THE FACIT BRANCH: ROCHDALE TO BACUP  The LCGB and Roch Valley Railway Society ‘L&Y Pug Rail Tour’ crosses the spectacular Healey Dell Viaduct on 19 February 1967 travelling from Rochdale to Whitworth, the terminus of the Facit Branch at this time. Three round trips were made on the tour between Rochdale and Whitworth; four brake vans were hauled by No.51218 and intermediate photo-stops were made at Wardleworth and Shawclough & Healey stations. The locomotive, BR No.51218 is an Aspinall 0-4-0 saddle tank, fondly known as a ‘Pug’. She was built at the LYR Horwich works in October 1901 and as a LYR Class 21 first carried the number 68, being re-numbered 11218 in LMS days. On 30 September 1964 she was withdrawn from 87A, Neath Court Sart shed and was purchased by the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway where she arrived on 7 January 1965 – the first locomotive on this preserved line. No.51218 is still working on the KWVR.
Photo by Ian G Holt 
Another view of the ‘L&Y Pug Rail Tour’ crossing the Healey Dell Viaduct on 19 February 1967
Photo
by Ian G Holt
Looking north across Healey Dell Viaduct in February 2016. The Healey Dell Nature Trail follows the course of the old Rochdale – Bacup railway and here provides a spectacular view down into the wooded gorge of the River Spodden, over 100ft below. The original parapets have been supplemented by a metal fence. In the distance is the road bridge over the railway, immediately beyond which the plafrom of Broadley station can still be admired.
Photo by Alan Young 
Healey Dell Viaduct, between Shawclough & Healey and Broadley stations, looking north across Dell Road in February ravine of the 2016. After the iron span across the road there follow eight graceful stone arches which stride across the wooded River Spodden.
Photo by Alan Young  Healey Dell Viaduct, between Shawclough & Healey and Broadley stations, looking north across the River Spodden in February 2016. The tapering gritstone piers create a particularly appealing and graceful structure. To appreciate the viaduct’s construction it is advised to view it in winter, as in other seasons it is largely concealed by foliage.
Photo by Alan Young 
Healey Dell Viaduct, between Shawclough & Healey and Broadley stations, looking west in February 2016. The viaduct crosses the wooded ravine of the River Spodden, and its eight stone arches carry the former railway trackbed 105ft above the river, while a further iron-plate girder – not visible here - takes it over Dell Road on the south side. The acutely skewed construction of the arches and the tapering nature of the piers can be appreciated in from this viewpoint which can be obtained only in the winter months when the deciduous woodland is not in leaf. The Grade II structure carries the Healey Dell Nature Trail and (inconspicuously) a sewer.
Photo
by Alan Young
Healey Dell Viaduct, between Shawclough & Healey and Broadley stations, is seen in its woodland setting in February 2016. The view is looking north-east. The rocky eminence immediately to the right of the photographer is seen in Sergeant Morgan’s c1890s photograph in which it was occupied by three women. The degree to which the deep valley of the River Spodden has been colonised by trees since the late nineteenth century will be noted.
Photo by Alan Young  Healey Dell Viaduct, between Shawclough & Healey and Broadley stations, looking east in February 2016. The acutely skewed construction of the arches and the tapering nature of the piers can be appreciated in from this viewpoint which can be obtained only in the winter months when the deciduous woodland is not in leaf. The Grade II structure carries the Healey Dell Nature Trail and (inconspicuously) a sewer. To the left of the narrow, muddy footpath on which the photographer is standing is the River Spodden. Immediately right of the path is the former millrace of Healey Dell Mill which used to stand beyond the viaduct; the mill is seen in the background in Sergeant Morgan’s c1890s
photograph of the viaduct. Photo by Alan Young 
Looking north-east from Dell Road towards Healey Dell Viaduct in February 2016. The former Rochdale to Bacup railway was carried over the road on an iron-plate girder and then over the valley of the River Spodden on a viaduct of eight stone arches. Modern drainage spouts are conspicuous features towards the top of the piers. Today the viaduct carries both the Healey Dell nature Trail – part of a much longer footpath, cycleway and bridleway that follows most of the course of the old railway – and a sewer. A board in the foreground describes the many attractions of Healey Dell.
Photo by Alan Young  A milepost of a standard LYR concrete design is still in place a short distance south of Healey Dell Viaduct on the down side of the track: 14 miles from Manchester Victoria. The milepost will have been manufactured at the LYR’s concrete factory at Newton Heath. The photo was taken in February 2016.Photo by Alan Young Click here for the Siamese Bridges
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