Next stop: A piece of history. Northern maps out locations of blue plaques across its network.
Railways have been making history since the very first passenger service opened between Manchester and Liverpool in 1830.
They’ve been the setting for moments of bravery, ingenuity, architectural triumph and tragedy.
To mark the unveiling of the latest blue plaque, Northern has pulled together a map showing the locations of the other historical sites across its 470-station network.
Often hidden in plain sight among the hustle and bustle of the station environment, some blue plaques celebrate railway heritage while others commemorate historical figures and unsung heroes – and there’s even one honouring a fictional sleuth.
The blue plaque scheme originated in London in 1866 and has since gone on to inspire blue commemorative plaques up and down the country.
- Chapel-en-le-Frith – Dedicated to John Axon and John Creamer. The former, a steam train driver, was posthumously awarded the George Cross after sacrificing his life to prevent a disaster.
- Marple - Celebrates Agatha Christie's character Miss Marple, which was inspired by the name of the town.
- Morpeth – Home to a prestigious National Railway Heritage Awards blue plaque for the refurbishment of the station in 2020.
- Glossop – Details the station’s history, which opened in 1845 by the Sheffield, Ashton-Under-Lyne & Manchester Railway, this station and the branch line from Dinting were built privately by the Duke of Norfolk.
- Stalybridge – Pays homage to the unique buffet bar which dates from the late Victorian era and still has many of its original features. There is also a tribute to Fred Wood, who heroically averted a rail disaster in 1907.
- Hexham – Marks the opening of the station in 1835 by the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway.
- Littleborough - Friends of Littleborough Station celebrated the station reaching 175 years by unveiling a plaque in 2014.
- Mytholmroyd – Celebrates the restoration of the Victorian station building into a community hub.
- Newton-Le-Willows – Honors William Huskisson MP who is known as the world's first widely reported railway passenger casualty as he was run over and fatally wounded by Robert Stephenson's pioneering locomotive Rocket.
- Edge Hill - Commemorates the history of the station, which is considered among the oldest passenger railway station in the world.
- Grange-over-sands - This plaque is dedicated to the history of the station and its architecture, which is thought to be based on the top floor of the nearby Grange Hotel.
- Knaresborough - Marks the station’s National Heritage Railway Award for the transformation of storage rooms, which are now a popular micropub.