Former Halfacre Lane Rail Bridge - Thelwall, UK
Posted by: dtrebilc
N 53° 22.768 W 002° 31.259
30U E 531864 N 5914591
This bridge is on the Lymm Railway line, a rails-to-trails cycle trail and footpath that follows the route of the former Warrington and Altrincham Junction Railway.
Waymark Code: WMWRCG
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/06/2017
Views: 2
The Lymm Railway line follows the route of the former Warrington and Altrincham Junction Railway.
"The Warrington and Altrincham Junction Railway was a railway line that was in operation from 1 November 1853 to 7 July 1985. The railway was created by an act of parliament on 3 July 1851 to build a line between Timperley Junction on the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway(MSJAR), to provide a through route to Manchester, and Warrington Arpley on the St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway providing a link with Liverpool."
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After the rail line was abandoned and the track lifted it was adapted as an 8 mile long rails-to-trails recreation route between Broadheath and Latchford Locks. At this point two long distance paths follow it. The Bollin Valley Way which loosely follows the route of the River Bollin and the much longer Trans Pennine Trail.
"The Trans Pennine Trail is an exciting route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders linking the North and Irish seas, passing through the Pennines, alongside rivers and canals and through some of the most historic towns and cities in the North of England."
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This bridge carries the trail over the minor road, Halfacre Lane. One side of the bridge is almost totally hidden by ivy.
The railway line largely followed the route of the Bridewater Canal built in 1770, 83 years before the railway. At this particular part of the route the canal and the railway line are only about 30 feet aprt, both crossing Halfacre Lane.