1889, permitting through running from London St Pancras to Manchester Victoria, and for the next twenty years many of the Manchester to Blackburn trains, including almost all fast passenger trains, were worked by the Midland Railway with through coaches from St Pancras to Blackburn. An east to south connection from the Stalybridge line towards Ardwick was brought into use on 21 September 1890; it was known as the Park East Fork, from Phillips Park no 1 Junction to Phillips Park no 2 Junction. This was authorised retrospectively by an Act of 1891. An east to north spur at Miles Platting (Brewery Sidings Junction to Ashton Branch Sidings) was authorised by an L&YR Act of 1901; it was opened on 29 January 1906 and has been used mainly by goods trains. Medlock viaduct In the early 1880s the viaduct became unsafe because of coal workings beneath and had to be completely renewed by construction of a new double track structure on the north side, replacing the earlier viaduct. The present day In 2020 the AS&LJR main line is in use as part of the main line from Manchester to Leeds via Huddersfield. Only the Stalybridge extremity has been closed, as the main line continuation uses the former Great Central and LNWR station. The East Curve at Miles Platting is also in use for freight purposes. The Ardwick branch also continues in use, except that the southern extremity approaching Ardwick has been closed; the line connects eastwards using the Midland Railway's Ancoats curve. The Phillips Park east curve is also still in use. There is no scheduled passenger activity on these lines. Location list Main line Miles Platting; main line station; opened 1 January 1844; last train 26 May 1995; Phillips Park Junction; later no 1 junction; Park; opened 26 September 1846; resited westwards 1889; last train Friday 26 May 1995; Clayton Bridge; opened 13 April 1846; closed 7 October 1968; Droylsden; originally Droylesden; opened 13 April 1846; closed 7 October 1968; Ashton; the name Ashton under Lyne was used indiscriminately; opened 13 April 1846; renamed Ashton Charlestown 1868/9; reverted to Ashton 6 May 1968; still open; Stalybridge; opened 5 October 1846; closed 1 July 1849; reopened 1 October 1869; closed 2 April 1917. Ardwick branch Phillips Park no 1 junction; Phillips Park no 2 Jn; Beswick Junction; Beswick goods connection 1865 - 1967; Midland Junction; Ardwick; junction with LNWR main line;