</I> The MRTS/SVRS 'North West Tour' prepares to leave Bolton on 20 April 1968 behind Stanier 8F 2-8-0 no 48773. The 8F would take the special as far as Manchester Victoria.<br><br>[K A Gray 20/04/1968]](/images/40000/40899.jpg "Bolton")
![Britannia Pacific 70013 <I>Oliver Cromwell</I> approaching Bolton on 1 June 1968 with BR Scottish Region 'Grand Rail Tour No 5' from Edinburgh. 70013 had taken over the train at Carnforth.<br><br>[John Robin 01/06/1968]](/images/52000/52563.jpg "Bolton")
![150277 departs from Salford Crescent with a service to Manchester <br>
Victoria around midday on 15 March 2008.<br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 15/03/2008]](/images/32000/32364.jpg "Salford Crescent")
![A Trans Pennine service for Blackpool with 185144 picks up a sizeable number of passengers under an original canopy at Bolton <I>Trinity Street</I> on 13 August 2008. At this time services to Preston and beyond were running via Wigan because of engineering work at Chorley. Just beyond the bridge the line divides with a right turn for Blackburn and left for Lostock Junction. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 13/08/2008]](/images/20000/20341.jpg "Bolton")
![185149 arrives at Bolton station on 05 March 2009 from the Preston direction with a service to Manchester Airport. The tracks curving away to the right come together around the corner and form the single track route to Blackburn.<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/03/2009]](/images/22000/22762.jpg "Bolton")
![Northern 156480 waits at platform 4 at Bolton station on 5 March 2009 with a service to Wigan Wallgate. <br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/03/2009]](/images/22000/22792.jpg "Bolton")
![Class 150 variations pass at Bolton on 5 March 2009. On the left, heading for Manchester, is unit 150136, while on the right is 150275 with a train for Preston.<br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/03/2009]](/images/22000/22878.jpg "Bolton")
![Brush Type 4 no 47760 accelerates south through Bolton station on the evening of 30 July 2011 with the return 'Lakelander' <br>
railtour heading for Lincoln. Judging from the amount of exhaust, the diesel was trying to emulate some of it's steam cousins at WCRC!<br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 30/07/2011]](/images/35000/35093.jpg "Bolton")
![LMS Pacific no. 6201 brings the return 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' <br>
into Bolton station on 30 July 2011. The train was returning to Crewe from Carlisle via Manchester. <br>
<br><br>[John McIntyre 30/07/2011]](/images/35000/35109.jpg "Bolton")
![TransPennine Express 185139 heads north through Kearsley with the 12.23 Manchester Airport to Blackpool North service on 14 November 2011. <br><br>[David Pesterfield 14/11/2011]](/images/36000/36534.jpg "Kearsley")
![Northern Rail 150203 heads south through Kearsley on 14 November with the 12.23 Preston to Hazel Grove service. <br><br>[David Pesterfield 14/11/2011]](/images/36000/36554.jpg "Kearsley")
![Northern unit 156426 calls at Salford Crescent on 29 November while working from Kirkby to Todmorden.<br><br>[John McIntyre 29/11/2014]](/images/49000/49666.jpg "Salford Crescent")
![DRS operated on behalf of Northern, 47818 enters Salford Crescent on 29 November 2014 with the 1352 from Manchester Victoria to Chorley extra service to assist with moving the extra passengers on Saturdays in and out of Manchester.<br><br>[John McIntyre 29/11/2014]](/images/49000/49689.jpg "Salford Crescent")
![MPV approaching Bolton from Lostock Junction on a full day's RHTT diagram from Wigan (Springs Branch) on 2 December. The diagram included out and back trips to Southport and Kirkby and then the Standedge, Calder Valley, Copy Pit and East Lancashire lines. <br><br>[Mark Bartlett 02/12/2014]](/images/49000/49657.jpg "Bolton")
![A Wilmslow to Blackpool North TPE service exits the smaller bore of Farnworth Tunnel on the afternoon of 5 February 2015. Major reconstruction work starts here in May 2015 to make room for overhead power lines in connection with the electrification of the Manchester - Preston via Bolton route. <br><br>[John McIntyre 05/02/2015]](/images/50000/50273.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![Northern unit 156428 enters the larger southbound bore of Farnworth Tunnel while working a service to Stalybridge on 5 February 2015. [See image 50273]<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/02/2015]](/images/50000/50303.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![Looking north from the platform at Farnworth station on 5 February 2015 as a Northern service to Manchester Victoria approaches. Through the various bridges along this straight the up platform at Moses Gate station can just be made out.<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/02/2015]](/images/50000/50328.jpg "Farnworth")
