COULD this remarkable picture underpin the legend of a fabled railway line that once ran through Saddleworth?

The tree, with its distinctive donkey-like features, stands alongside a path which is a favourite route for walkers between Uppermill and Delph.

The path follows the original route of The Delph Donkey, a line of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) opened in 1849 to connect Oldham, Greenfield and Delph to the main Huddersfield-Manchester line.

The Delph branch left the main line, veered past Ladcastle Quarry before reaching Dobcross halt before continuing to Delph with one additional intermediate halt serving the 'Measurements' factory on Delph New Road where trains only called at the start and end of the working day.

The line terminated at a private siding in Delph serving a mill.

The picture which raised curiosity on social media, was taken by walker Steve Daly who said enthusiastically: “The Donkey lives on! It’s been a talking point.”