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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

British Rail at Wigan

17 Comments

Start Of Duty.
Start Of Duty.
Photo: Peter Worthington
Views: 3,333
Item #: 21633
1961 Wigan No.2: Signalman Tony Cook arriving for Duty.

Comment by: Harry Gardner on 12th October 2012 at 01:47

Last box he worked was Warrington PSB,(Tony retired in the mid 1990s).
Last thing i heard Tony Cook was in a nursing home somewhere on the Fylde.

Comment by: Peter W. on 12th October 2012 at 16:39

Thank You for the information Harry; if he was a similar age to Doug., he would be in his mid eighties now. When he was on the railway he lived in one of the Railway Cottages at the back of Coppull Station.

Comment by: Harry Gardner on 12th October 2012 at 16:58

Hi Pete,
first time i spoke to Tony Cook was circa 1992 when i was working nights in Astley box & he was on the Chat Moss Panel in Warrington PSB.
He will be in his eighties by now.
From what i heard recently he sadly isnt in the best of health these days & has had to have a leg amputated.

Comment by: Peter W. on 13th October 2012 at 01:42

Sad to learn Tony isn't in the best of health, if you ever get to know his where-abouts could you please slip me a line or two; Thanks Harry.

Comment by: Harry Gardner on 13th October 2012 at 20:42

Hi Peter,
I will make some enquiries as to where Tony is.
Leave it with me,(i`ll PM you)

Comment by: nopa on 19th October 2012 at 15:07

Peter , Alan Parkinson was a boxlad in No 2 around that time ,,,,, remember him ?

Comment by: Peter W. on 20th October 2012 at 01:03

I didn't meet Alan Parkinson Nopa; there were just three regulars that were training at No.2. on the three shifts, one for each shift. Brian Johnson from Golborne, John Wright from Standish, Wigan or Chorley. There may have been a stand in at rest days etc., or a person like myself who moved around different departments. If he knows me, that's another story.

Comment by: Peter W. on 3rd November 2012 at 15:11

nopa.....Found some more negatives, and on one image is a small group of persons in Wigan No. 2 box, 1960-61. I can't make out who they may be, but they appear to be wearing uniform, so I will scan, and upload them onto here for you to peruse.

Comment by: Louise on 19th July 2013 at 03:14

Anyone remember "Elliott?" I think he worked on Chaffers Sidings at Nelson around 1985.....

Comment by: Tony Cook on 15th April 2014 at 18:00

Well, Well, Well!!
This is Tony Cook Here.
The photograph is most certainly of me arriving at Wigan No 2 Signal box.
Firstly, I was never in a nursing home, but in January 2003 I did have a leg amputated. This was on a Friday at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, but on the following Monday I was walking again, and have been ever since.
Dougie Doughty was a couple of years younger than me, although we were together through most of our railway careers.
He was made a supervisor in Warrington Power Box at the time it opened, but went on to be promoted to Station Manager at Liverpool Lime Street Station, and this was the last time I saw him. This would be about 1992, but heard nothing since.
I did live in the railway cottages near Coppull Station, but moved a railway cottage adjacent to Orrell Station in the late sixties. (The cottage was demolished when I moved to a council house in Moor Road Orrell.)
In 1972, I exchanged this house for one in Warrington on being promoted to the new Power Box there.
I remember working with you Peter in Wigan No 2 (Were you not Sid Prestons box lad?) very well, and working at Balshaw Lane box, and some on the Whelley Line. Also Harry I have many happy memories of our exploits in the early 1990s.
I expect you remember George Clarke at Boars Head, Well! he Cyril Peers, Horace Davies, and Dave Stevens were up here just before Christmas, when we had a day out for a good ole chin-wag about the old days.
So, Peter and Harry or anyone else who wants to make contact with me, Please e.mail tony.cook75@yahoo.com
I would be pleased to hear from you. T.

Comment by: Peter Worthington on 27th April 2014 at 14:48

You got me on here Tony, the comments are very interesting, with regards to Sid, he was a relief signalman and I was eventually Doug's Prote`ge`.

Comment by: TONY COOK on 11th May 2014 at 15:15

No, Peter. Sid Preston was a regular signalman in Wigan No 2, and he had a spare time job working on his mates newspaper stall in Wigan Market.
He was followed by Arthur Gibbon's from the 'Lanky', and had a habit of pouring boiling water onto the water taps, when he reported for duty, and always ate his sandwiches with paper between his fingers and the bread. (He was conscious of germs lurking about!!) Unfortunately, he walked in front of a bus in Pemberton, and was killed aged 82.

Comment by: TONY COOK on 13th May 2014 at 10:13

Now, Peter. I think you are mixing the Sid's up. The Class One Relief Signalman was Sid Sherratt, whom I worked alongside for a few years.

Comment by: claire on 4th September 2014 at 23:53

I have just found these comments im dougie doughtys grandaughter! He is still alive cant wait to show him x

Comment by: Tony Cook on 19th November 2014 at 21:36

Hello Claire,

I worked with your granddad Dougie from 1948, right through to 1994.
We were the best of pals, and I knew all the family well.
You don't happen to be Margaret's daughter do you. She was his eldest daughter, and I think his youngest lived in Runcorn. Remember going to her house many times.
Dougie finished up as the Station Manager at Liverpool Lime Street.
Get in contact please. tony.cook75@yahoo.com
Is Dougie OK. Tell him to get in touch. I would like to make contact again.

Tony

Comment by: claire on 2nd January 2016 at 01:47

tony sorry not been on this for ages! do you live in widnes do i know you from cassandras cafe?
No im janet's daughter she came after margaret ha im the eldest grandaughter!
Grandad doug is not good at the minute. He is really sick if you want to email that is fine its craigc@ntlworld.com. Iv printed the pics off this site and showed him

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