So what tram would take me to the Longsight loco shed in 1947?

 Now, I remain in awe of those people who turn their interest into something which can be shared with others.

And today I am looking at “The British Locomotive Shed Directory", which was a “complete guide to all the Main Line Locomotive Sheds and Works in Great Britan”.

It was produced by R. S. Grimsley in December 1947 and cost 7/6d.

My old friend John Anthony came across it and sent over some pages from the guide, commenting, “a gentleman named Stuart Hillston had posted several pages from the above book into the Manchester Railways FB Group, which he had bought on ebay. 

Without mentioning your name, I had requested his permission to pass these on to you.

The particular pages provided directions on how to reach each of the local locomotive depots in Manchester and surrounding areas using public transport means.

Consequently, information on tram and bus routes, together with various streets is detailed in the book.

I thought the information was quirky enough to be of some historical interest to you and have attached a zip folder with copies hereto for your consideration”.

And of course it was just the sort of quirky bit of history I like.  

Not least because today a full 74 years after its publication it has become history.

Allowing the causal reader and the railway buff an insight into many of the locomotive sheds and works which have long since vanished with those wonderful tiny details of how you could have travel by tram, trolley bus, and bus to each of the destinations.

It reminds me of an equally fascinating book produced in the same year which offered up a guide to the then railway network.

Mile By Mile, along with Mr. Grimley’s book offer up a view of the railways which are now fast fading from living memory.*

So I thank  John Anthony for sending over the pages from the book, and to Stuart Hillston who acquired the guide and gave me permission to reproduce it.

And never one to dodge a mistake, David Ward-nadin has corrected my title by adding the comment, "There was no loco works at Longsight  it was a loco shed only  you could get a 53 bus  to outside Longsight station.  or a tram till sometime before WW11  the only loco works were The Great central one at Gorton  and near there Beyer Peacock works   these actually made locos. The tram that used to stop at Longsight station was the 53 single decker".

Thank you David ... title amended.

Location; 1947

Pictures; “The British Locomotive Shed Directory”, 1947, courtesy of Stuart Hillston

* Mile By Mile, travelling our railways in 1947, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2019/12/mile-by-mile-travelling-our-railways-in.html