Trains at Manchester Piccadilly (WCML) - 15/02/2024

The 213th video of my train spotting adventures.
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This video finishes our travels throughout Manchester at its largest station, Manchester Piccadilly. A large 14-platform terminus and through station, its most original form was that of 'Store Street' station in 1842, two years after the Manchester and Birmingham Railway (M&BR) had extended their line from Stockport to a terminus on Travis Street nearby. Store Street was then opened later on upon a raised viaduct. It had two platforms; at that point the line also went to Crewe. From the beginning it was shared by the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway (SA&MR) following an agreement in 1837. The M&BR amalgamated with other companies to form the London and North Western Railway (L&NWR) in 1846; the SA&MR formed into the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR) three years later.
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In 1847, the station was renamed to 'London Road'. In 1849 the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJ&AR) began using the station after the line from Manchester Oxford Road was extended; this single platform next to the main station formed the bedrock of the future Platforms 13 & 14. By the 1850s the station was becoming overcrowded; the LNWR and MS&LR argued as well due to the latter's cooperation with the Great Northern Railway (GNR) in creating new London services, competing directly with the LNWR; they still cooperated in expanding the station which started in 1862. This divided the station to form a LNWR north-west side and a MS&LR south-west side, with separate booking offices and passenger facilities, along with a 656ft/200m long iron and glass trainshed overhead; the companies built their own goods sheds and warehouses also.
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10 years on it was once more overcrowded and needed more expansion. Between 1880-1883, the LNWR widened its half, building more platforms and more covering arches. The MSJ&AR platform was rebuilt as an island platform on a bridge over Fairfield Street and linked to the main station via a footbridge. In 1897, the MS&LR changed into the Great Central Railway (GCR), opening its own direct route to London from Manchester in 1899. In 1910 the adjacent Mayfield station was opened with 4 platforms to relieve London Road's overcrowding, linked by a footbridge. Mayfield station closed to passengers in 1960, and to all traffic in 1986; it's remained 'in situ' ever since, despite proposals of reopening to reduce overcrowding.
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Following the 1923 railway grouping, the LNWR amalgamated with other companies to form the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), and the GCR amalgamated to form the London and North Eastern Railway (L&NER). Even with grouping and nationalisation in 1948 it continued to be operated divided; one half by the London Midland Region of British Railways and the other by Regional Railways. From 1958-1966, London Road was rebuilt for the WCML modernisation programme, renamed to Manchester Piccadilly in 1960.
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The London Midland Region rebuilt the station at a cost of £1.75 million (£43.5 mill in 2024 values). Aside from the Victorian arches, most of the station was rebuilt. Works included several new platforms, rebuilt MSJ&AR platforms, a new concourse and an office block; this was finished in 1966. Since then numerous additions have occurred, including a 2002 modern refurbishment, expanded rail lines in the region, and the Metrolink underneath the station opening in 1992.
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Filmed on the:
West Coast Mainline (terminus)
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Services seen:
AWC) Services towards Stockport, Stoke-on-Trent Crewe, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham New Street and on to London Euston.
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XC) Services towards Stockport, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham New Street and on to Oxford, Southampton and Bournemouth.
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TPE) Services towards Manchester Airport, Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Victoria, Warrington Central, Newton-le-Willows, Liverpool Lime Street, Bolton, Stockport, Sheffield, and on to Cleethorpes, Hull and Saltburn.
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NT) Services towards Hadfield, Glossop, Rose Hill Marple, Hazel Grove, Buxton, Manchester Airport, Altrincham, Chester, Manchester Oxford Road, Deansgate, Manchester Victoria, and other destinations across the North of England.
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TFW) Services towards Manchester Airport, Manchester Oxford Road, Warrington Bank Quay, Chester, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Hereford and on to Cardiff and Llandudno/Holyhead.
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EMR) Services towards Manchester Oxford Road, Liverpool Lime Street, Stockport, Sheffield and on to Peterborough, Ely and Norwich.
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Trains seen:
AWC) Class 390 Pendolino
XC) Class 220/221 Voyagers
TPE) Class 185 Desiro, Class 397 Civity/Nova 1, Class 802 Nova 2
NT) Class 150 Sprinter, Class 156 Super Sprinter, Class 195 Civity, Class 331 Civity
TFW) Class 153 Super Sprinter, Class 197 Civity
EMR) Class 158 Express Sprinter, Class 170 Turbostar
DB) Class 66
FL) Class 66
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[@stevehales2937]

Great video!! 👍