Wigan Album

Thank you so much for these great trin pix. They bring back so many happy memories. my Dad called himself a Goods Guard, not a Freight one.

Buildings on right where in WIGAN can,t place them

The train is heading north beyond North Western station. The steam engine on the right is on the Wallgate line so the buildings behind are in Dorning Street and King Street West.

Was just thinking I bet them cars looked old even in 1961! Then I noticed the one in the middle is actually a hearse!Another great pic all the same!

Sorry Stuart the train is heading south, if it was heading north we would have had to put a 'blockback' on to the Rylands box, signalman Harry Tomlinson wouldn't have been too pleased. There is one well known building on the right, Charlsons Corn Mill.Coal trains are better for Guards, especially in winter, toast done on the pot belly stove with plenty butter.

Peter. You are the professional,and you know which way the train is travelling, as you say south. Is it not possible that steam engine on the right of the picture is making it's way towards Wallgate Station,even if the train is travelling south, and the buildings shown are in the streets mentioned (Dorning Street-King Street West)? Was the facade of of Coops Sewing factory like the building shown?

train in wallgate might be light engine or in the bay for liverpool exchange local.it does seem to carry a br number ie 5 digits so is after 1948.let me add my thanks for another fine and interesting pic

Definitely heading south. If you look at the 'holiday special' pic, it's on the same line (the Up line).

The train is heading south, the photo is looking up to the direction of north from the box.

I can make out what looks like colour light signals ahead, with 'feathers' indicating a junction or branch. Or have I got that completely wrong?

You got it right in one Loz.

So which junction is it? Is it just a local siding or something?

I think the signal you refer to is for south bound trains we are probably seeing the back of it.The feathers will refer to platform lines in the station.

Thanks,that makes a lot of sense. I wondered about that, but I'm pushing my limited knowledge to the limit here!

The arms indicate which track and the signals are lower in centre. Left arm (right of photo) is Platform 1 and right arm (left of photo) is platform 4, whichever is lit indicates where the points are set for.