STYAL 100: RAIL CENTENARY FUN DAY CELEBRATED AT QUARRY BANK MILL ON 17TH MAY
18th May 2009

'National Community Rail Month’ was marked by an event at Quarry Bank Mill in Styal celebrating the centenary of the "Styal Line" from Manchester to Crewe. 

There was, in fact, double cause for celebration with the launch of a 2 hourly Sunday service to Styal - ideal for visitors to the famous National Trust property.

 The Crewe to Manchester Community Rail Partnership also invited Harry Jackson, the octogenarian stationmaster at Styal to be Guest of Honour. Harry worked at Styal until manning was removed from the station in 1966. Having met Northern Rail dignitaries at the station, Harry took the vintage shuttle bus to the main event at Quarry Bank Mill and spent a great deal of the day at the heritage exhibition discussing memories of Styal Station with visitors.

Whilst the youngsters enjoyed "Victorian" games stalls, face painting and balloon modelling; the young at heart relished the model railway exhibition  and learned more about local rail services at the Community Rail Partnership stall. A lucky few won Greater Manchester Wayfarer rail tickets in a free raffle. 

 

 

On an artistic note, Styal Primary School provided a wonderful gallery of paintings and drawings on a rail theme.

 

Attendance for the event, supported by The National Trust and the Friends of Styal Station was excellent and even the odd downpour was not enough to deter visitors to the attractions on offer.

 

 

 

 

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