Photo-a-Day  (Saturday, 25th November, 2023)

The entrance looks tatty and I see they have kept the pinch point on the highway

A lovely, homely, well-kept station.

Well Brian, let’s see what controversy today’s picture causes!

I look forward to the enterprise I can’t think of another word. I use the train quite a lot or I did do until recently because of the upheaval in the town centre at the present time.

Excellent photo Brian.
A new bridge to accommodate the 25,000 volts electric cables and also the platforms extended to accommodate the lengths of the new trains.

The station opened in 1848 and had four sets of tracks and four platforms. The lines under the bridge to the right, were know as the fast lines and also known as the Pemberton loop to Liverpool Exchange. The lines closed in 1969 and lifted in 1971. The lines under the new bridge that will shortly be electrifiefrom Bolton to Wallgate station is the Manchester to Southport line. I wonder what will happen to the locally know iron foot bridge just a little further down the track towards Ince. Only time will tell.

Not travelled through this station for many years.
I remember the flower beds neat and tidy and pot plants. Don't know if the station organised this or some generous civic minded locals taking pride in their station.

Colin they are friends of Hindley, and the do a really good outstanding job.
Good photo Brian.

Friends of Hindley all volunteers.
In Summer the station looks great.
Thanks Brian.

Colin - there's a very active group of locals who tend the flower beds etc at Hindley Station.
Does anyone know exactly how they're going to run the overhead lines into Wallgate Station itself? I'm sure the headroom beneath Wallgate is at least as low as the headroom was at Hindley before the new bridge was installed. Will the tracks be lowered? - if so, that will probably mean an extensive reconstruction within the station itself.

Good question David.

Hats off to the Friends of Hindley.
Rev David. Good point about the Wallgate Tunnel, it is quite low.
I remember the steam trains thundering through and belching smoke on either side.
Quite a sight from the old iron bridge at the the side of the County through which we used to poke our heads for excitement, not to mention the thunderous sound and shaking inside the cinema when watching a film!

Rev David, the present plan is to take the electrification to North Western station, not Wallgate, to complete the electrification of the Manchester to Preston line. When/if they eventually take it through Wallgate station it will be a very big job as you suggest.

Hindley North.
Does anyone remember Hindley South on the far side of the black alps?

I'm lead to belive the electrication is up to Wallgate station bridge and then turn to diesel power for the rest of the journey.

I had assumed that was the plan, John, but all the publicity talks of electrifying from Bolton to Wigan Wallgate....
Questions for the more technically-knowledgable - signs at Bolton Station and Victoria instruct drivers of the bi-mode 769 class which run on the Southport service to switch from pantograph running to diesel-electric (and vice-versa) - presumably they'll be told to do that at Hindley? As it's technically a switch which can be made while they're running - do they do it in a station in case something goes wrong?

Hindley and Platt Bridge Station was renamed Hindley South, while Hindley North on Ladies Lane kept its title. When Hindley South closed, Hindley North was renamed Hindley. I do remember Hindley South Station and Lower Ince station too.

I think it was once known as Hindley, Platt bridge and Strange ways...then Hindley South.
The placed shut in 1964.

Electrification. Sorry about my atrocious spelling.

You can’t change a town to a village
you can’t change its meaning to what’s yours
You can’t freeze it just into your place
and spit at how progress now flows .Knowledge gained is beyonding
the greatest gift of all ,
but trapped within a closed mind
is like bird with no wings at all..

Gary , I remember Hindley South on the line out of Wigan Central? Wasn't it in the area where the hospice is now?

Hindley South was down Liverpool rd about half a mile past the Hospice on the left.The Strangeways pub was just before the station at the bottom of the bridge.

Derek B - it was on the line in and out of Central. It was, as Malc says, closed in 1964.
You may be right on the hospice - I have not been down there for many years.

The Strangways pub has been demolished some time ago now, but your right Pw, the Hindley South Station was located on top of the road hill, next to Low Hall carpark.

The station is well used and a great asset.There has been some ongoing work inside for a couple of weeks( maybe for installation of disabled toilet?) ,so that may be your answer Peter P. !!

I used to live near the Strangeways Garry,got some old bricks when it was demolished for the garden.