jonathan01n
Member
Are there any Main lines/Branch line connected by a heritage rail in between, either sharing a station or not? What I mean is you will not doubling back at the heritage rail.
The East Lancs Railway has two physical connections to other networks: One to NR at Castleton, one to Metrolink south of Bury.
Formerly, the Metrolink connection subsequently connected to NR tracks again at Manchester Victoria, but that connection has now been removed. In any case, the Metrolink tracks have a very restrictive gauge due to their overhead wires, particularly through Collyhurst Tunnel.
I suppose there's a few locos that could physically get into Man Vic both ways, even if it was just a small shunter. Is there still the link between Metrolink and NR just East of Victoria? Totally impractical for railtour usage though, before anyone asks!
There is still the NR connection at Altrincham - though I don't think any ELR locos could possibly comply with the radii/gauging through the city centre (though it'd be quite a sight!)
No, the Victoria connection is no longer there. I don't believe the signalling on it was ever fully commissioned in the 1998 resignalling into Manchester North, and the track was finally removed during the Victoria Metrolink remodelling works a couple of years or so ago.
There is still the NR connection at Altrincham - though I don't think any ELR locos could possibly comply with the radii/gauging through the city centre (though it'd be quite a sight!)