Wigan Album
Railways
15 Comments
Photo: Dave Taylor
Item #: 15645
The details on the back state:- Class 4MT 42555 at Lowton St. Mary's station with the 12:33 hours ex Manchester Central to Wigan Central. In 1964 the old King took me on the last afternoon departure from Lowton St. Mary's to Wigan and return. If the old King took any photos on that day I've never found them! 27/8/64
Hard to believe that this photo is less than fifty years old and yet how few pictures exist. Travelled on this line many times with my Grandad, who worked at Wigan Central and the old sidings yard just off Darlington St.
That could very easily be me firing that tank, I was in the GC link when I decided to finish on the railway, mostly due to the good DR Beeching, My driver at the time was Harry Marriot, who lived in Junction Terrace next to Lower Ince station. If only the clock could be turned back !!
I lived in Loton St marys for a while but did not know there was ever a station there ,where was it Aich,thanks.
It was on Newton road, opposite pocket Nook lane, the bridge is still there,with a track going off in the direction of the old lines. and that was another spot I used to work at (Pocket Nook Lane) with a demolition firm called Mee and Cocker, they had an office down there until it burned down, and that was another story, as old M&C employees will tell you
Do you know what I learned how to scateboard there,I know exactly where you meen.It was the entrance to the Meadows.I often wondered why it was laid out as it was,I couldnt work out why it had been landscaped as it was.Thanks Aitch.
Mr.Taylor, I see your refer to your father as "old king" was he a railway man, I assume he got you interested in railways.
Hello Robert, No, the Old King AKA dad served his time at the Sunbeam motor car manufacturers in Wolverhampton. He did apply to join the railway when leaving school(I think), but was rejected due to a weak heart. In the fifties he joined English Electric (another proper company name!)first at Preston, and then moved to their locomotive works division, the Vulcan Foundry at Newton-Le-Willows [otherwise known as "locomotive builder to the World"]. Unfortunately much to his chagrin it coinicided with the time when BR decied to rush headlong down the road to dieslisation, and The Vulcan stopped making steam locomotives! Not to be deterred however he settled for working on diesels, and in the fullness of time, as The Vulcan diversified also large stationary diesel generating sets, and ship's large marine engines. He did however impart to me a lifelong love for the railways. And it's Dave by the way; Mr. Taylor is normally reserved for either Sundays or a b*llocking at work!!
Thank you Mr. Taylor....er Dave.
Sunbeam motor company now that's a name to cunger with. Dave, this has nothing to do with the wonderful railways, but was the company the Roots group, Hillman cars? or am I barking up the wrong tree?
Aitch... the clock will turn back, but nowt will happen... I've tried it!
Dont I just know it John, this world is full of if onlys, still, its nice to dream of what could have been, cest la vie
Hi Miles,, I think that is correct although i am not absolutely sure.
hello aitch,didn't know you was a railwayman when we were in the Bellingham,worked at Branch for 22 years till it shut in 92 then transferred to Warrington,which after the Branch was a load of doo doo.Could have had a good frag about railway
I thought that in 1964 a diesel service operated on this line.This could be the last steam train leaving at an earlier date?
Was this just the last steam train-I recall diesel trains running on this line prior to the line closure