Wigan Album

peter im on the per-way WHY did you as a signalman have to check the track ?

maybe in those days the signalman was responsable for the track aswell, did'nt they used to put fog deternators on the track too.

In those days and starting work at age 15 as I did, how many firms gave us a contract of employment, how many even asked for one, I didn't; and when I started for B.R. in 1960, I got a written contract of employment, but I know I never read it, so accepted what was offered. As a trainee at Wigan it was asked of me by the signal man on duty to do whatever was needed, stoke the coke fired boiler,daily cleaning,errands to the station, releasing and lubricating frozen points and locking mechanism in winter. Per'way men used to call in for brews, and guesss who was asked to put the kettle on. As regards Whelley, the plate as you see it was a rattler I remember, but we did mainly walk-round checks, but when I moved to Balshaw Lane box, the signal man on duty on whatever day it was, had the task of refilling the signal lamps and trimming the wicks on all that were in the vicinity of the station, the lamp-room was very close to the box, probably for convenience; I used to enjoy climbing the ladders.

I only ever did dets at Whelley, pacing the distances kept one fit, and then having to walk back; I suppose if one was in a busy box and the bell rang, a train could be held up some place. At Wigan and Balshaw we had fog-men, that was when we went short of tea.

I seem to remember, that when I was a child, the permanent way was required to be inspected every day.

Am I correct or mistaken in recalling this?

If so, when did this cease? Some of the major disasters of the last decade would have been prevented had faulty track been identified!

Most rail lines are welded today if thats the word, and have concrete sleepers, I'm not too sure if fishplates are still in use.

Good point AP.

No need for fishplates today Garry, there are expansion joints every some hundred feet (can't remember the exact length of each welded section of rail). The joint is similar to a Scarf Joint, used to join two legths of timber.

Peter: Have you ever watched Charles Dickens's "The Signalman". It would certainly interest you...The Signalman in question is played by the late, great. Denholm Eliott...

Checked that film out Jarvo, it's a SHORT, and a scarey one but only for 35mins. Next time I am in VIGAN, I will see what His Masters Voice have, or can get.