Wigan Album
Railways
16 Comments
Photo: winder
Item #: 12967
The lines leading off to the left went over the Douglas valley on a viaduct, 86 ft above the river and then on to Chorley and Blackburn. The signal box which was closed in the early 1970s, was at one time leaning towards the main line, caused by mining subsidence, had to be "jacked up" and straightened. The bridge carries Wigan Rd over the line near the Boars head pub in Standish.
Photographed May 1967 by Allen Heyes
i think this photo is just stuning it would make an excellent print in a frame
Nice photo. Never seen that one before Cliff.
A dramatic photograph...Brill.
That is just a brilliant photograph.... nothing else to be said. Just magic.... magic. You never fail Winder!
Just briiliant; another gem. Just depicts the changing faces of the sixties! Must be the last days of steam; a year to go. Even upgrading the lamp posts on the bridge! Again, a gem!!!!!
That's one hell of a photo!
Great picture Winder !
Marvellous Winder - I like the two arches
That loco was built at Horwich Loco Works & scrapped in 1968
Boars Head Junction signalbox
Opened 1899. Closed Sunday 1st October 1972.
Classed as L&NWR type 4 overhead, with an 18 lever frame.
First thanks for the comments.
dk, I hadn't noticed the "two Arches", in fact if you ever see the other side of the bridge, there is the start of another arch to the right of the one in the pic. I think this second arch would have been for the "widening" to four tracks which was never completed.
Ken, a signalbox would have been in place in 1869 when the junction was first used.
The Four cut off stumps of the signalbox legs are still in place, but are now buried under thick bushes and vegetation.
Re; widening - never clocked that one before; that ties in with Buckley Street Bridge and Park Road bridge. If you look at the bridge walls they extend out further than necessary -as if they could take a wider bridge. I guess the Whelley loop line was the 'other two tracks'
Art, did you work at Howich ? I did from 48 to 52, what class is it ? ' a black 5" ?
my brother in law george clarke worked here from 62 to 64 the man in the photo is jack mcloughlin he was a regular signalman for many years
Just to say that this photo can be found in a book called
LMS Steam The Closing Years by Allan Heyes sadly out of print but I am lucky to have a copy as there are other great photos in it.
Winder. A great picture. I worked in this box as a relief signalman, and would like to include it in my Book, Any objections.