Wigan Album

You don't see many "brick" signalboxes...come to think of it, you don't see many S/boxes at all these days (sadly)

The relief man looks like a young Sid Sherrat. Sid was signalman at Boars Head Jct.

Littlelaner: I met Sid at Boar's Head once or twice when I went to visit on my way home to Standish, I don't remember the name of the bloke at the window, but I don't remember calling him Sid. Didn't Sid smoke a pipe as most signalmen did, for convenience, this one didn't smoke. Did you know (I think his name was Jack) the signal man who lived in part of Old Haigh School on 'School Lane ', back road from Red Rock to Haigh Hall. Another one was Ken Winnard from the Wigan area, he was a relief signal man.

Hi Peter
Just a stab at identity,Sid did puff a pipe sometimes with everlasting tobacco. The man at Haigh I knew did'nt work on the railway.Most of the ones I knew were 'Lanky' men. As you will be aware signal boxes were forbidden territory to most people and to be allowed to pull levers , work signals and operate the blocks was unreal plus the bonus of footplate rides on the bankers. Good times.

I am sure I have seen a pic. of Sid at Springs Branch on the page where there is a couple of hundred photos, I think it's called Railways.

Yes! This photo is of Sid Sherratt. (I recall he passed away quite young.)