Ed Farrell
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edfarrell.bsky.social
Ed Farrell
@edfarrell.bsky.social
290 followers 240 following 160 posts
Liverpool history enthusiast and artist
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Reposted by Ed Farrell
carolannelennie.bsky.social
A message from Eliza Carthy about her dad, #MartinCarthy
A message from Eliza Carthy- "Dear everyone, A month ago, Martin, at 84, was diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimers Disease. While his doctor initially suggested that Dad would and should be able to tour in the Spring, and we were hoping to use the tour to say goodbye0 to Dad's many fans, it now appears that this won't be possible or advisable for his health Dad sends his love and regrets to everyone hoping to see him one more time. Eliza will fulfil these shows, and will try to honour his legacy as much as possible. Our family thanks you for your patience and love."
January 23, 2026 at 12:34 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Thanks all for comments; really grateful. Very interesting stuff (not the least of which shunting and coal drop arrangements!) which I am looking at. Re arrivals passengers see attached... @lmrailway.bsky.social
@hillsider45.bsky.social
@vrsimility.bsky.social
@railwayhobbit.bsky.social
A discussion document dealing with the arrangements for passengers arriving at Liverpool Street Station in Manchester during the early 1830s. A map Showing options together with supporting photos of a bridge nearby
January 31, 2026 at 4:06 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Re: Previous. A slightly better res and intensity.
A painting of Liverpool Road station Manchester as it would have looked in 1836. An aeriel shot showing Irwell river and ships, the railway running through the paintings several with trains; vehicles, buildings, a water tower and warehouses
January 30, 2026 at 1:45 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Reconstruction of Liverpool Road station 1836, version 2. For comment. Very grateful for input and resources from @lmrailway.bsky.social @hillsider45.bsky.social @vrsimility.bsky.social @railwayhobbit.bsky.social etc. Part of a wider project to map the L&MR 1830s
A painting of Liverpool Road station Manchester as it would have looked in 1836. An aeriel shot showing Irwell river and ships, the railway running through the paintings several with trains; vehicles, buildings, a water tower and warehouses
January 30, 2026 at 11:30 AM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Continuing preliminary studies of the L&MR infrastructure c. 1835. Lea Green to Newton. Only now beginning to appreciate the enormity and genius of the undertaking at that time and its miraculous delivery
A series of sketches studying the infrastructure of the Liverpool to Manchester Railway in the 1830s, showing g the track layout, stations and bridges
January 14, 2026 at 12:12 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Manchester weekend. Visited Liverpool Road station for 1st time on a day apparently like 15.9.1830 by courtesy of a family trip to the amazing Hockney experience at the Factory surprisingly close by.
A photograph of the brickwork, doors and windows of railway viaduct into Liverpool Road station with signage for the Fa tory centre nearby
January 12, 2026 at 8:38 AM
edfarrell.bsky.social
I attach a discussion board containing a speculative study of the coal drops at the Eastern end of the Liverpool Road terminus, Manchester as they may have looked in 1835/6. I'll keep researching but does anybody know of any images or descriptions that might help? Any other interpretations? Thanks
A study showing how the Liverpool Road terminus of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway might have looked. The sketch shows the elevated track, through which specially designed trucks are dropping coal. to be distributed via horsedrawn wagons. The study also shows two maps from the 18thc from which information to support a discussion has been taken.
January 7, 2026 at 3:04 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Block 1/bridges (panorama project). I've seen the TT Bury picture described as Whiston incline/Sutton incline/Broad green to Roby. If here, then Bury is standing on no. 1 Park's bridge?? (next one - no.2- is brick; though could you get that height and are distant ones in the Olive Mt. cutting?).
December 22, 2025 at 9:30 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
@lmrailway.bsky.social Just in the process of roughing out bridges in adv of the panorama project. Wondering how to interpret the bridge list P (thanks so much) re dates and google map etc. E.g. the Whiston run has some odd things (and Spring Lane?) unless I am misinterpreting? (usually).....
A hand drawn listing of the bridges on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in its early days, mapping out a section of the line with drawings of how the timber and stone bridges looked
December 20, 2025 at 1:36 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
A further infographic. The 4 branch railways connecting to the L&MR -1830s. This, together with the diagrams of L&MR features and the station survey (see previous), pulls together information from many sources and will underpin the planned panorama of the line. Thanks to the L&MR trust. Comments? Ta
A diagram showing the four branch railways that connected to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in the 1830s. Showing a diagram of each line and details associated with each line at that time.
December 17, 2025 at 10:34 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
L&MR station list infographic based on V2 research table - previous post
A graphic represnting the stations on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway during the 1830s - listing the stations left to right. Including the positions of branch railways at that time .
December 16, 2025 at 1:10 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Revised list of L&MR stations (1830s).
