This post covers the section from the site of Monton Green Station through Worsley Station to the junction with Roe Green Loop Line at Roe Green and has been updated with some new photos now that much of this section has been extensively resurfaced.
The site of Monton Green Station was several feet above this small roundabout on the B5229. The station has been completely demolished, as has all sign of the line to the south. There is no signage at all on this road pointing out the start of the railpath, which is on the right just after the roundabout despite it being part of NCN Route 55.
This is the entrance, the winding path that begins behind the red barrier. There is no drop kerb or any other concession to pedal cycles. The entrance to the left of the picture leads to a brand new car park, so drivers have been well looked after...
The path leads up a short slope into the trees and straight into the one and only barrier on this section of path. It is a horrible U-bend barrier with a bike A-frame bypass. Enough to defeat some pedal cycles, but not as bad as many in Salford.
Once through the barrier you can get a glimpse of the car park on your left, and wonder how much it must have cost compared to the resurfacing of the path...
This first section of the path is well surfaces with a reddish tarmac. It runs along a wide embankment with trees on both sides. Unfortunately there has been little management of the trees and you get just a few glimpses of the open views on both sides.
To the left at this point is Broadoak Park the subject of a residents' battle to prevent it being built on, now a residents' victory and to the right is Worsley Golf Course.
About 3/4 of a mile up the path it crosses a stream on a rebuilt bridge
and brings you to the site of Worsley Station. Unlike most other former stations in the area, this one still has some reminder of it's existence with platforms on both sides.
At the end of the old platforms there is access via Hollyhurst, the old station access road up onto the A572 Worsley Road.
Here is where the resurfacing work starts. The new surface is a very smooth black tarmac without the usual grit finish, suitable for all cycles.
Just to the north the path passes under Worsley Road, through a rebuilt bridge, much smaller than the original.
The bridge is a corrugated iron tube and the old wooden gate that used to sit across the path here has been removed.
Beyond, the extensive drainage works can be seen on the left. Somewhere along here a short branch line to the Bridgewater Canal joined this line from the left, but I have never noticed the junction amongst the various footpaths.
New access steps have been installed along the route with groves for wheeling a bicycle up and down, but they are useless for anything heavy or with a trailer.
At the bridge under the M60 the trees have been cut back and a new bench has been added.
However, there is still no lighting under the bridge.
A short way further on the trees on the left disappear, along with the embankment.
This is the site of a new United Utilities facility built to prevent sewerage getting into Kempnough Brook. It consists of an underground bifurcation chamber fitted with a powered screen, a 1,545m3 detention tank, a weir and a powered screen chamber.
This was the work that closed this route over the summer of 2013.
From here the trees close in again on the left along with an original wall holding back the cutting.
This section now leads to the junction at Roe Green, where the two bridges carry Greenleach Lane over the junction.
The bridge to the left straddles the continuation of the Tyldesley Loopline as it turns west. Here the tarmac ends.
Under the bridge to the right the resurfacing continues along the newer Roe Green Loopline which heads north for Bolton.
Continued in separate posts.
Tyldesley Loop Line 2
Roe Green Loopline 1
View Tyldesley Loopline 1 - Monton to Roe Green in a larger map
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