Cheshire Best Kept Stations

John Hulme

Best Kept Station Competition Photographic Competition ….

Voting is now open for the 2025 Best Kept Station Photo Competition.

We are delighted to be running this competition for the second time alongside Cheshire Life, where it is featured in the December 2025 edition (published in late November).

The theme for 2025 is “Making a Difference.”

From the many entries received, our judges have shortlisted nine photographs for you to choose from.

Voting closes at 5pm on Saturday 3rd January 2025.

The results will be announced at our Annual Awards Evening on 5th February 2026.

Click here to vote

Four minute podcast telling the story of Joseph Harrop ….

This year is the bicentenary of modern railways and Friends of Goostrey Station marked the milestone by organising an event on 27th September during Goosfest.  But unexpectedly we received a request to record the story of a former rail employee as part of a national project called Great Rail Tales.

In 2024 Lynn Gerber contacted Friends of Goostrey Station because she thought that we might be interested in a photo of her grandfather Joseph Harrop.  Lynn provided FoGS with a precious glimpse into the life of someone who worked for half a century on our local railway.

In the picture, Joseph is wearing his porter’s uniform and is seated on a platform bench at Goostrey station. At that time, the station had been open for 20 years. It was a busy place with extensive sidings, a goods yard, a weigh-bridge and a crane. Later Joseph trained a a signalman and was employed at several stations on the Crewe-Manchester line. In WW1 he served as a Royal Marine and in WW2 he was an active member of the Home Guard.

Joseph Harrop’s granddaughter described him as a lovely man who was well respected. He was an active member of the Labour party and, as a keen gardener, he was also secretary of the Allotment Association and the Gooseberry Society.  She added that ’it’s a really nice feeling to know that my grandfather’s story is still being remembered’.

Friends of Goostrey Station agreed with Lynn and so we made the recording.

The 4 minute podcast can be heard on Railway 200’s website https://railway200.co.uk/stories/great-rail-tales/

Other recordings include one by the driver of one of the first trains through the recently completed Channel Tunnel and one about the significance of the iconic British Rail logo.

News from Goostrey Station ….

Coincidentally, the 200th anniversary of the journey of Locomotion 1 on the Stockton to Darlington Railway was during Goosfest’s Arts and Crafts weekend. FoGS took the opportunity to organise a local celebration of this nationally important event.

On Saturday 27 September there was plenty to see at Goostrey Station – a display in the station building showcased FoGS achievements, Sarah Russell MP unveiled one of the new history boards and Rosa Tomlinson, Goostrey’s Rose Queen, buried a time capsule.  During the morning, there was a steady stream of visitors including Rebecca Styles who works for Northern as Regional and Sustainability manager. Everyone was offered a hot drink and a delicious cupcake (with edible an Railway 200 logo!) made by Goostrey’s Pastimes cafe.

Over the summer, FoGS had worked with Goostrey Parish Archive to produce eight attractive weather-resistant boards.  Each records a different aspect of the 135 year history of Goostrey station in text and images. As well as buildings, sidings and the oil storage facility at Twemlow, the boards include information about former rail employees, the engineers George Buck and William Baker and the first residents of station cottages.

FoGS also prepared a time capsule containing information from adults and children about village life in 2025. The spot where it is buried is marked by a plaque and a newly planted Cox’s Orange Pippin apple tree so the capsule can be recovered in 50 years time. Hopefully the girls who helped will be there and the occasion will revive happy memories.

Other village groups were inspired to contribute to the bicentenary celebration. The latest display by Goostrey Primary School in the platform shelter has an appropriate theme – the power of art to transport us to new places.  Goostrey Footpaths Group added two walks from Goostrey station to Railway 200’s Walk for Memories. Both activities promote fitness and greener transport.

Despite only having a dozen active members, FoGS is proud to have organised such a memorable, inclusive event at Goostrey station. They honoured rail heritage, enriched the present and created a legacy.

 

Talented artists’ posters displayed at stations after winning competition ….

Passengers can now enjoy impressive artwork created by the winners of a competition run by Northern.

The competition is part of Railway 200 – the nationwide celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway.

Callum Hoy, 10, was announced as the winner in the under 12 category, after he produced an impressive drawing of a Northern service at Alderley Edge station.

Click here for more details

Rail Ale Trail launched at Handforth Station ….

On Saturday 27th September 2025, the Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) proudly hosted the launch of the very first Rail Ale Trail on the Crewe to Manchester railway line. This initial Rail Ale Trail features nine railway stations — Handforth, Styal, and all stations southwards to Crewe — alongside twenty-one pubs located near each station.

The launch event was held as a highlight of Handforth’s celebrations for Railway 200, marking two centuries since the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, recognised as the world’s first modern railway.

Members of FoHS and their guests assembled on the concourse at Handforth Station for a brief ceremony led by FoHS President, Mike Bishop. Following the ceremony, attendees crossed Station Road to The Railway pub, where they enjoyed refreshments. Here, participants were given their own Sticker Card, and—upon purchasing a glass of real ale—they collected their very first Rail Ale Trail Sticker.

During the proceedings, Matt Deeley, project manager for the Crewe Business Improvement District (BID), which includes Crewe Station, delivered a short speech. The Crewe BID is a sponsor of the Rail Ale Trail, and Matt thanked the organisers for inviting their contribution.

Special guest Matthew Curtis, an award-winning writer, photographer, and podcaster from Manchester, also addressed attendees. Matthew is the author of “Modern British Beer” (CAMRA Books, 2021) and “Manchester’s Best Beer Pubs and Bars” (CAMRA Books, 2023). He later commented, “It was a great honour to help launch this Rail Ale Trail, which I am certain will be a wonderful success. The dedication and hard work of community groups like Friends of Handforth Station feel more important than ever, and I wish them a hearty congratulations on getting this project underway.”

The event was attended by Cheshire East Councillors, Handforth Town Councillors, members of local CAMRA branches, local Handforth residents, and representatives from other ‘Friends of a Station’ groups involved in the Rail Ale Trail, including Holmes Chapel, Chelford, Sandbach, and Styal stations.

Mike Bishop explained that anyone wishing to participate should visit the Rail Ale Trail webpage (search for “Crewe to Manchester Rail Ale Trail” or use https://www.crewe2manchesterrail.org.uk/days-out/rail-ale-trail-1/). There, participants can download a Sticker Card listing all the stations and pubs involved. The aim is to collect a sticker at each pub visited. Upon completing the Sticker Card, participants are rewarded with a coveted baseball cap featuring the Rail Ale Trail logo.

Mike also expressed gratitude for the generous sponsorship provided by the Crewe to Manchester Community Rail Partnership, Crewe BID, and the Cheshire Pub Co.