Wigan Album

I don't remember the enclosed carriage at the rear, I doubt riding in there would be the same as you wouldn't really feel the breeze whether cool or warm, depending on if the tractor was going through a wooded area, though I suppose some folks didn't like a breeze and if it was to keep infirm or disabled folks safe from falling out of the carriage, then I suppose the thrill of riding through the plantations and the smell of a damp woody area and the blossom aromas would be the same.

What a brilliant photo, Ron! I even remember when the tractor had a canvas roof, and it cost threepence to go to The Hall. My Mam and Dad would pick me up from Sunday School and we would go to Wigan on the bus and then walk up to The Plantation Gates where the tractor would be waiting. I can still feel the rush of excitement as it started off down the first slope, and the rush of air was so cool in the shade, even on the hottest day. Today's children are taken in cars to a car-park right by the side of The Hall and have probably never even see The Plantations.....I bet they'd love a ride through them on the rattly old tractor. I'm glad I grew up when I did; I don't think the memory of a car-park will linger somehow.

I don't recall the "enclosed" carriage either, Cyril. Perhaps it was for the "oldies".....we'd probably qualify now!!

I think they enclosed the last carriage to stop youths jumping onto it when the train was moving through the plantations.

I think you may be right there Peter . A sort of guard's van . I remember loads of lads coming out the trees like Apaches attacking a stagecoach and clinging onto the back of the wagon , often all the way to the Hall .

I think there were three Thorneycroft tractors at Haigh Hall, remember the registrations of two, FEK844 and JEK128, finished about 1992.

Was only thinking about the tractor the other day, does anyone know the history/ background of these vehicles? (I’m sure there was at least two)I’m thinking they possibly started life in the military? What became of them? Did any survive or were they scrapped?

J. Brown, there was an interesting discussion about the tractors and about their former life as tugs for moving aircraft and a mention about what happened to them, Link to discussion below.
Dostaf mentions the bar on the back of the carriages as being handy to grab hold of, and Jarvo reckons he was one of those who would hang on the back for free rides - really, wonder if he was also one of the many that fell off too.

https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/communicate/mb_message.php?opt=f1&msd=284622&offset=&subject=HAIGH%2520HALL%2520TRACTORS

Peter P, there is also another photo of the enclosed carriage with someone also saying it was to repel boarders, it mustn't have worked as someone else says that later the park rangers would follow in vans behind the tractor train to prevent kids from jumping on.

Thanks for the gen Cyril . So not military surplus vehicles after all ….interesting stuff all the same. I remember the green & cream livery from the 60’s/70’s and the later orange and cream, which presumably was some spare bus paint if they were serviced at Melverley St? Having said that, they could have just as easily received a coat of the old cherry and white…..that would’ve looked great!

The times we have ridden on that tractor. How much was it from Wigan Lane up to the Hall?

I've been advocating for years that they bring back the tractors. As how do people with no car get up to Haigh Hall?Unless you are relatively fit and can walk, older people can't get there.

Ron, it's been said that the council was looking at ways of transporting people up to the hall and back from the Plantation Gates once the two gatehouses had been renovated, though I'm thinking the work should have been done by now.

I've had a look and there was a Haigh Woodland Wanderer bus service that ran at weekends and bank holidays from the bus station to Haigh Hall via Whelley. No idea if it still running as it was being subsidised.
https://communityrail.org.uk/haigh-woodland-wanderer/