Wigan Album
Railway
13 Comments
Photo: Thomas Sutch
Item #: 15069
another great photo of whelley loop at work. what year was this.thanks thomas for sharing photo with us
That will be heading off to Liverpool on the Fir tree connection. Great photo Thomas.
Brilliant, Thomas! I have printed a copy for my friend Neil in London who has a great interest in the Whelley Loop Line and all railways in the Wigan area. Keep them coming!
Stan... would it be sand for the glass works at platt bridge, but I see the signal is up for the fir tree line.
I can remember when the fir tree line closed, at a guess I would say 1970-1? so its round about the time the whelley line closed or did the whelley line close later????
Excellent photo Thomas, that August month of 1968, was indeed the end of steam for British Railways, and possibly the nail in the coffin for the Whelley loop (sadly).
A brilliant picture Tom. i think the train is signalled to take the original route over the WCML and onto Huyton Jct. via Ince Moss and St. Helens. The left hand "peg" I fancy will take us down past Spring View cricket ground, under Warrington Road and either down to Bamfurlong Sortings Sdg.'s or Bamfurlong Jct. depending on the route set. A really super picture. Thanks tom.
I agree with colin.... Diesel's made the Whelley gradient look easy and could speed along on the WCML, so the Whelley loop was not being used as much. Although after saying that, BR should have kept the line open at De-trafford junction, so people could catch the train to Preston and Blackpool from Hindley station.
Correct Dave.
1968... Dave, under the caption.
great picture only ever seen amberswood west in a picture once before.rare.seen it on a video years ago.didnt crewe men opt out from the big dipper route......and request the main line through wigan .
i know about date ha ha but was so chuffed see photo never read caption just straight to comment sorry about that
The train in the picture looks like longmegs we releived it at helifeild and swopt over with the emptys at Hindley south box it went via glazbrook to widnes untill the line closed always had a class 9 steam engine on in those days
Can anyone explain the position of where this photograph has been taken. Has the train just gone off the Whelley loop to pass over Warrington Road or has it already passed Fir tree junction over the WCML?