![The main road is quite a way below the platforms at Kearsley with a few more than 39 steps to reach the platform. If you miss the notice that the station is closed until October then you could have a wasted journey as the rail replacement coach picks up alongside the road. It is also interesting that on 10 May 2015 the station sign still refers to 'British Rail'.<br><br>[John McIntyre 10/05/2015]](/images/51000/51247.jpg "Kearsley")
![Looking up Stoneclough Road in Kearsley under the railway bridge on 10 May 2015. The station entrance is beyond the bridge on the right. There has been some significant bracing applied to the retaining walls on this side of the bridge.<br><br>[John McIntyre 10/05/2015]](/images/51000/51256.jpg "Kearsley")
![A view north west towards Farnworth Tunnel on 10 May 2015 showing the first stages of the engineering work to enlarge the right hand tunnel to allow for double track and electrification. The smaller tunnel on the left (normally for Bolton bound services) is currently set up for bi-directional working.<br><br>[John McIntyre 10/05/2015]](/images/51000/51264.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![A view of Farnworth station towards the tunnels (and Salford Crescent) on 10 May 2015 as the platform on the left is being removed in order to realign the approach to the tunnel. Although the line was closed over the weekend it is open Monday to Friday with all services using the down line (on the right) while work continues on the left hand bore. The station is however closed throughout the work which is scheduled to last until October.<br><br>[John McIntyre 10/05/2015]](/images/51000/51272.jpg "Farnworth")
![An engineers train being worked by Freightliner 66530 waits in the Up Passenger Loop at Burnden, just south of Bolton, on 10 May 2015.<br><br>[John McIntyre 10/05/2015]](/images/51000/51283.jpg "Burnden")
![A close up of the north portals of the Farnworth Tunnels on 10 May 2015. At this stage the track has been removed from the left hand tunnel. [See image 51272]<br><br>[John McIntyre 10/05/2015]](/images/51000/51293.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![Freightliner 66509 stands on the up line between Moses Gate and Farnworth on 10 May 2015. It was one of several engineering trains operating in connection with track relaying work around Moses Gate station.<br><br>[John McIntyre 10/05/2015]](/images/51000/51302.jpg "Farnworth")
![The transformation of Farnworth station is underway on 10 May 2015 with the up platform being removed to allow the realignment of the tracks when the larger tunnel is reopened later in 2015.<br><br>[John McIntyre 10/05/2015]](/images/51000/51311.jpg "Farnworth")
![The temporary crossover to cater for single line working through Farnworth Tunnel is seen here on 10 May 2015. The down platform of Kearsley station stands in the background.<br><br>[John McIntyre 10/05/2015]](/images/51000/51456.jpg "Kearsley")
![Looking towards Farnworth station from above the tunnel portals on 2 June 2015 as a Hazel Grove to Preston service passes. On the right the excavator is removing soil from the new track alignment.<br><br>[John McIntyre 02/06/2015]](/images/51000/51514.jpg "Farnworth")
![A Manchester Victoria to Clitheroe service exits the smaller Farnworth Tunnel and passes through the temporarily closed station on 2 June 2015. On my last visit the Up platform was being excavated to allow for realignment. The blockwork wall for the new alignment is now starting to appear on the left but the major change will be the removal of the road bridge in the background.<br><br>[John McIntyre 02/06/2015]](/images/51000/51526.jpg "Farnworth")
![Northern 156451 passes under the relatively new footbridge to the north of Kearsley station on 2 June 2015. The footbridge replaced the foot crossing, the remains of which are in the centre foreground (a wooden post from the wicket gate and the concrete ramp) in March 2015.<br><br>[John McIntyre 02/06/2015]](/images/51000/51609.jpg "Kearsley")
