Rail passengers have an opportunity to find out more about the history of their local area, thanks to a series of heritage boards installed at stations along the Glossop line. 

Led by Friends of Glossop Station chair Neil Williams, and involving Friends of Station groups from the South East Manchester Community Rail Partnership, the project has taken four years to complete. 

It involved researching each of the stations along the line from Manchester Piccadilly to the line’s terminal at Glossop.  

The final boards were installed last week at Broadbottom, Godley, Newton for Hyde, Flowery Field and Guide Bridge. 

Neil Williams, project lead, said: “This has been the most complex project that I have organised, but I feel proud that the whole line now has these boards. 

“These should tie in so well with the current emphasis of promoting leisure travel by train and, of course, our own recently published Visit the Glossop Line by Train leaflet!” 

Rick Hall helps to install panels along the Glossop line

Helen Wright from High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership, who helped fund the project, said: “These panels provide rail passengers with a unique insight into their own community history.  

“This is a fantastic way to connect communities to their local train stations and to encourage more train travel.” 

Production and installation dates were setback due to Covid-19 but the final panels were expertly installed by Rick Hall from Buxton, with assistance from Neil Williams.  

Permission to erect the boards at the stations was given by Northern Railways, who along with Transport for Greater Manchester, generously covered the installation costs. 

Funding for the project has come from the Community Rail Partnerships for South East Manchester and the High Peak and Hope Valley. 

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