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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



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British Rail at Wigan

15 Comments

The Mid-Day Scot North
The Mid-Day Scot North
Photo: Peter Worthington
Views: 2,954
Item #: 21636
1961 The Mid-Day Scot north bound, running round a Holiday Special that is waiting in Platform 5.

Comment by: stan on 10th October 2012 at 18:32

Great photos once again Peter!I've often wondered what the flat wooden(?) platform was to the left? I'm guessing its kind of to the rear of The Swan & Railway?

Comment by: Tony G on 10th October 2012 at 18:46

Why would the holiday special take pride over the 'Royal Scot'? I am learning something here every day!!!!!

Comment by: Peter W. on 10th October 2012 at 21:32

The wooden platform is a work base when interior repairs are being carried out on rolling stock of all types, but not meant for engines and axles etc..There are two pics where it is being used, one a carriage, the other an Engine and van, check them out see if you can make out what is on the deck. The Mid-Day Scot is a more important train than the Hol. Special, when the line is blocked as in this case, the priority train is sent round the stationary one, the other line used as a loop is platform 1 (southerly),left curve of platform 4. If an important train was delayed for any reason, Lime Street Control would ring and an exact account would have to be given; otherwise.

Comment by: cullie on 11th October 2012 at 17:32

another beast of a loco class 40 how i wish i had the head board . grrrrrrrrrrrrrr beast .

Comment by: Jarvo on 11th October 2012 at 21:19

Wonderful stuff, Peter, but why are you not showing us any of the best steam loco of all?.....The Coronation class...As we spotters knew them: THE SEMI!

Comment by: Peter W. on 12th October 2012 at 03:05

I may not have any Coronation Type, and after reading your comment, I don't remember seeing any when I was on duty. The Diesels were predominant when I first started (1960), and I noticed quite a large number of steam locos that used to haul passenger trains were on fitted freight. The problem that very often cropped up when I was on duty, was a steam train stuck on Shap, a Banker had to be sent from Springs Branch, and guess which type; A DIESEL. I remember the Coronations round this area during the late 40's and through the 50's; on our days off duty, we saw them regularly around the London area, when out spotting.

Comment by: AP on 12th October 2012 at 12:48

Old Wooden Platform, is labelled 'Horse Landing' on maps from first half of 20th C.

Comment by: Peter W. on 12th October 2012 at 16:51

Thanks AP. It may be a case for the local historian to solve, I didn't see a direct link with Wallgate and on the left just off camera, there was a flight of steps that we used to use to get to and from the box; at the least, uploading pics. to W.W. is educational.

Comment by: micky east on 15th October 2012 at 20:01

in defence of the duchesses i never saw one stuck on shap even with seventeen on,may have needed a banker but it came from tebay shed,certainly never wigan.try getting a class 40 diesel over shap with seventeen on.when the class 40's where first rostered to the middayscot etc they always asked for the banker at shap,with anything approaching 17.the rail authorities stopped banking diesels over shap on these trains.they significantly reduced their loadings.
class 40 diesels where supposedly 2000hp locos but i doubt they could produce that or blow something.duchess pacifics where rated 3300 hp.but no one knew for sure what they could produce as the poor fireman could not keep up with demands for coal to the furnace.

Comment by: Peter W. on 16th October 2012 at 15:48

The T.E. for a Coronation class was about 40,000lb. no maximum is given for a steam loco, due to the fact you mentioned in your comment Micky. Diesel locomotives do have a maximum T.E. as it is built in. The English Electric Type4 (I am still with the old type numbering sytstem)had a T.E. of 52,000lb.max.from a 16cyl.turbo. engine of 2,000hp,Loco weight135T. The Type4 'Peak' had T.E.of 70,000lb.max.from a 12cyl.turbo. Sulzer engine of 2'500hp,Loco weight144T. Weight of Coronation class about 105T. something similar to a Deltic type. The locos were first rang through from No.1 box, then sent on the system as a 'Light Engine'; the only times bankers were sent to Shap as far as I can remember, was on the late shift or nights, but always from Springs Branch, and always a Diesel, I never saw any return on the same shift, whatever we got on the system we sent on, it was never questioned by anyone.

Comment by: micky east on 18th October 2012 at 16:47

peter that may have been after tebay shed closed circa late 1966/early 1967.always steam bankers from tebay

Comment by: Peter W. on 19th October 2012 at 01:41

Diesel bankers for trains that failed on Shap were used from Springs Branch whilst I was doing my training, 1960-62 and only saw evidence of this when at No.2 box, because it was one of my duties to record Traffic movement, as during this period I was classed as a trainee. I worked in many boxes and station departments, and even did a spell in the N.W. Station Announcer's Greenhouse on platform 5.

Comment by: AP on 21st October 2012 at 01:19

What diesel locomotives (other than shunters) did Springs Branch have in 1960?

Comment by: Peter W. on 22nd October 2012 at 02:02

Don't know AP, I wasn't an avid spotter, nor did I go out of my way to view any, but the times I went to 'Springs Branch Offices' there was always some there. There may not have been any there permanently,some would have had to go for a particular function, I never went into the matter, it wasn't my job. There must be some spotters out there who saw main line Diesels at Springs Branch.

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