Wigan Album

I am very curious as to the where-abouts of the station does any one know?

Looks very much like Lancashire,gb.

It actually borders Upholland and Rainford. It is next to Rigby's Garden Centre on Chequer Lane. The station's sign used to say, 'Upholland for Skelmersdale'; but has reverted back to Upholland. This view is of the down platform, for trains to Kirkby. The waiting room is long gone. But the steps leading up to the road are still intact.

Jarvo: An informative reply given in delightful bite-size chunks to Golden Bear's query.

It's very close to Junction 5 on the M58

I agree - a remarkably detailed reply, Jarvo, but the station is actually on Pimbo Lane, not Chequer Lane, and it is close to the border with Crawford, not Rainford.
I was born and bred round there, and many of my family still live in the area.

Yes, you are correct, Pimbo Lane, my mistake. And I always get mixed up with Crawford and Rainford; Rainford being the next stop towards Kirkby. Actually, it was called Rainford Junction many moons ago. Today, the signalbox is responsible for the single tracked 'token' taking the train on to Kirkby and back. Anybody remember the original name of Rice Lane station? One to ponder over...

Was it Kirkdale?

Jarvo it was Preston Road

Many years ago, I was having a pint in the Owl Inn in UpHolland one afternoon, when a stranger came in and asked for directions to UpHolland station.
After we had explained, drawn him a sketch map, and sent him on his way, the landlady asked ‘Why on earth is UpHolland station so far from the village?’
Owd Bert, who always sat in the corner and rarely spoke, looked up from his copy of the Daily Mirror and said: ‘Appen they wanted it near t’railway line’.
He then resumed his study of the racing page without another word.

I think I had a brainstorm Preston Road sounds right.

UpHolland Station still looked like this in the mid 70's.

I knew all along, of course. The Liverpool Exchange to Manchester Victoria was my first love. On Grand National days, locos from Yorkshire and Newcastle (the Eastern Region) could be seen flying through Pem Station via the Pemberton Loop. What days they must have been in the fifties, before Beeching began to dismantle our railway heritage. How we wish we had those routes today: saving time, queues, and cancelled services...Sigh...

Danny: Rice Lane station formerly Preston Road, details and history of station can be found here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_Lane_railway_station

Thanks for the info.I travelled the orrell to Exchange line for two years when at college in Liverpool and still have memories (and smoke filled carriages) but Jarvo is bob on because Grand National day was phenominal!!!

Can anyone remember the railway line that ran along side the Grand National race course, seen on old TV footage 50s and 60s.That line was perfect for Grand National days. Now all gone...progress I don't think so.

Alan: 'Ghost Stations', 'Disused Stations' and 'Wiki...> Aintree Central', may help you in this matter.
British Pathe has b/w film showing spectators arriving for The Grand National, so maybe there's something there for you as well.

my entire collection of midland jubilees where those I spotted between 1955 till 1960 on grand national specials from the east midlands. ,when ma let me loose with some older spotters trips to Sheffield, Donny works, leeds,carlisle and even to ayr then onto hurlford.back via the gswr to Carlisle and home about midnight.

On Grand National day, Concorde used to fly over Wigan on it's way to have a fly around at Aintree and when you looked up it only looked small, but by eck those Olympus Engines it had weren't half noisy.

It is miles from the village...best get the train at Orrell. Much more convenient..

IT was never called rainford junction thats the next station near bushy lane.