SUNSET OVER STRANGEWAYS PRISON - not the most romantic of settings, and yet due to the shape of the tower, this could almost be one of my photographs from the Middle East of the sun setting next to a mosque.

Sunny skies and high temperatures arrived in Manchester in time for the weekend starting Friday 16 June 2000. Things clouded over late afternon, but by nightfall, all the clouds had gone, leaving the sky clear for a superb sunset.

I was just passing through the city centre and took this photo from just above St Michael's Flags, off Rochdale road.

I wonder what the inmates of HMP Manchester must think, as they look out the window at this sky.

THE SOUTH MANCHESTER LOOP LINE is seen here from Lindley Wood Road bridge, looking west towards Ladybarn Lane and the former Fallowfield Station, now the site of a Sainsbury's supermarket.

This line was opened in 1892 and was closed to passengers in 1958. It remained in freight use for another thirty years.

(See Didsbury, Withington & Fallowfield Yesterday & Today, by Cliff Hayes. For more information e-mail aidan@anamaria.u-net.com)

I'd love to see an old picture of this view with a steam train on its way to the next station, Levenshulme. Have you got one?

It would also be interesting to imagine how this line might look if it were reinstated for use by Metrolink, but in 2000, this route is not part of the 'big bang' expansion plans, and will remain south Manchester's longest, most overgrown and spookiest waste of space. (or maybe not - see this page)

(picture taken Friday 16 June 00 c 6.45pm)

DIDSBURY BY NIGHT is a lively place at the weekend. On Thursday night, it's a bit quieter, as we can see here.

This Stagecoach 42 bus is on its way from Manchester city centre to Stockport. The journey from Piccadilly will have taken about 25 minutes.

Under the 'big bang' expansion plan, drawn up in 2000, the old Didsbury railway line will be reinstated for use by Metrolink, so you'll be able to get last orders in Didsbury and be in a city centre night club within 20 minutes, without having to take a taxi.

(picture taken Thursday 15 June 00 c 10.35pm)

A PINK SKY OVER RADCLIFFE (Lancashire/Metropolitan Borough of Bury) was seen on the evening of Wednesday 14 June 2000, after a cloudy day.

We're looking north west from Coronation Park across the River Irwell valley towards the hills above Bolton

The parish church stands on the hillside, silhouetted against the dusk sky.

On the upper right is the district of Black Lane. Just visible in the lower left is the Alisha restaurant.

Manchester city centre is about six miles (10km) south east of Radcliffe and easily accessible via the Metrolink.

RYDER BROW STATION, in the Manchester suburb of Gorton, is on the line from Manchester Piccadilly to Romiley, Marple and New Mills. The left hand train is bound for Manchester Piccadilly. The other is an express on its way to New Mill Central.

In the distance can be seen the CIS building, in Manchester city centre, three and a half miles (6km) away.

Photos taken c 6.15pm Tuesday 13 June & uploaded same evening

THIS IS THE A6 which runs south east through Manchester to Stockport, Hazel Grove and beyond. The Manchester Piccadilly to London (West Coast) railway line crosses over Stockport Road here in Longsight. This concrete bridge dates from around 1960, when the line was electrified.

A Magic Bus 192 bus is on its way from Piccadilly to Stepping Hill hospital, in the south of Stockport.

The A6 is one of the most congested routes in the conurbation. In 2000, a 'quality bus corridor' is planned for this stretch of the road, making bus journeys quicker but slowing down other traffic even more.

Photo taken c 6.45pm Tuesday 13 June & uploaded same evening

MYSTERY LOCATION - Do you recognise this spot, not far from Manchester city centre - it's a path leading up to a footbridge over some railway sidings, now disused.

The steps are delapidated but the pathway is still open to the public.

Though captured in moody black and white, it was a sunny day when I took the photograph. The only modern intrusion is the metal fence to the right

Just up those steps was once a view over railway lines, steam engines, sheds, turntables, water tanks and coal trucks - nowadays all you'll see is a flat grassy expanse where the tracks used to be, and a car park.

Did you cross this bridge? Do you cross it now? Where are we? E-mail aidan@anamaria.u-net.com

THIS IS THE VIADUCT from Piccadilly (formerly London Road) to Oxford Road on the evening of a drizzly 31st of May 2000.

A train is just about to arrive at Oxford Road station. Behind it, the smaller and larger towers of the Palace Hotel, formerly the Refuge Assurance Building (opened c 1905), loom up against a grey Manchester sky.

We are standing on Charles Street, next to the BBC.

A quintessentially Manchester scene which has changed little in a century - only the hotel sign, the overhead gantries and of course the train are modern.

The cast iron reinforcements on the viaduct, by the way, are original and can be seen in old photographs.

(This photograph uploaded 8.45pm the same evening)

R.I.P. THE BRADFORD GASHOLDER which is about to disappear behind these factory buildings on Upper Helena Street.

The picture on the right shows how it looked on 25 April just after dismantling commenced. I took the picture on the left at about 9.15pm 31 May 2000 and uploaded it later that evening.

This area preserves the look of the old Manchester, a Manchester which has already disappeared to a large exent, and will continue to disappear, as redevelopment goes on.

THE MILLENNIUM DOME was our destination on Sunday 4 June. We found the much-maligned attraction to be a very enjoyable day out, though the standard of the exhibits was mixed.

'Jourrney' was excellent, and so was 'Home Planet'. But 'Body' was an anti-climax, and 'Talk' was all 'talk' and no substance. The Millennium Show was fabulous, and the 'Self-Portrait' of the UK was upbeat and true to life. In the section "What do you think is great about Britain?", one person quoted the lion statues of Heaton Hall.

It was Philippines National Day, and there were events to mark the occasion..

All in all, The Dome is a great achievement and worthy of support. See it while you can.

Technical note: This composite image was prepared using the iBook on the coach back to Manchester!

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