Wigan Album

Now this is Hindley

Wigan Road Hindley, just passing the traffic lights. Foden S80 with the massive lucas headlights. I served my apprenticship at T Armstrong's in Goose Green, we had the Foden S80 tractor unit new in 1973, with a 220 cummins engine and 12 speed splitter gearbox. Great sound of an engine and could pull the houses down. In my opinion, Foden with the best tipper truck at that time.
Good photo Eddie.

Just remembered the shops. The trucks just passing Walter Hurst's Clog makers shop and Douggie England's Chemist.

Back of the net Colin, that's what I was looking for, Walter Hurst's clog shop. Nice one. Regards. Eddie.

Armstrongs in Horwich.

Eddie, I spent many hours in the pet shop on your photo in the 60's helping Mr and Mrs Watkinson with their birds and tropical fish.Walter Hurst was a one off.Happy memories

TBH, I don't recall the pet shop Pw, but I certainly remember Walter Hurst as I purchased several pairs of clogs from him in the 70's. I used to wear them whilst driving the wagons, as did one or two other drivers of my acquaintance back then. They took a bit of getting used to, especially when you were climbing about on top of the load sheeting up, but as an item of footwear, they were vastly underrated in my opinion. Cool in summer, warm and dry in winter, and with a bit of car tyre screwed to the soles, they could easily outlast three pairs of boots. IIRC, in the 60's , you could buy them for a quid a pair at the blind shop in Darlington St. before they closed the place down. Harold was a bit more expensive but still affordable. The last time I saw him, he was doing a couple of days a week at that cobbler's near the bus station in Wigan, then I heard that he'd died unfortunately. Memories eh ? Regards. Eddie.

I'm sorry, for Harold, please read Walter. I believe Harold was walter's father. Regards. Eddie.

Clogs wern't the right foot-wear for driving HGVS. Difficult to work the clutch, brake and accelerator pedal. This truck carried coal to Westwood power station.

Welcome back from your self imposed exile Garry, you've actually managed a week. Congratulations.

Just remembered, these were known as 8 wheelers. but look, just count the wheels. yes 12. They should be 12 wheelers.

Gary This truck did not carry coal to Westwood it belongs to
British Fuels Blackburn they didn't have the Westwood contract,the firm I worked for used to work for British Fuels.Ithink it was Smith Parkinson and Cole who had the
Westwood contract,Gary you said you were not commenting on
here again you can't resist can you,anyway welcome back D.C.

Thanks gents.

Colin,In the 60,s Terry Armstrong ran a 2s comer from Appley Bridge Quarries ???

My dad used to run out the quarries in appley bridge & parbold when he drove for H Bradley & Son from mid 70s onwards

The pet shop had gone when this was taken,it was a fishing tackle shop,the very first shop of what is now North West Angling.

was this B F C's own or was it on contract hire from Alf Barnes's of Darwin

G P. This Foden was B F C s own vehicle but it didn't run
into Westwood Power Station D.C.

It's a coal tipper truck, the body extensions at the top of the tipper box proves it. This would be a 30 tonner.I was a coalman at Westwood.

Garry .You may have been a coalman at Westwood but it was
driving the horse that pulled the barge or watching through
the fence or in your dreams ?

Derick not only a coalman but other jobs aswell. electrician. wagon driver. railwayman. breadman.painter.welder. etc. Im retired now.

The pet shop and travel agents was owned by my wife's aunt and uncle Clara and Jack Watkinson

adewater,they were two very nice people.Jack drove a green Austin Cambridge and they would take me and some mates for days out.We used to go to the Lancashire Show when it was at Stanley Park in Blackpool.I will alway have many happy memories of them.

not true maurice!my dad had this shop Alans tackle from 1976 til 1982 when he sold it to john roberts who turned it into nw angling. we still had pet pet food and tanks of fish till we sold it

wm finch had one of these with rolls engine in used it at the flag yard and quarry had a bad steering lock was collected from the foden dealer in ashton