The GCR Waterside Branch

[barrie665]

I worked at Maconachie Brothers from 1960 t0 1970 as a fitter and lived five minutes walk away.
The factory was built new in 1940, on land that were playing fields, according to my father, you can just see goal post in the photo, in E. M. Johnson's book Woodhead part one, was taken well before the second world war. One of my colleagues came up from London when the factory opened. Incidently the Millwall factory was still working in the 1960s.
I can remember J11s bringing vans containing cans from Metal Box, and cardboard cartons. The engines had to stay at the factory gate and the vans man handled to the warehouse. By that time the finished goods went by their own fleet of lorries. Whist I was there the lab open a can of first World One beef stew and it was as good as it was when canned in 1917. No one chanced trying it. The cannery ceased to exist in 1964, when Rowntrees bought it after Whiteside group, who owned Maconochies, went bankrupt, turning it from a cannery to confectionery, Sun Pat peanuts was one of the products.

[wehf100]

Cheers Barrie (and welcome to the forums btw)

This is what I like about this forum. Lots of people who have read up their references, and chaps also drop by who were 'on the ground' at the time.

Will

[thesectionalappendix]

Just to complicate things, another book gives 29.2.1964 as the closing date for the Waterside branch. Shall we agree c. 1964? lol

Brian.

[9E]

This link with a couple of Waterside views has been posted on the GCRS forum:

http://www.btinternet.com/~liz_glossop/pcardtrn.htm

Also included was the info that the latest railway Magazine has a photo of a 4F crossing Melandra bridge on the branch in 1964.

Simon

[52D]

Funny that simon you post a link to GCRS forum and i posted a link on that site and Bygone Lines to this site.

[Glossop Central]

Congratulations on such a wonderful site-------I have just joined!

Having lived in Glossop all my life I have been very interested in the comments on the GCR Waterside Branch.
Regarding the closure date for the branch,E M Johnson gives July 20th 1965 from his Woodhead Part 1 book with previous
shortening having taken place from February 19th 1962.
The various photographs mentioned in reply to this forum seem to be dated around 1961 at the latest and I am unsure about the
actual closure date whether it is 1964 or 1965 but I will continue to attempt to clarify.

I think it would make an excellent modelling project of a true GCR location.
I walked the branch in both directions last Sunday afternoon and it is quite easy to follow without any difficulties.
If you have google earth you can follow the route which is quite clearly defined.
Worth taking a look prior to buying maps or other research data!

I will continue to do more research but if anyone has anything to ask following my walk then please contact me

[Trafford Park]

The last freight train on the branch was worked by a Derby 4.