Woodsmoor Station have started their work towards the Cheshire Best Kept Station Awards 2026 by celebrating St Patrick’s Day.

The Woodsmoor Owls now decorated for St Patrick’s Day!

Complete with leprechauns at the Fairy Doors

 

 

The winners of Cheshire Best Kept Stations 2025 were announced
at the Annual Awards Evening at Crewe Alexandra Football Club
on Thursday 5th February 2026
by Tony Miles
Cheshire based Transport Journalist and Rail Industry Commentator.

Romiley Railway Station was named Cheshire’s Best Kept Station 2025

View all our 2025 winners

Watch
The Friends of Romiley Station celebrate

Good news!

The Friends of Goostrey Station has been shortlisted for another Community Rail Award. This national accolade celebrates the inspiring work of station volunteer groups and community rail partnerships across Britain.

The category named It’s Your Station covers work in 4 areas – gardening, community, art & heritage and environment & sustainability. For the third year running, FoGS was awarded enough points to be in the platinum group.

FoGS is also a finalist in the Railway 200 Legacy category.

On 27th September 2025, over 100 local people joined FoGS volunteers at Goostrey Station to mark 200 years since the opening of the Stockton and Darlington railway. On that date in 1825, George Stephenson’s Locomotion number 1 hauled the world’s first steam powered passenger train, an event which is regarded as the start of the modern railway. FoGS aimed to honour rail heritage, enrich the present and create a legacy.

Local MP Sarah Russell unveiled 8 new weather-resistant boards which record the 135 year history of Goostrey Station in text and images. Inside the restored station building, visitors enjoyed a exhibition about FoGS’ achievements and delicious refreshments (including locally made cupcakes decorated with a railway 200 logo).

At noon, Goostrey’s Rose Queen buried a time-capsule. A plaque and a newly planted apple tree mark the spot so the contents can be retrieved in 2075.

Craig Sidebotham, chair of FoGS, said:
“We’re thrilled that our work at Goostrey Station has again been recognised.”

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said:
“Huge congratulations to Friends of Goostrey Station for being shortlisted. We’re looking forward to them joining our community rail colleagues and industry partners to celebrate their hard work, positivity, and dedication at our awards evening in Derby on 19 March.”

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.