Wigan Album
Railways
7 Comments
Photo: Lawrence Thorpe
Item #: 18150
Westwood power station is on the left.
There was once a signal box at Westwood Park,but it closed on the 7th november 1964 leaving a long block section from Hindley no3 to Pemberton Junction signal boxes.
This line was known locally as "the switchback" (due to the dip in the gradients at westwood park)& closed on July 24th 1969,less than a year after this photo was taken.
Sorry but i cant reply to any comments as a friend has scanned in & uploaded these photos on my behalf.
Enjoy the photo(s)
Great picture Lawrence. You can just make out a corner of Scotsmans flash, top right. As a kid, me and my mates used to do a lot of fishing in Scotsmans, on the railway embankment side. This pic brings back a lot of memories. Thanks.
What a straight 'rail road'. would now be fantastic to rid the roads of all its cargo!
Can see how trains, express type picked up their speed here. Using this section, the fastest express could be delivered from Liverpool to Manchester (Exchange).
What do the yellow triangular signs mean each side of the tracks?
The yellow triangular signs are mileage posts rob
baldlocks the posts are gradient arms they would tell drivers of the extant of the climb or descent.it looks straight but it was downhill severely. 5 or six hundred yards to the signal box ,where the banker used to wait to be able to help push the long frieght trains to upholland tunnel.they would then drift down back to the signal box to await the next freight train
Ive heard they are gonna use the old embankment as a busy bypass at Westwood ,why did they close this .Great pic though