Delph Donkey

Delph Donkey
Delph Measurements Halt Dobcross Huddersfield line to Huddersfield Moorgate Halt Greenfield Grasscroft Huddersfield line to Stalybridge Lydgate tunnel Grotton and Springhead Lees Oldham Loop Line to Rochdale Oldham Glodwick Road Oldham Mumps L&YR Oldham Mumps LNWR Metrolink to Manchester Victoria Oldham Central Oldham Clegg Street LNWR Goods Depot GC Goods Depot Oldham Werneth Oldham, Ashton & Guide Bdge to Ashton-under-Lyne Oldham Loop Line to Manchester Victoria Scottfield GC Goods Depot

The Delph Donkey was an LNWR railway line in northern England which opened in 1849 to connect Oldham, Greenfield and Delph to the main Huddersfield to Manchester line. Passenger Trains ceased to run on the Delph Donkey in April 1955, although a limited number of freight trains continued to use the line until November 1963. The track was lifted in 1964 to turn the line between Oldham and Grotton into a cycle/walk way; the line between Moorgate and Delph became the Delph Donkey Trail footpath and bridleway, on which the halts at Dobcross and Measurements are now marked by replica station nameboards.

Both the Saddleworth villages of Delph and Greenfield are on the western slopes of the Pennine hills. The branch followed the main cross country line between Manchester and Huddersfield as far as Delph Junction set above the village of Uppermill. Just before the junction was Moorgate Halt. Although this was situated on the main line, it was only ever used by trains to Delph. The Delph branch then left the main line and veered sharply left past Ladcastle Quarry before reaching Dobcross halt. It then continued to Delph with one additional intermediate halt that served the 'Measurements' factory on Delph New Road where trains only called at the start and end of the working day. The line terminated at Delph where a private siding served Messrs Mallalieu's Bailey Mill. There was also a goods shed and coal staithes serving local business. Delph was the only station on the line beyond Moorgate with permanent structures; the station building still survives as a private residence (as does Grotton & Springhead station). Services ran to and from Oldham via Greenfield with connections to several other destinations as well as a number of summer specials usually to coastal resorts.

The line took its name from the original service which was said to be a railway carriage drawn by a donkey; however Gordon Suggett states in his book “Lost Railways of Merseyside & Greater Manchester” that it has never been proven that there ever was a donkey or horse drawn service on this line. Since the branch trains worked onto the main Manchester to Huddersfield line, it is unlikely horse drawn trains would have been permitted.

External links

• British Railways in 1960, Delph Junction to Delph