Wigan Album

Presumably taken from the iron foot bridge, an unusual sight to see class 20s with a passenger train...seen these engines many times on the Bickershaw Colliery to Fiddlers Ferry power station run. The two chimneys at Westwood Power station still stand, but the cooling towers have been demolished. Great memories. Well done Mick.

well done mick im 100% sure im on this run great days indeed with the sunday divertions a nice pair of choppers giving it hell ggrrrrrrrrrr hear them mini beast

Takes two of um to get the bugger up to Lostock Junction? Pathetic...

There's twelve coaches full of passenger, and up a very steep gradient from Wigan, what do you expect jarvo.

In steam days, a black five or Jubilee class would have hammered that...But, alas, they've gone...Like everything piggin' else...Sad.

NO, you're wrong jarvo, to pull twelve coaches full of people up this type of gradient would have taken a double header...two black fives or one class 40, it's not about speed, it's about pulling power.

NO, Garry, you're wrong...A black eight would have done it, or any Dub D or 9F...A Coronation class would have done it twice!

I disagree Jarvo, the engines your talking about are express trains and this is a branch line. Black fives did run a this line, but only pulled at the most eight coaches, and that was in BR days. Twelve coaches is too much. A 9f.. well the fireman woul'nt keep up for the steam demand so that would struggle...the other engines you mentioned..well they too would struggle because you can't get up speed on branch lines. I hope this answers all you questions.

I think the following week, Suday 29th january the chimneys were blown up!!!

Black eights were regularly used on passenger duties on Bank Holidays in the fifties and early sixties...No danger. And they got up to speed. Sorry, Garry, I was there too.

jarvo and gary your wrong a pair of english electrics class 20's with a diesel n electric in tow is awsome ....to this day i can hear the thrash n clag of theses mini beast gggggggrrrrrr be careful they bite lol

Jarvo's gone quiet, Cullie.

would 12 passenger be about 350/400tons?daily parkside fiddlers was1200toms sometimes 1500.rising gradient and tight curve from start was easy for 2 20s.47s were the problem .no grip
many hours spent handing ash and ballast to wheels to get 47s on to mainline.think problem with 20s was overloading amps and losing momentum ?however i m in the steam camp.a webb g2 would waltz that lightweight though couldnt stop it.

I don't understant your comments, Walt.

I saw Stanier and Fairburn tanks making light of the Orrell bank, from a standing start at Pem Station. Please don't talk to me about 'failing' diesels. Steam were a different class. End of. Bye! :)

only looking on a phone
is reamost a loco? exhaust seems this train is being banked
.20s were 1000 hp each .was not reason line occupation?next dmu might be cjasing it and nowhere to pass?

Walt, there is a class 47 on the rear but it would not be under power at this point. The loco would work the train north after reversal and removal of the class 20s at Lostock Junction.