Clegg Hall and Smithy Bridge Railways
Over time the railways in this area have seen significant changes. After Many years a passenger station was opened, then closed and then re-opened. Later, water-troughs were provided within the cutting between Belfield and Clegg Hall to enable steam locomotive to refill their tanks whilst on the move. For freight a loop was installed from Fletchers Road Bridge to Smithy Bridge station and later additional sidings and loops were installed. The 1970s saw these facilities removed leaving just the original 2 lines. Modernisation later included Smithy Bridge Level Crossing.
The worst railway accident in the Littleborough area occurred on 18th March 1915 when 4 people were killed and many injured
Water Troughs at Clegg Hall installed in circa 1886
Water was at first supplied from the nearby Rochdale Canal. Later, possibly from a borehole but from 1930 they were fed from the Holmes Pit of Dearnley colliery located west of Smithy Bridge Road (previously Halliday Lane).The railway’s water requirements were met by the public supply from sometime in the early-to-mid-forties. It is believed that the water troughs were taken out of use between 1963 and 1969.
Freight
Extensive freight facilities were provided at Smithy Bridge including sidings and passing loops and over the years were extended but with the rationalisation of freight facilities and other economies they have all now gone - see picture right for how extensive the facilities once were.
Passenger Station
The first passenger station opened on 1st October 1868 and included staggered platforms each side of the level crossing (far right). That station was closed in 1960 (amended closure notice near right) but in 1985 the current station was built as a new simple unstaffed station was built. Due recent housing both platforms are located west of the level crossing.
Smithy Bridge level crossing
Little is known about how road and rail traffic was initially protected but based on Turnpike Roads it can be assumed that some form of gate was provided. Later these were replaced by wooden swing gates controlled by an adjacent signal box. Under modernisation these were replaced by full lifting barriers (rather than by automatic half-barriers as originally proposed). Finally, the signal box was removed with the barriers remotely operated aided by CCTV and ground radar systems etc.
Next page Smithy Bridge Train Disaster
