A BLUE plaque has been unveiled to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the former Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway (MBMR).
The plaque and a replica heritage station board have been erected at the site of the line's old Middlewood Higher railway station, now on the Middlewood Way, in Higher Poynton.
The plaque was unveiled by the mayor of Poynton Sarah-Jane Gilmore at a ceremony also attended by local MP David Rutley.
The project has been funded by local volunteers and includes a display board with photographs showing the line in its heyday. All of these can now be viewed on the Middlewood Way, near to the current Middlewood station.
The ceremony was followed by a special cycle ride along the Middlewood Way, starting at the site of the former Rose Hill station near Marple, enabling those taking part to take in the full extent of the former MBMR.
Middlewood Higher railway station was opened on 1st April 1879 by the MBMR to provide an interchange with the nearby Middlewood station on the London & North Western Railway (LNWR) Stockport to Buxton line.
Middlewood Higher station crossed over the LNWR line, presenting an unusual multi-level interchange, and giving both stations their respective names.
Although busy during the summer months with visitor traffic, the station was little used outside of this period, due to its very rural location, and it was closed in 1960.
The entire MBMR, excepting Rose Hill Station near Marple, closed on January 5, 1970. The route is preserved as the very popular Middlewood Way, for use by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.