Godley Junction Marshalling Yards

This photograph of the marshelling yards at Godley Junction was taken on 24th March 1989 by Peter Whatley and is reproduced here with permission.

It shows the extent of the sidings required at Godley Junction for locomotive changes between electric and diesel traction. At one time, the trackbed to the right was the main route for Yorkshire coal to Fiddlers Ferry electricity generating station via Woodhead. Godley Junction was the point at which electric traction gave way to diesel. Changes in coal flows and the expense of traction changes at both ends of the journey led inexorably to the Woodhead route's closure in 1981.

Godley Junction had no rationale as a passenger station and was replaced by a new station simply named Godley, but pending formal closure proceedings was renamed Godley East and served by a handful of trains on weekdays to fulfil legal requirements.

You can view Station Road, Godley on Hyde Daily Photograph.

Big Tree 1983

The original "Big Tree", which stood at the corner of Lilly Street and Stockport Road by the Diamond Row reservoir, traditionally marked the boundary between Hyde and Gee Cross.

The reservoir was covered and the nearby Diamond Row cottages were demolished, to create an open space.

In 1983 a new "big tree" was planted as a memorial to sacrifices made in Northern Ireland and the Falklands.

Janet Howie's photograph was taken in September 1983; compare it with my own photograph from 2007 on Hyde Daily Photograph.

The CDPB theme for today is Wood. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Captain Clarke's Bridge 1984

Photograph © Janet Howie taken Easter 1984.

The towpath of the Peak Forest Canal changes sides at this point.

A horse, pulling a narrowboat along with a towline attached to its harness, would walk up and cross the bridge then curve down and go under the bridge, or in the opposite direction would walk under the bridge then up around the curve, over the canal and down the other side. The towline could remain attached the whole time, which would save the boatmen both time and effort.

It is named after the navel officer, John Clarke who lived at Wood End in the 19th century.

Other photographs of Captain Clarke's Bridge:

• c.1900 (Old Hyde)
• October 2007 (Hyde DP)
• December 2007 (Hyde DP)
• February 2009 (Hyde DP)

The CDPB theme today is Changes:
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Hyde Grammar School Photo July 1959

Seftonwallet has just added a new video to his YouTube collection. It is an eight-minute scan over the school photo from 1959.

Travellers Call No More

When I published a 100 year old photograph of the Travellers Call, I was asked if I had a photograph of the modern building.

Well I've not yet had the chance to get up there and take a recent view. I do however have this photograph taken by Janet Howie in 1982. So far as I recall it looks much the same now.

Waiting at the Travellers Call

The Travellers Call was a public house on Joel Lane just above Slateacre.

Who they are and what all these people were waiting here for some 100 years ago, I cannot say.

Neither do I know when the pub was converted to a private residence.

Waiting is the CDPB theme for today; click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Dowson Road 1982

Taken from the end of Queen Street, Janet Howie's photograph from 1982 shows the junction of Market Street and Dowson Road.

Compare it with my photograph of 2009 on Hyde Daily Photo.

Kelly's fishing tackle shop has gone along with the three adjacent shops. The first recognisable building is Robinson's funeral directors. The whole junction has been widened up with a left hand filter and pedestrian crossings.