 It was part of an alternative link between Manchester and destinations south of Macclesfield.The line closed in 1970 and its route now forms the Middlewood Way, a trail used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.In 1840s and 1850s NSR was trying to find a route from Macclesfield to Manchester independent of the London and North Western Railway (L&NWR), which insisted on any NSR traffic going via Crewe, thus ensuring a higher L&NWR mileage and charges.