Wigan Album

Very nice Eddie. BUT lets try and keep Wigan on WW. The only connection the train may have is that it past through Wigan. Can I say that you've uploaded some great photo's over the past few week mate, on behalf of all on Wigan World, Thank you so much.

Sorry Alan, message received and understood. It was such a good photo, I just couldn't resist. My apologies. Regards. Eddie.

Thanks Eddie, great photo. I'm a Wiganer but now live in Warrington so that scene is familiar to me. Central Station is of course on the line connecting Manchester to L'pool Lime Street, so you couldn't get a wigan train from there.

Agreed! A good pic, but not Wigan, but I too have really enjoyed the recent photos; having grown up in Ince, it has been great to see the Ince photos, most of which I haven't seen before, and the mistakes over where they were taken, (understandable as Eddie didn't take the pics), has provided us all with a nice bit of humorous banter. Much appreciated, Eddie. Many thanks!

Eddie I agree with Alan. May I thank you for bring Wigan World to life over the past weeks.They have indeed been a Pleasure to view and pass comment.

You could JJ. Wigan North-West to Lime st...then Lime St to Manchester. I know it's the long way round, but can be done!

Many thanks for your kind words, both Irene and Garry. I'll admit, this forum has provided a lifeline for me over the past couple of weeks. I'll be moving on soon. I just hope that I don't outstay my welcome here. Regards. Eddie.

Glad Wigan World has been enjoyable for you, Eddie. Wherever you are moving on to, keep safe and come back to us whenever you can.

Please don't move on Eddie, you're part of the WW family.
Yourself and Frank Orrell have put some great photo's on WW over the past few weeks, places where I for one, grew up. Thank you Eddie for all those great memories. Cheers.

Garry's certainly right this time. Thanks Eddie and stay in touch. I'll bet that loco's on full throttle and steaming toward Wigan.

Garry's long way!

alan sorry to correct you but warrington central does not and never did connect with wigan.mank central to liverpool central.

Thanks a bundle baker, there goes my already tenuous link with Wigan.

Ignore them. They are talking about passenger services,

Granted, the lines are of (formerly) different companies.

This photo of a locomotive with brake van, is obviously equipped for a freight haul, it could well have left Dallam depot, to pick up a train of steel from Irlam, which could indeed have then been hauled to Wigan.

Baker is incorrect. Up until 1964 it WAS possible to get a train to Wigan from Warrington Central. The line from Wigan Central via Lowton to Glazebrook had connections facing Manchester and Liverpool and trains ran, infrequently between Wigan Central and Warrington Central.

ap and stuart no direct link to wigan,as for the eight f being a dallam loco that's pure conjecture,it may well have been off a Yorkshire to Liverpool or widnes freight with no return working.

The line to Wigan Central was a spur off the line in question, and in the vicinity of Wigan, it has junctions with the other routes through Wigan. Freight was more significant than passenger services on this line in the past: a number of collieries used the line, including Golborne. Yes, a freight working may have come from, or be going to, almost anywhere. (including Wigan)

Not possible to see on here but on the original photo the loco number is I think 48741. I think the shed code is 13C. Heaton Mersey.

Hate to ram this point home but the picture may have no direct connection with Wigan but Warrington Central DID. Warrington Central was built by the Cheshire Lines Committee and opened in the 1870s. At Glazebrook West Junction there was a DIRECT connection to Wigan Central. This branch line was opened by the Great Central Railway in 1900 to allow trains direct access between Wigan and Warrington Central stations. The line closed in 1964 when all stations closed between Glazebrook and Wigan. Latterly, the line was used by Wiganers travelling to Irlam Steelworks. Don't tell me there was direct connection when there clearly was. Get your facts right first so you don't look like a pratt.

Stuart you're a fool.

That's it. I'm off to the Anderson shelter.

So have i won my bet??

Stuart is absolutely correct!
There was indeed a Triangular junction at Glazebrook that allowed Wigan Central trains to travel both to Warrington Central & Manchester.
The trianagular junction system at Glazebrook was...
Glazebrook Moss Junction - Dam Lane Junction - Glazebrook West Junction.
Never mind Stuart, I know you're right.

I doubt that the train is from anywhere near Wigan and would only be going through Central because the bypass track was shut down between Padgate and Gt Sankey. It could NOT have come off Dallam sheds as they don't connect. The bypass line was actually a more direct route through Warrington for expresses and goods. I spent many a happy hour in the signal box at Padgate junction and saw quite a few ER trains, the first being B1 61016 Inyala, as well as many goods trains hauled by 8F's. The only connection with Wigan is that the number 60 bus, run by the Lancashire United bus Co stopped near the Bay Horse pubabot 80 yards from Central, where I used to get it to Platt Bridge with my girlfriend, now wife, and turned just beyond the bridge in a side st. Now the bridge has been replaced by Midland Way road with a new useless bus station just beyond.

I made a mistake in the last part of my two pennorth. The bridge is still there of course but with a road bridge next to it on the south side.