Guide Bridge station , passenger subway?

[billh]

I was often on the station from about 1959 onwards and have no recollection of a subway between platforms 1,2/3,4. I recently was looking at some old photos from early 1950s and they definitely show staircase entry to a subway and signs directing to other platforms. The question is why? There was an wide access bridge alongside Guide Lane which served all platforms and a goods lift down to each, destroyed by fire in this century. Most of the station was re-built around 1904 with the 4 tracking scheme between Ardwick and Hyde Junction so the subway and bridge would date from then. Just seems like an unnecessary extravagance .

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Interesting. Are you able to append any of the photographs? Take it the photos haven't been taken from up on the overbridge, looking down to platform level?

 

[billh]

A search of "Guide Bridge Station old photos" will reveal many hundreds of interesting images from Victorian times to present day. Those showing the subway in the background are generally from the platforms and feature 8Fs and the like.

 

[John Webb]

An 1894 map on the National Library of Scotland site - see https://maps.nls.uk/view/126522962 - shows the platforms on the outside of the tracks. Another map from 1922 - see https://maps.nls.uk/view/126522965 - shows the reorganised tracks and platforms. Neither indicate the presence of a subway.
But is it possible that one did exist between the platform on the Sth side to give access to the relatively isolated Nth platform before the footbridge was built in 1904, and they merely connected the new island platform to it?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Anyone able to upload or provide a link to one of these photos?

 

[billh]

Here you go:

47417 @ GUIDE BRIDGE 1 | PJBrailwayphotos Photo Gallery

47417 @ GUIDE BRIDGE 1 - PJBrailwayphotos Photo Gallery

pjbrailwayphotos.piwigo.com

Stairways visible on pl1 and2, also bridge beams over the subway beneath the loco.

69806 at Guide Bridge | PJBrailwayphotos Photo Gallery

69806 at Guide Bridge - PJBrailwayphotos Photo Gallery

pjbrailwayphotos.piwigo.com

Stairway on pl4

 

[Mcr Warrior]

So is that pic probably taken from the Eastern end of the former central island platform (2?) at Guide Bridge looking Westwards towards Manchester (with the spire of St. Stephen's church on the skyline)?

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