We now return to “Manchester Metrolink Then & Now” – our series where we take a look at a location on the Metrolink network either before or during construction and after trams started to run. The series resumes on the Oldham and Rochdale line at Collyhurst Road.
Collyhurst Road comes across Manchester Metrolink on both the Bury and Oldham/Rochdale lines but these views are taken on the section which crosses over the top of the latter section of tramway. Its not long after the junction between the two lines and the next stop for the tram on its way to Rochdale will be Monsall.
In this first image – taken 12th March 2009 – we are looking northeast at the trackbed of what would become part of the Metrolink network. On the right hand side it looks like there has been some recent felling of trees in preparation for more tramway construction works to come but its still pretty early days before trams could start running.
14 years later and look at all that vegetation growth on both sides of the tramway! The tunnel is our main point of comparison for this image as we see 3127 disappearing into it bound for Rochdale via Oldham. This photo was taken on 18th July 2023. (Both Photographs by Keith Chadbourne)