2025 has got off to a bit of a chaotic start with wind, rain and snow hitting various different areas of the UK. Snow fell in Manchester overnight into Sunday 5th January 2025 and in this article we see some images taken by Keith Chadbourne of Metrolink continuing to run through the white stuff in and around St Werburgh’s Road.
This first photo was taken at Chorlton and shows 3128 having just left the stop on its way to Rochdale which will head across Manchester City Centre’s Second City Crossing.
Staying at Chorlton in this image we see 3146 as it pulls into the stop on the way to East Didsbury. Much of the snow on the access slopes to the platforms has now turned to slush.
Moving along the line to St Werburgh’s Road and this is 3074 which is working a service to Manchester Airport. Its just coming up to the junction where the East Didsbury and Airport lines split.
3084 is just approaching Withington with a service for East Didsbury. This is the first stop on the line to East Didsbury following the divergence of the Airport line.
Here we see 3112, also arriving a Withington bound for East Didsbury. Whilst the track bed remains snow covered much of the surrounding surfaces are starting to clear.
A quick turn around as we see 3112 again as it comes to a halt at the stop continuing its journey to East Didsbury. (All Photographs by Keith Chadbourne, 5th January 2025)
These pics represent what we cynical old hacks (hardened by years of news coverage across generations of real winters in northern Scotland) used to term “White hell”.
Does Metrolink own a snow plough? Not that it would be needed in the illustrated situation. What if they had snow like they do in Boston?