Wigan Album
Railways
11 Comments
Photo: Margaret Wall
Item #: 16157
The artist is Mr John Harrison, who is a member of the prestigious Guild of Railway Artists.
I had the privilage of meeting him last year and bought a few copies of his works.
I do not imagine for one minute that Mr Harrison will mind my sharing this painting on Wigan World.
Unless my memory has deserted me, that is a very lifelike painting of Springs Branch probably painted from the Taylors Lane bridge... brilliant
Wonderful, absolutely wonderful! Wouldn't have it any other way.
Where are we here, Spring's Branch?
Lovely!!!
iTS A SAD FACT THAT MOST OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND STILL HAVE THIS PICTURE IN THEIR MINDS EYE WHEN YOU CONVERSE WITH THEM ABOUT WIGAN!!
They've not seen Willesden then, I presume?
"Is that Westwood Power Station in the background?"
Yes - and the scene is mis-titled, as I discovered in no uncertain terms when I first arrived in Ince and asked someone if they'd always lived in Wigan.
The Super D in the pic looks like its got emptys fo Chanters pit . Spent many hours on this line as a lad
What a logistical nightmare it must have been managing all those tracks in those days! Is that 13 tracks across I count? Love the painting!
The tracks also split and go to Liverpool the other side of the signal box in the picture. very bissey in them days
The four track Junction is at the south end of the Springs Branch layout and was often referred to as Manchester Junction. The line went via Platt Bridge & Hindley Green to Manchester Exchange and also to the Bickershaw Colliery complex. The loco is NOT a Super D but a Midland 4F 0-6-0 and could be taking empties to any of the various colleries off the Manchester Line.