New Mobile Site
We have just launched a new mobile version of this site - m.trainspots. This page will use your smart device's GPS to loctate you and guide you to locations that are close to your present location.
Location notes
Small station just outside Manchester Piccadilly on the lines towards Hope Valley, Stalybridge and Glossop, next to the WCML. Station only served my a few stopping trains a day (morning and evening peak) but has countless though trains, with almost everything from Manchester Piccadilly passing through.
Railway type and traffic
The lines through Ardwick station see 323s to Glossop, 142 Pacers and 150 / 156 Sprinters to Marple and Sheffield, and 185 and 170s Transpennine via Guide bridge and Stalybridge.
The Mainline sees all other traffic through Man Pic, including Arriva 175s, Northern 142 150, 156s and 323s, East Midlands 158s, the occational Northern 180, Transpennine 185 and 170s, X Country 220 and 221s, Virgin 390s. Transpennine 185s also have a depot nearby.
Freight traffic is normally 66 and 92s and the Longsight 57 Thunderbirds also pass through.
The Mainline sees all other traffic through Man Pic, including Arriva 175s, Northern 142 150, 156s and 323s, East Midlands 158s, the occational Northern 180, Transpennine 185 and 170s, X Country 220 and 221s, Virgin 390s. Transpennine 185s also have a depot nearby.
Freight traffic is normally 66 and 92s and the Longsight 57 Thunderbirds also pass through.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Ardwick Station
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
Inner city, mainly industrial area. Not staffed, area is very much urban decay with a a lot of dereliction around. Only the fact that nobody would expect you to be on the station would make it vaguely safe after dark, but not recommended.
The station is an island platform, accessed by a footbridge.
The station is an island platform, accessed by a footbridge.
Road directions
Just off Blind Lane, from A685 Devonshire Road North, which links A57 and A6.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Ardwick Station map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Ardwick Station map co-ordinates
Parking
Cars are parked nearby, but not recommended.
Public transport
Buses from city centre, but is only 15 minutes walk from Piccadilly Station.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
Pretty much nothing aside from the odd pub.
Accommodation
Manchester city centre has a lot of hotels.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Ardwick Station
Streetmap links
Ardwick Station general view map
Ardwick Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Ardwick Station
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Ardwick Station
Googly map
Ardwick Station general view map
Ardwick Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Ardwick Station
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Line goes (Manchester) NW-SE (Stockport). Can have problems in afternoon as sun shines directly from across the main line. However there is a large office block that can sometimes block that.
It is totally open, so there is no problems with shade.
Shots from path into station are at track level and are very close/
From footbridge, shots over the lines through the station are good, but lots of overhead gantries get in the way of mainline shots.
From platform, good shots of both main line and line through station. Some signals opposite the station on the mainline, so occasional trains stop opposite.
Should be quite for video.
It is totally open, so there is no problems with shade.
Shots from path into station are at track level and are very close/
From footbridge, shots over the lines through the station are good, but lots of overhead gantries get in the way of mainline shots.
From platform, good shots of both main line and line through station. Some signals opposite the station on the mainline, so occasional trains stop opposite.
Should be quite for video.
General views - All photographs © Jon Martin unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north west
Fig 2 - Looking south east
Fig 3 - Looking south east
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
