The running of 'binliner' trains to and from the Greater Manchester waste disposal depots has been erratic in recent months, but the 10:52 Runcorn Folly Lane (empties from the Energy from Waste plant) to Brindle Heath, due through Stockport from the Altrincham direction at 13:08, seems to be a reliable runner, although not always punctual. Sometimes it runs 'slow line' through Stockport station, making photography difficult, although it is booked to run 'fast line' as it takes the Guide Bridge line from Heaton Norris. The picture from 15 January shows 66 551 heading past Stockport platform 3.

At Brindle Heath some of the wagons will be detached and taken by the same loco through Manchester Victoria station to the depot at Dean Lane.




The DB Schenker 13:18 container train from Trafford Park to the new maritime terminal at London Gateway runs most weekdays. On 15 January, 66 169 makes its way along the MSJA viaduct between Manchester Oxford Road and Piccadilly; this view has become available since the demolition of the BBC buildings which are now used for car parking.

A similar view from a century ago was the subject of the well-known painting 'York Street Leading to Charles Street' (1913) by Adolphe Valette now in Manchester Art Gallery.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/york-street-leading-to-charles-street-manchester-206253




This sylvan scene shows 60 092 on the afternoon Tunstead - Lostock Works stone train on 20 January. The location is the recently re-opened public cycleway bridge between Cromley Road in Woodsmoor and Ringmore Road in Bramhall, which has had much undergrowth removed, giving a clear view of trains, and a tree-stump to stand on to get a better view.

It's hard to imagine now that this was the Midland Railway's London - Manchester main line.



Intermodal trains to and from Trafford Park run via the Styal Line, but January saw some of them running through Stockport, possibly due to the timetable changes during the temporary closure of Manchester Airport station, requiring to the use of Wilmslow station as a terminus by TransPennine Express services. On 17 January, 92 044 'Couperin' unfortunately catches rather too much sun as it heads along the slow line with the GB Railfreight 03:03 Felixstowe - Trafford Park.




A search for a better viewpoint for this train led to the new footbridge at Cheadle Hulme station, where with care it is possible to take a picture through the wire mesh covering the openings.  92 032 'IMechE Railway Division' was running an hour late on 20 January, but thanks to the Real Time Trains website the wait could be spent in the warmth of the new Costa coffee bar nearby. Another photographer will be noted capturing the train at close quarters from Platform 1.




One of the best-known photographic viewpoints in Manchester, especially for Up trains, is the open deck, level 9, of the ex-UMIST multi-storey car park on Charles Street. On 22 January, 92 032 heads the 14:18 Trafford Park - Felixstowe towards a red signal where it waited for five minutes before getting the road through Piccadilly station.