Chairmans Blog

We hear that the fully-booked Mid-Cheshire Moorlander Hooton-Chester-Mid Cheshire Line-Settle-Carlisle-Workington-Mid Cheshire Line-Chester-Hooton special train organised by Compass Railtours for this Saturday, 20 August has had to be postponed to Wednesday 26 October because West Coast Railways of Carnforth don’t have enough serviceable coaches. There will however be another special train over the Mid Cheshire Line [...]

The winter pansies are coming to an end in the flower boxes along the line and we are waiting for replacement geraniums. Then it will be “all hands to the planters” and extra volunteer gardeners will be very welcome.  In the meantime, the lineside rhododendrons and other flowering shrubs are looking, and, at Mouldsworth smelling, [...]

Sally, our Community Rail Officer has a new camera. She’s been getting used to it. Here’s some “April” pictures as she’s been out and about …. Our Vice Chairman, John Hulme, poses by one of our “North Eastern Express” posters, kindly printed for us by Northern Rail, and also displayed for us in one of [...]

Here’s a free ticket for this weekend’s Foodies Festival! Just click on the link – E_Ticket_FoodiesFestival – then print it out and take it with you. Take your walking boots and catch the train to Knutsford, walking from there. No need to worry about the car or driving home, and remember to pop into somewhere [...]

Last Thursday, 12 May, the Community Rail Partnership ran its first daytime Music Train – from Chester to the Golden Pheasant at Plumley. It went well with a healthy attendance for a new venture. 15 people enjoyed the music of Roy Clinging and the Hat Show Band – ranging from Johnny Cash to Morningtown Ride [...]

On tonight’s Music Train, being tied in with Chester Folk Festival, we have 3 bands! We’ll also be distributing our Music Trains Programme 2011 leaflet. You can download it now if you want. Our mailing list specifically for Music Trains now has well over 100 names on it – musictrains@midcheshire.org.uk Perhaps we’ll see you this [...]

Sally writes: “Just in time for longer days & opportunities to get out in to the beautiful Cheshire countryside, MCRUA, the CRP and Knutsford Local Area Partnership have produced a booklet of local rail walks. Starting and finishing at railway stations there are walks at Plumley, Knutsford, Mobberley, Ashley and Chelford and all walks have [...]

Northwich’s Humps were installed last weekend. Here’s some pictures taken yesterday by Sally …. The Manchester-bound platform with the Zone in the background and some of the new cycle racks. The Chester-bound platform. In use. No more “Launching into Space” at Northwich!

A member writes …. I’ve just finally got around to joining MCRUA, being a frequent user of the Mid-Cheshire line. I was wondering whether I could ask you about an issue which I suspect you may be aware of and which frequently affects me – indeed it did today. The issue is the way in [...]

Currently the diamond crossing at Heaton Norris Junction is “plain-lined” after being damaged, thus preventing access from Stockport to the Denton and Reddish South line. On Saturday Spitfire Railtours are running a special from Weston-super-Mare to Holyhead and return hauled by 2 West Coast class 37 diesels, with a class 47 on the rear. This [...]