A tabulation of stations on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway line during the 1830s, with references
December 16, 2025 at 1:07 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
@lmrailway.bsky.social Hi P. Just revisiting some work we did re the stations/stops in the 1830s. Thought it worth settling a list plus a couple of puzzling things as attached. Would be glad of a view if you get time. Cheers
A tabulation of 30 stations and stops on the Liverpool and manchester Railway in thw 1830s. Designed to iron out some ambiguities.
December 13, 2025 at 11:40 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Just on the design of successive cisterns. Attached discussion board attempts a summary of the position: following a probable red herring. I think currently at least, that the water tank is pretty much as shown by Bury throughout the 1830s - until later works/expansion cause a new build.
A chart showing a timeline of images and maps suggesting how the water tanks on the Irwell railway bridge were developed 1830-1850
December 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Discussion board re: a potential reverse view of the Liverpool Road arrivals station. Possibly v arcane problem, but views, images, opinions, ridicule, superior knowledge etc. v welcome as ever.
A collection of sketches, images, maps and extracts from books to help understand a specific issue related to the equipment located on the Irwell Bridge viaduct in 1830s. Showing the bridge, the water tower, hot water cistern, railway tracks and steam engine
December 6, 2025 at 2:27 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
A further speculative study. (Lpooll Rd. terminus, Manchester): how the arrivals station may have looked in a) 1835/6 and b) 1837/8. Assuming the latter an open fronted building at 2nd floor (2 colonnades). Extensive carriage wharf inside; Many stables, stores, kitchens below. Pedestrian exit??
Sketches. Aeriel views of how the arrivals stations at Liverpool Road Manchester might have looked in two versions.aeriel. Showing buildings and a railway viaduct with people and vehicles
December 4, 2025 at 6:44 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Developing views on the viaduct and possible 1836 arrivals position (below). A mistake to place arrivals here?? - scores of passengers, tons of luggage, road carriages; unless there was some easy way off. Would a Water street footbridge fit, or indeed help? Did the S slope serve only the cistern?
December 3, 2025 at 3:49 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
@railwayhobbit.bsky.social @lmrailway.bsky.social @vrsimility.bsky.social

might be useful to share this, admittedly rudimentary (between walks) sketch for next 1835 version. Some assumptions obvs. Not sure how the early arrivals colonnade fits in the space. Assume still crossed the lines??
A sketch of how the Liverpool Road Manchester railway terminus might have looked in 1835. Aeriel. Showing the railway, its bridge over the River Irwell, adjoining warehouses and the a dyeworks
December 1, 2025 at 8:20 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
A cloudless Windermere day
November 26, 2025 at 10:26 AM
edfarrell.bsky.social
At the Manchester end of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. A sketch giving the context for the Liverpool Road terminus. Mid 1830s.
A sketch of Liverpool Road station Manchester as it would have looked in the 1830s. An aeriel view showing the railway crossing the bridge of the Irwell, factories, station buildings and warehouses.
November 19, 2025 at 2:56 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Liverpool & Manchester Railway. A description of how the rail-track or 'permanent way' developed.
A diagram showing how the railway developed at track level. Showing how the rail technologies changed and the various types of rail and means of support from its inception
November 17, 2025 at 1:43 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
@lmrailway.bsky.social .

A new project to illustrate all 31 miles of the L&MR with information panels along the way. First steps.All aboard..
An illustration of the first few miles of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway showing Liverpool, the original termini and the fields and townships on the way to Manchester
November 14, 2025 at 7:53 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Continuing research into the Edge Hill engine station, an approximation of the rope winding mechanisms that operated through the Wapping tunnel for dock-bound goods wagons (gravity out/cable back).
An illustration describing the winding mechanisms that pulled wagons from the Liverpool docks to Edge Hil. It looks underground beneath the railway tracks to show the hidden engineering: wheels, ropes and tightening mechanisms.
November 1, 2025 at 4:34 PM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Re: previous post. Edge Hill Engine Station - mid 1830s. How trains were detached from locomotives and rope-hauled to Crown Street station.
An illustration showing a detailed view inside the Edge hill engine station mid 1830s. It shows the yellow first class carriages of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway ready to be rope hauled to Crown Street terminus
October 25, 2025 at 11:55 AM
edfarrell.bsky.social
Continuing research into the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, a new and more historically accurate version of the Edge Hill Engine station illustration - mid 1830s. Showing the connection between it and Crown Street Passenger station - top right - via a 290 yard tunnel.
An illustration showing how Edge Hill engine station and Crown Street railway station would have looked in the mid 1830s. The picture shows a railway cutting with a Moorish arch in the fields, trains, steam engines and surrounding buildings.
October 25, 2025 at 11:27 AM