Wigan Album

The machine is an umperdumperdinkadanka - at least that's my approximation of the very loud noise it made as it thumped its way slowly past our house in the middle of the night.
Interesting to see the pub when its brickwork was painted like that. A mistake that Dave Murphy, the owner, said took weeks to chip off.

Does it clean and re-compact the trackbed gravel?

the machine is infact was used to unload CWR (continuous welded rail)they still use them today on the network but im sure this one was sent to the gas axe years ago.

Is the pub, the one that used to be named "The Old Hall", on the corner of Cemetery Road. If so, the continuation of that line, if my memory serves me correct, leads on to the Central Wagon Works, passing by St Mary's Church.

Rev Long, I thought he was a singer?

Albert:

Originally, line extended to Wigan Coal & Iron complex, near Top Lock, hence Springs Branch (New Springs). The outer section of it closed in early 1930's, remaining stub serving Wagon Works. Springs branch has interesting history: the wheeler dealing that accompanied railway financing and construction in UK.

Does Springs Branch still exsist as a place of railway activity, and employment, or as it become functionless? It was certainly a hive of activity in the forties, and fifties.

Where do you live, Albert?

Garry. Blackpool, for the last twenty five years, previously Kent,for twenty four years.

Springs Branch is now a ghost town if you will, Albert. No railway activety at all, sadly.

Thank you Cullie,
I knew that it wasnt a tamper or brush anyway as it was too long & I seem to remember that it had a long yellow train coupled in it`s formation.

I think that there was a kind of identical driving cab at the other end so it could be driven from either end.

Come on, someone tell us more about the "umperdumperdinkadanka" Is this one, or was that something else?

Springs Branch is still alive, mainly for wagon repairs and
maintenance of Network Rail multi-purpose vehicles.It is also the home of the regional breakdown crane.The problem with the depot is that it is hidden behind a forest of silver birch.

"regional breakdown crane" ?

Do they now manage with just one for the entire region?

AP.
Apparantly i think ther













AP.
To the best of my knowledge there are only 3 operational cranes for the country based at Springs Branch,Bescot(Midlands)and Millerhill(Scotland)
The Springs Branch crane is the same one that was based at the branch in the 1980's.It migrated to Crewe for a while but then returned.The crane is kept at the branch but the tool vans are at Warrington Arpley.

AP. I think the Umperdumperdinkadanka thing? might be a reference to a something called a tamping machine???.
A tamping machine looks very similar to this & it also painted yellow,a tamping machine makes a hell of a racket when in use.
I think the Umperdumperdinkadanka comment is kind of referring to the noise that it makes when it`s doing it`s job.
From what I understand a tamping machine kind of has a series of hydraulic mini pile drivers built into it that drive down,hammer & pound into the track ballast between the sleepers to lift & pack the ballast (to level & re-profile the track?).
Tamping machines often work at night going up & down the track packing pile driving the ballast going Umperdumperdinkadanka, Umperdumperdinkadanka, Umperdumperdinkadanka,Umperdumperdinkadanka, Umperdumperdinkadanka (& so on).
You get the idea AP.
I was once kept awake for several hours when I was staying at a house on Countess Way Euxton some years ago.
The West Coast Main Line ran right by the house,& one of those tamping machines was working up & down the track right by the house & yards from the room I was (trying) to kip in.

Thanks Baldylocks,

I gather it must have been something of the sort. When a student, I lived briefly in the tower block (Univ. Hall of Residence) close by the rail track between Manchester Piccadilly to Oxford Street: The night before Maths exam, which is just when you need a good sleep, we were kept awake all night by one!

Comments by cullie, 24th May 2013
the machine is infact was used to unload CWR (continuous welded rail)they still use them today on the network but im sure this one was sent to the gas axe years ago.

It is indeed the CWR train!

This is one of three wagons in the 'Primary' set. This wagon carries the crane that clamps onto the rails and pushes them off the wagons. The next wagon coupled to this is the wagon for the power unit when it self-propelled dropping the rail.(if the power unit failed, the loco would take over for traction) The third wagon was the 'Chute' wagon which guided the rail onto the track. Inbetween the first and second wagons of the Primary set were the nine wagons which held the rail itself. The fifth wagon in this 'Perch' set was the 'Clamp' wagon which held the rail in place.

The Chute wagon had to be facing the right direction before it went to drop the rail on site so sometimes it had to be turned to face the opposite direction. Some of you who remember me as the Shunter @ Guide Bridge yard, might remember going round the 'Angle' to turn the 'Primary' set with the 08 we had at the yard and how long it took to do a simple job!

The 'Primary' and 'Perch' set length was the same as 23 Seacows, but there you go, thats the Shunter in me !!!!! Kev.