Wigan Album
British Rail at Wigan
17 CommentsPhoto: Peter Worthington
Item #: 21633
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hi Peter,
I will make some enquiries as to where Tony is.
Leave it with me,(i`ll PM you)
Peter , Alan Parkinson was a boxlad in No 2 around that time ,,,,, remember him ?
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.
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.
Anyone remember "Elliott?" I think he worked on Chaffers Sidings at Nelson around 1985.....
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.
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`.
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.
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.
I have just found these comments im dougie doughtys grandaughter! He is still alive cant wait to show him x
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
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