History of the Dinting Arches

A History of Glossop Railway Line & Beyond..

Part 4 of 6 -  Dinting Arches

The arches have recently under gone major works to maintain, strengthen and preserve the iconic, working structure.

The remarkable structure is part and parcel of the Glossop skyline and has been for over a hundred years. To survive this long it has been modified in several ways and yet still maintains its historic
feel and look.

The viaduct was strengthened with new bearings installed along with repairs to the steel, brickwork and masonry, finished with a new lick of traditional olive green paint.

Dinting Arches originally formed part of “The Sheffield, Ashton-Under-Lyne and Manchester Railway”. The railway was opened from Manchester to as far as Godley in November 1841. The foundation stone of Best Hill Viaduct (Broadbottom) was laid by John Chapman Esq. on Thursday 17^th February 1842. Then on the 10^th December that same year trains ran from Godley to Broadbottom. It took a further two years to complete the Dinting Viaduct and the first train passed over on August 8^th 1844.

There were originally sixteen arches; five of them were constructed of Baltic timbers each spanning 125 feet. The rest built of stone along with the stone pillars that exist today. The wooden arches stood 121 feet from the river bed.

The original wooden Dinting Arches

A tremendous tragedy took place in the evening of 18^th September 1855 when a train on a journey from Belle Vue stopped on the arches when three passengers stepped out and fell to their deaths.

The wooden arches needed to be strengthened in the 1850s with tie rods but this was not good enough so they were replaced by the wrought iron girders you can see today. Further strengthening took place in 1919 for the requirements after the First World War when heavier goods were imposed. The brick pillars were installed and some of the stone arches were filled in with bricks for added support. The entire works cost over £41,000 some 93 years ago.

The viaduct after 1919

The last major work was carried out in the 1950s in preparation for the electrification. The first electric train passed over in 1954. The recent update cost around  £6.4 million pounds which was part funded and developed by Network Rail, now enabling the viaduct to last for many more years to come.

Matthew Cox

A History of Dinting Station

A History of Glossop Railway Line & Beyond..

Part 3 of 6 - Dinting Station - "Rich Past, Present & Future"

The first train to arrive at Dinting Station was on 24^th December 1842. In the early days of travel the line from Manchester to Sheffield terminated at Dinting, however, in those days the station was in fact called Glossop. Then the traveller would then have to board a coach and horses for the remainder of the way which made the total travel time about 5 hours.


On the 9^th June 1845 the one mile branch to Glossop opened for goods traffic but because it was built by the 13^th Duke of Norfolk it did not have to obtain an Act of Parliament. The former “Glossop” station became known as Dinting. The first station was a wooden structure until it was replaced by a permanent building in 1847. Another outer building was created and was known at “Glossop Junction” as well as an ornate engine shed. A coaling stage was created and a series of goods yards and shunting bays leading to Mottram Yard.

On 18th September 1855 a train stopped short of the platform. Not realising that they were still on the viaduct three passengers left the train and fell to their deaths.
In 1884 new facilities were built on the triangular junction they included ample accommodation, the Station Masters house, first and second class waiting rooms and even a home for the Permanent Way Inspector.  

Dinting Station was given a new lease of life in 1967 in the form of The Bahamas Locomotive Society a working steam engine museum that attracted thousands of people. The museum also attracted world famous engines such as the Blue Peter and Mallard. The Museum out grew Dinting and move to Yorkshire in 1991.

A couple of years ago Friends of Dinting Station was created to preserve and maintain Dinting Railway Station’s rich past.

By Matthew Cox

Check Out More Glossop History

A History of Glossop, Manchester & The Woodhead Railway Line

A History of Glossop Railway Line & Beyond...

A History of Glossop, Manchester & The Woodhead Railway Line

"The One at the End" - Part One of Six

Glossop Railway Station opened on 9th June 1845 and grew to be one of the biggest assets to the town providing an essential link “to the outside world” a direct link to both Manchester and Sheffield. The railway was responsible for the massive Industrial Revolution that took place within the Glossopdale and Longdendale Valley so much so the Duke of Norfolk commissioned a goods yard just a year later.

Glossop Station in the 1950's

At the highest point during the 1800s Glossop had over 15 different industries including cotton, rope and paper. The railway brought endless amounts of raw material into the town such as raw cotton from North America and thousands of logs from Scandinavia.

Glossop Station has been invaluable over the years providing many different services for a variety of different needs. The railway transported local soldiers, some of which were in the first wave of the Dunkirk landings and brought evacuees from Lowestoft during the Second World War. The first Electric train arrived in 1956. There are many other stories to tell including more recent events in 2009 when thirteen passenger carriages arrived at Glossop to take the team and fans of Glossop North End Football Club on a direct route to Wembley for the FA Vase Final.

Part 2 - "A Noble Beginning" I will post next week.

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