( where is it, how do I get there ! )
The loco works and sheds are about two and a half miles East of Manchester and is situated directly on the side of the Manchester to Sheffield main line (Woodhead route) about 150 yards to the West of Gorton railway station on the Northern side of the railway lines and, is actually in Openshaw not Gorton.
(This section of railway is brilliantly illustrated in EM Johnson's book "WOODHEAD Pt 1" - 'Foxline Publishing)
As the works shut down in 1963, We have to go back to the very early 60s to get there.....
The nearest main road to the works is Ashton Old Road (A635) and the nearest railway station is Gorton & Openshaw.
If going to the works by road from either the Ashton or Manchester directions you will have to catch the No 218 or 219 bus and ask to get off at Cornwall street. If coming by train from Manchester, catch one of the "Glossop electrics" ( EMUs), usually they depart from either platform two or three at London Road Station (Piccadily). If coming in from the East via the electrfied lines, catch one of the Glossop electrics also. Get off the train at 'Gorton & Openshaw station.
The map below is a guide on how to get to the works. If coming in by train get off the train at Gorton,. The exit is onto Lees Street. When on Lees Street. You will find yourself in a 'Coronation Street' type of enviroment, you are now surrounded by acres and acres of terraced houses. Turn left on Lees Street and Walk up to Ogden Lane, turn left into Ogden lane and continue down the lane. On the left is an old mill which is now used by 'Hugon's' , This is the home of (and I'm sure all the older readers will remember them) "Atora Steak Puddings". Just after the mill is The Canal overbridge. This canal is the Stockport branch of the Ashton Canal. The Building immediately over the canal bridge on the left hand side of the road is the loco works canteen and behind that is the canal depot. Walk past the canteen and the canal depot entrance, this entrance also leads to the car park of the British Railways Staff Association club
Walking on you are now at the junction of Cornwall Street and Ogden Lane. Looking left down Cornwall street on the other side of the road are the main offices of the Locomotive works. Immediately across Cornwall street is Lawton Street and just a few paces along Lawton Street you are at the works main entrance.
To get to the sheds by train, Get off the train at Gorton and follow the same route as if going to the works. When at Cornwall Street, turn left and pass the works main offices (on the right hand side of the road) and the British Railways Staff Association
main entrance (on the left hand side), cross over Cornwall street at the railway bridge and turn right into Railway Street immediately after the Bridge. Carry on all the way down Railway Street, passing the main offices of BEYER PEACOCK,S on the left. The Street comes to an end here except for some steps going up and onto the foot bridge. Proceeding over the bridge you are now on the "BIRD CAGE". The bird cage is an elevated public thoroughfare that traverses the whole of the main Workshops. On the left is the magnificent erecting shop, the roofline of the five bays going away from the birdcage at right angles. On the right are the machine shops going lengthways with the 'cage'. Once clear of these shops the whole of the running sheds and yards are there for all to see on the left hand side of the cage.. On the right is the works yard. from here the birdcage slowly decends to street level (Widnes Street) and on the left is the main gate to the sheds, The turntable is quite visible through the gates ( if you are lucky enough to see them open )...
If visiting the running sheds catch the bus to the "REX" cinema, the bus conducter will let people know when they are there. The main gates for the running sheds are in Widnes Street. Widnes Street is diectly oposite the Rex cinema. Walk the full length of Widnes Street, Once past the junction of Whitworth Street the street is bordered on both sides by very high brick walls. On the left is the 'road motors' shop and general stores of the loco works and on the right hand side of the street are the main offices, workshop, smithy, booking on office etc. of the running sheds. the bird cage can be seen at the end of the street. Just before the bird cage are the main gates to the running sheds on the right hand side of the Street. From here the birdcage starts it's climb up to the roof levels of the erecting shop and machine shops and over the top of them to Railway Street on the other side of the Manchseter to Sheffield main line