Cheshire Best Kept Stations

John Hulme

News from Goostrey Station ….

The Friends of Goostrey station write ….

For many years, Barry Alston and Bill Macdonald were enthusiastic FoGS volunteers. We are extremely sad that they both died recently.

Barry and Bill were always busy during our monthly action mornings and the results of their practical activities can be seen at Goostrey Station today.

Not long after FoGS formed, Barry fitted extensions to the drainpipes on the station building to prevent water from running underneath.

In 2013, he helped to clean the newly rediscovered keystone of the old railway bridge so it could be mounted on platform one.

Bill painted the surface and also restored a station oil lamp which helped to create the pleasant seating area that we enjoy today.

Bill loved to supervise visiting Cubs and Beavers as they swept leaves and planted bulbs.

And he always relished a challenge.

He created frames for Goostrey Connections, the two banners of Eamonn Murphy artwork on display at Goostrey Station.

He relocated an unused wooden seat for the benefit of passengers on platform two.

And he took great pride in adding FoGS’ latest award from the Cheshire Best Kept Station competition to the wall of the road bridge.

On our photo Bill is far left and Barry second from the right shown celebrating another award from Cheshire Best Kept Stations with the FoGS team.

Farewell Barry and Bill – and thank you for your support and for your friendship.

 

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.