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Photographs, maps, news, queries and more."/> <meta property="og:title" content="Irlam and Cadishead [1st] - RAILSCOT"/> <meta property="og:description" content="RailScot, a history of Railways with an emphasis on Scottish Railways. Photographs, maps, news, queries and more."/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"/><meta name="twitter:site" content="@railscot"/><meta name="twitter:creator" content="@railscot"/><meta name="twitter:title" content="Irlam and Cadishead [1st] / Mark Bartlett"/><meta name="twitter:description" content="05/02/2025. This bridge abutment, immediately east of Irlam station, carried the Warrington to Manchester CLC route from 1873 to 1893 when the present line over the arched bridge behind was opened. This was at a higher level as part of the crossing of the Manchester Ship Canal to the east of here. Superb murals, commemorating Irlam's rich railway history, are displayed on the brickwork and a levelled area of the trackbed has been incorporated into a small linear park with, of all things, a 'Hobbit House'. The girder bridge beyond the arch once carried an industrial line."/><meta name="twitter:image" content="https://railscot.co.uk/__cache/thumbnails/92000/92223.jpg"/><meta property="og:url" content="https://railscot.co.uk/img/92/92223"/><meta property="og:title" content="RAILSCOT | Irlam and Cadishead [1st] | Mark Bartlett"/><meta property="og:description" content="This bridge abutment, immediately east of Irlam station, carried the Warrington to Manchester CLC route from 1873 to 1893 when the present line over the arched bridge behind was opened. This was at a higher level as part of the crossing of the Manchester Ship Canal to the east of here. Superb murals, commemorating Irlam's rich railway history, are displayed on the brickwork and a levelled area of the trackbed has been incorporated into a small linear park with, of all things, a 'Hobbit House'. The girder bridge beyond the arch once carried an industrial line."/><meta property="og:image" content="https://railscot.co.uk/__cache/thumbnails/92000/92223.jpg"/><script async src="https://epnt.ebay.com/static/epn-smart-tools.js"></script> <title>RAILSCOT | Irlam and Cadishead [1st]</title> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.4.1/css/bootstrap.min.css"> <script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.5.1.min.js"></script> <script src="https://maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.4.1/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script> <style><br /> <b>Warning</b>: include(bs-style.css): Failed to open stream: No such file or directory in <b>/var/www/html/__build/bs-default.php</b> on line <b>41</b><br /> <br /> <b>Warning</b>: include(): Failed opening 'bs-style.css' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/share/php') in <b>/var/www/html/__build/bs-default.php</b> on line <b>41</b><br /> </style> <style>.affix{top:0;width:100%;z-index:9999!important}.affix+.cent{padding-top:50px}html{-webkit-touch-callout:none;-webkit-user-select:none;-khtml-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)}</style> <style>.navbar-default{background-color:#fff!important}.breadcrumb{background-color:#fff!important}#map{width:390px;height:390px}</style> <script>function shorten(str,maxLen,separator=' '){if(str.length<=maxLen)return str;return str.substr(0,str.lastIndexOf(separator,maxLen));}function addLink(){var body_element=document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0];var d=new Date();var n=d.getFullYear();var selection;selection=window.getSelection();var intro="The following text is (c) RAILSCOT "+n+".<br>";var pagelink="<br /><br />For more, the web page is at: <a href='"+document.location.href+"'>"+document.location.href+"</a><br />No re-use without permission. 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Contact the photographer for details.";function clickIE4(){if(event.button==2){alert(message);return false;}}function clickNS4(e){if(document.layers||document.getElementById&&!document.all){if(e.which==2||e.which==3){alert(message);return false;}}}if(document.layers){document.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEDOWN);document.onmousedown=clickNS4;}else if(document.all&&!document.getElementById){document.onmousedown=clickIE4;}document.oncontextmenu=new Function("alert(message);return false")</script> <style>@media only screen and (max-width:800px){.mainimage{max-width:100%}}</style><link rel="stylesheet" href="//code.jquery.com/ui/1.11.4/themes/smoothness/jquery-ui.css"><script language="Javascript" src="/jquery-ui/jqui10/js/jquery-ui-1.10.0.custom.min.js.pagespeed.jm.4dkrtxMyIS.js"></script><div class="container"><p><center><img class="mainimage" src="/images/92000/92223.jpg"></center></p><p>This bridge abutment, immediately east of Irlam station, carried the Warrington to Manchester CLC route from 1873 to 1893 when the present line over the arched bridge behind was opened. This was at a higher level as part of the crossing of the Manchester Ship Canal to the east of here. Superb murals, commemorating Irlam's rich railway history, are displayed on the brickwork and a levelled area of the trackbed has been incorporated into a small linear park with, of all things, a 'Hobbit House'. The girder bridge beyond the arch once carried an industrial line.</p><p>Location: <a href="/locations/I/Irlam_and_Cadishead_1st">Irlam and Cadishead [1st]</a></p><p>Original line: <a href="/companies/M/Manchester_to_Cressington_Junction_Line_Cheshire_Lines_Committee">Manchester to Cressington Junction Line (Cheshire Lines Committee)</a></p><p>Photographer: <a href="/contributors/Mark_Bartlett">Mark Bartlett</a></p><p>Contact photographer: <a href="/pm/index.php?img=92223&whoto=Mark Bartlett" target="contact">Mark Bartlett</a></p><p><a href="/pm/index.php?img=92223&whoto=Ewan Crawford" target="contact">Contact editor</a></p><p>Date: <a href="/onthisday/02/05">05/02/</a>2025</p><p>Image number: 92223</p><br><br><br>  <div id="ebayid" style="border-top: 1px dotted #CCC; padding-top: 25px; margin-top: 25px;"> <a target="ebay" href="https://www.ebay.co.uk"><img src="/ebay/xeBay-logo-right-now-108x45.gif.pagespeed.ic.-1kRB_5ODm.png"></a><br> eBay may have some items listed below which may be of interest. 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