![Northern 150115 heads south from Farnworth Tunnel on 2 June as work continues in connection with electrification of the route. The Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria service is running wrong line due to current closure of the larger tunnel, normally used by up trains.<br><br>[John McIntyre 02/06/2015]](/images/51000/51621.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![The south end of Farnworth Tunnel on 17 July 2015, with the outline of the new double-track portal now formed in advance of the tunnel boring machine starting its work. The footpath leading to this spot will close from 21 July until the work has been completed. Meantime the smaller down tunnel off to the left continues to be used for bi-directional working. [See image 51621]<br><br>[John McIntyre 17/07/2015]](/images/52000/52015.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![Looking towards Bolton from above the tunnel on 17 July 2015. With the positioning of the crane in the foreground it is no longer possible to reach the location seen in Image 51514. A northbound Class 150 DMU can be seen below.<br><br>[John McIntyre 17/07/2015]](/images/52000/52033.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![At Farnworth station the new up platform is taking shape on the revised alignment on 17 July 2015. The track has been slewed left towards the Up platform and then right to enter the Down tunnel. This is to allow the Down platform to be demolished and then rebuilt on the new alignment with the re-bored twin track tunnel.<br><br>[John McIntyre 17/07/2015]](/images/52000/52041.jpg "Farnworth")
![The shape of things to come at the south end of the Farnworth tunnels on 17 July 2015. A Preston to Hazel Grove service slowly exits the down tunnel which is currently be used in both directions, with the up tunnel sealed for filling with foam concrete. The shape of the new tunnel that will be bored can be seen disappearing behind the silo on the right.<br><br>[John McIntyre 17/07/2015]](/images/52000/52049.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![A grab shot from a passing train of the north end of the rebored former up tunnel at Farnworth on 26 October 2015 with 'Fillie' the TBM having broken through.<br><br>[John McIntyre 26/10/2015]](/images/53000/53038.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
!['Fillie' the tunnel boring machine has completed its mission and now rests outside the northern portal of the Farnworth tunnel on 31 October 2015. Engineers have started the dismantling process with the large crane behind lifting sections out of the cutting. Access to take this photo was by kind invitation of the family who have been neighbours of the worksite for the last 6 months.<br><br>[John McIntyre 31/10/2015]](/images/53000/53100.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![A Manchester Victoria to Clitheroe service passes Farnworth station. The station remains closed as work continues with the new platforms which have been realigned with the rebored tunnel to the right.<br><br>[John McIntyre 31/10/2015]](/images/53000/53101.jpg "Farnworth")
![A Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North service exits the Down tunnel at Farnworth and approaches the station on 31 October 2015. On the right the platform edge has been moved over to suit the new track alignment when both tracks run through the rebored and enlarged Up tunnel. On the left below the rebuilt Cemetery Road bridge is the tunnel boring machine which is currently being dismantled.<br><br>[John McIntyre 31/10/2015]](/images/53000/53102.jpg "Farnworth")
![A close up of the upper half of the 'Fillie' the tunnel boring machine in the process of being dismantled at the northern bore of Farnworth Tunnel on 31 October 2015. Location access by kind permission of the owners.<br><br>[John McIntyre 31/10/2015]](/images/53000/53103.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![A view over the work site at the south end of Farnworth Tunnel on 31 October 2015. Since my last visit the TBM has completed it's task and much of the plant has been cleared although there are still several tasks to be completed before the track is laid. For the moment services continue to use the single line through the Down tunnel like the pair of Class 150s that are passing behind the sleeper screen.<br><br>[John McIntyre 31/10/2015]](/images/53000/53108.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![A Blackpool North service leaving the new Farnworth Tunnel on 23 December 2015. The train is passing under the new Cemetery Road bridge and approaching the repositioned Farnworth station. To the right is a section of the old platform, with the former down tunnel in the background.<br><br>[John McIntyre 23/12/2015]](/images/53000/53658.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![A Blackpool to Huddersfield (via Manchester Victoria) service exits the southern portal of the new Farnworth Tunnel on 23 December 2015. On the left there is still track in place through the old small bore tunnel which had been used for all services for 7 months but it is no longer connected. A normal timetable was resumed on 14 December after the Down line was connected up.<br><br>[John McIntyre 23/12/2015]](/images/53000/53705.jpg "Farnworth Tunnel")
