Royton branch

Oldham Lines
Past, Present and Future
Kirklees South Lines to Huddersfield Delph Diggle Measurements Dobcross Saddleworth Uppermill Moorgate Halt Friezland Tameside Lines to Tameside Rochdale Lines to Rochdale Greenfield Shaw and Crompton Tameside Lines to Tameside Royton Grasscroft Royton Junction Grotton and Springhead Derker Lees Oldham Glodwick Road Oldham Mumps (L&YR) Oldham Mumps (L&NWR) Oldham Mumps Oldham Central Oldham Central (L&YR) Oldham King Street Oldham Clegg Street Westwood Oldham Werneth Tameside Lines to Ashton Chadderton Middleton Junction and Oldham Branch Railway Freehold South Chadderton Rochdale Lines to Middleton and Rochdale Hollinwood Middleton Junction Failsworth Manchester Lines North to Manchester Manchester Lines North to Manchester

The Royton Branch was a mile-long Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway built double track branch railway line in Greater Manchester, England, that ran from Royton Junction (renamed Royton in 1978) on the Oldham Loop Line to Royton.

History

Opening

Royton Station opened on 21 March 1864 by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway to link the mill town of Royton to their rail network.

Ownership changes

Passing in 1923 to the London Midland & Scottish Railway it was considered for electrification in 1924 but those plans were shelved. In 1948 the line was nationalised becoming part of British Railways London Midland Region who ran the line until it fell foul of the Beeching cuts.

Closure

The line closed to freight on 2 November 1964, and passengers on 16 April 1966, officially closing on 18 April.

Accidents

Although a short line, it was well-used but poorly maintained. This led to a number of accidents, the most serious being a collision on 31 October 1908 that killed a fireman, and on 8 February 1961 when a train derailed at Royton hitting local houses but fortunately causing only minor injuries.

External links

• Royton station and line history
• British Railways in 1960 - Royton Junction to Royton
• Description and pictures of the 1961 crash