Ardwick

CRS Code	ADK
Collected date	14/09/16

Ardwick only gets two trains a day on weekdays, and with the station only a mile or so from Manchester Piccadilly and the services being at commuter o'clock, it seemed a reasonable assumption that the trains got passengers who worked particularly close by and used the station to save a bit of time. But when we got off, there was just us. And not a lot of sign of anyone else around who might want a train here.

At least it has a sign, and the remnants of an old railway building on the left:

Looking towards the road from the narrow path that leads to the station:

At the end of the path a narrow stairway leads up to platform level (though not actually to the platforms!):

Yes, this station is about as accessible as Proust. Why do you ask? The steps lead up to a small "mezzanine" area up on top of the viaduct but not actually the station platforms. The steps are on the right just behind the blue cabinet:

With high voltage signs on the back this building is probably something to do with electrification, but it is not for us:

The side of the building:

With the unidentified electricity-laden building on our left, the goal is in sight, but first we must cross the footbridge:

Looking east from the footbridge:

Looking west from the footbridge towards Piccadilly:

Down on platform level finally, looking up at the footbridge:

Looking west from the end of the Manchester-bound platform 2:

Looking north-eastwards from the end of the platform with buffers and depot lins off to the left:

The platform actually does pretty well for facilities. Looking along platform 2 here we can see information, a shelter, and seats:

Platform 1 opposite starts a little way east, for some reason. Looking west from the end of platform 1:

There's some seating, from which one can watch the railway world go by:

In the ground here is this small memorial:

The grass in the centre of the western end of the platform has grown rather. From the limit of the "do not pass this point" signs, looking west along the platforms:

And looking east at the overgrown grass we can't get to:

The eastern end of platform 2:

All photographs are © Alexandra Lanes You may reproduce them anywhere for any purpose. Coastline maps are reproduced from Ordnance Survey map data by permission of the Ordnance Survey © Crown copyright 2001