![Salford Crescent viewed towards Windsor Bridge North Jct with a DMU approaching the station with a service off the Bolton line.<br><br>[John McIntyre 04/06/2016]](/images/55000/55410.jpg "Salford Crescent")
![A Manchester bound train enters platform 3 at Bolton station on 15 December 2016. The area in the foreground will see track once again when platform 5 is reinstated as part of the electrification works between Manchester and Euxton Jct.<br><br>[John McIntyre 15/12/2016]](/images/57000/57584.jpg "Bolton")
![Looking south from Trinity Street road bridge along the disused platform at Bolton in December 2016. This platform is scheduled to be brought back into service as part of the current electrification project.<br><br>[John McIntyre 15/12/2016]](/images/57000/57591.jpg "Bolton")
![A view south along what will become platform 5 at Bolton with work progressing with renewing the coping stones. The remainder of the station is to the left of the photo.<br><br>[John McIntyre 19/05/2017]](/images/59000/59470.jpg "Bolton")
![The reinstated platform 5 at Bolton is taking shape in this view towards Manchester on 17 July 2017. The wall that used to keep the public away from this area in recent years has now become infill between the new platform wall. I am not sure however that the traffic cone will make suitable infill but perhaps it is marking or covering a drain or duct.<br><br>[John McIntyre 17/07/2017]](/images/60000/60198.jpg "Bolton")
![A Freightliner Class 66 passes Salford Crescent with the empty binliner train heading to the loading point at Pendleton, Brindle Heath just over a mile away. [Ref query 1664]<br><br>[John McIntyre 27/07/2017]](/images/60000/60226.jpg "Salford Crescent")
![The station improvement works at Bolton are progressing very well and this is before the closure from 12 to 27 August. The track has been re-instated through platform 5 and a new footbridge has appeared at the south end of the platform. It is understood that platform 5 will be brought into service at the end of August when platform 4 will close for alterations to be carried out in preparation for electrification. This view is from Orlando St bridge.<br><br>[John McIntyre 09/08/2017]](/images/60000/60317.jpg "Bolton")
![When I last photographed from Trinity Street road bridge along platform 5 at Bolton in mid July, the track had still to be replaced. On 09 August 2017 however not only has the track appeared but a track tamping machine was working it's way along. Further evidence of the progress being made on this station improvement project.<br><br>[John McIntyre 09/08/2017]](/images/60000/60455.jpg "Bolton")
![A Northern service from Blackpool to Manchester Airport passes under the new covered walkway between the railway station (right) and the new bus interchange (left) at Bolton on 09 August 2017. The remains of the long trailing crossover can be seen between the running lines and the track for the new platform 5 is on the extreme right.<br><br>[John McIntyre 09/08/2017]](/images/62000/62314.jpg "Bolton")
![Northern services between Blackpool and Manchester via Bolton have been replaced by buses for engineering work at Bolton station since 12 August and should have returned to normal on 28 August 2017. Unfortunately a burst water main at Moses Gate damaged an overbridge and surrounding earthworks delaying the re-opening. On 05 September 2017 Northern were able to operate a limited shuttle service between Blackpool and Bolton prior to the line being re-opened throughout on 06 September 2017. In this view southwards, a pair of Class 150s wait to head back to Blackpool from platform 4. On the right behind the barrier, the 'new' platform 5 continues to take shape with track and signalling in place.<br><br>[John McIntyre 05/09/2017]](/images/60000/60831.jpg "Bolton")
![A view north along the recently re-instated platform 5 at Bolton, with a Manchester to Blackpool service waiting to depart on 18 September 2017. Platform 4 is presently out of use undergoing rebuilding.<br><br>[John McIntyre 18/09/2017]](/images/60000/60814.jpg "Bolton")
