HFF ~ Another Autumn walk

Back on my local old railway walk and what a pleasure it always is when the trees and leaves are like this. This spot is only about 400m from my home.

I have many photos on Ipernity of this linear walk but I don’t think I have ever attempted to describe its origins: This used to be called the ‘Delph Donkey line’ and it served several small communities between Oldham and the village of Delph in Saddleworth. It was only 4.5 miles (7.2km) long and opened in 1851 to passengers but closed to them in 1955 whilst freight continued till 1963.
Why “Delph Donkey”? The line earned the nickname because:
The train was slow, reminiscent of a donkey’s pace. It served rural communities, where donkeys were once a common mode of transport. Some say the nickname came from locals who used the train to market days in Oldham or Delph


Enjoy the weekend.