Stations mark 180th anniversary of Manchester to Sandbach railway line

Banners and posters capturing the historic milestone can be seen by passengers in the ticket office and platforms at Handforth Station.

The Manchester to Birmingham Railway Company was founded in 1839.

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Banners celebrate the 180th anniversary of the Manchester to Sandbach line

Friends of Handforth Station secured funding from Handforth Town Council and Manchester Community Rail Partnership to create the historic displays.

Friends of station groups along the line in Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and Holmes Chapel are also celebrating the anniversary in a similar manner.

Headboards have also been designed for trains running on the line by Friends of Handforth Station.

The first public service, a steam train, between Manchester and Sandbach was reported on Saturday, May 14, 1842, by the Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser.

Historic displays are on show inside the ticket office at Handforth Station

The second portion of the line, 21 miles in length from Stockport to Sandbach, welcomed its first passengers on May 10, 1942.

A newspaper recorded the historic event in a report, stating: ‘The company started three trains daily each way between Manchester and Sandbach; those from Manchester at half-past seven o'clock morning, half-past one afternoon, and half-past six evening; those from Sandbach at eight o'clock morning, eleven forenoon, and five afternoon.

Old photographs capture the historic milestone in displays on the platform of Handforth Stationi

‘On Sundays there will be but two trains each way, from Manchester eight morning, and six evening and from Sandbach eight morning, and half-past seven evening.”

All the trains stopped at stations along the route including Rushford, Cheadle, Handford (as it was known then), Wilmslow, Alderley, Chelford and Holmes Chapel.