Book Review: Main Line Operations Around Manchester and The MSW Electrification

Written by Bob Pixton, Main Line Operations Around Manchester and The MSW Electrification is a comprehensive record of the Great Central Railway lines around Manchester.

Published earlier this year by Pen & Sword, this hardback book measures around and has 270 pages.

The price is £30, but can be picked up on Amazon for £21.77 (at the time of writing)

Throughout the book are many pictures, along with maps, gradient profiles and timetables.

The book is split into 4 main sections

The mainline to Godley

This looks at the stations, junctions, along the line starting with Manchester London Road (Now Manchester Picadilly) There is also information and pictures of the carriage and wagon works at Dukinfield, and very interesting to see the carriages on the production line.

The line to Stalybridge

This short section includes lots of photographs in and around Stalybridge.

The Manchester Central station line

Looking at the line from Manchester Central station which closed in 1969 and is now the Manchester Central conference and exhibition centre. Again this has many pictures of the stations and junctions along the way.

Electrification Matters

The final section looks at the electrification of the line to Sheffield. It includes information on the electric locomotives and electric multiple units used in the line. It also has information about the Woodhead Tunnel and details of how the new Woodhead Tunnel was created.

Review Summary

The many photographs in the book give a clear picture of how the railways around Manchester used to look. It was interesting to see the maps, particularly to see how some of the yards and stations were before. The addition of some timetables, posters and adverts creates a comprehensive historical archive, almost like having a museum in your hands.

Whilst it would have been nice to see a few then and now pictures for comparison, this book is still a comprehensive record of the Great Central Railway lines around Manchester.

The book is available to purchase from Amazon as well as from Pen & Sword

We would like to thank Pen & Sword for providing us with a copy of the book for review.