Plaque unveiling at New Mills Central
The new time for Northern Rail’s Area Manager, Alex Hynes to arrive for the ceremony to unveil the plaque at Central Railway Station is 11.15pm
The 150th Anniversary of the Station‘s opening on the 1st July 1865 is being celebrated in New Mills with a number of events, starting with the unveiling of the plaque. The Station has served the community ever since it opened; it is situated on the Hope Valley line which goes from Manchester to Sheffield through beautiful scenery.
The Plaque is intended to appeal to children – to encourage them to ask questions – to give a lead-in to age-related discussions.
These might include mysteries like ‘Why is the engine hiding in that tunnel?’
‘Does the railway really go under the town centre?’ ‘Yes – it does!’ ‘So – Why doesn’t it go to Hayfield anymore?’
‘How did they build the bridges and viaducts?’ ‘Why is that boat crossing the river on a bridge?’ – Check out the canal aqueduct between Marple and Romiley!
‘Can I build trains and bridges with my Lego?’ ‘Yes!’
Older children may be interested in people like Trevithick who in 1804 built the First Railway Locomotive. Other inventors followed, tackling all sorts of problems with their experiments – creating a few ‘bangs!’ as they evolved and developed their designs. Blenkinsop ran the first commercially successful locomotive, followed by William Hedley and his ‘Puffing Billy’.
George Stephenson is famous for developing his engines ‘Locomotion’ (1825) then the famous ‘Rocket’ and ‘Planet.’ Incredible achievements! Tough and reliable with an efficient multi-tube boilers by 1830 these locomotives were hauling trains between Manchester and Liverpool – with the poor passengers traveling in open carriages!
More railway lines were being built in the following years and New Mills Station was opened in 1865.
Did Stephenson and his Rocket ever come through New Mills? – That’s something else to research on the internet!!
PS Refreshments at the Heritage Centre approx 11.45. Please note the station is down a steep hill – please park in the town centre – there is no parking at the station.