Wigan Album

some nice landmarks in the background

Another brilliant picture. These should be published in a book!

What was the name of the church on the right-hand skyline? I used to go train spotting at Springs Branch in the early '70s and have been trying to remember the name. I remember it was derelict for a while, then demolished, along with all the terraced houses around it.

The church is,St. Mary's, Lower Ince.

One last question - what was the name of the pub to the left of the church in this picture (corner of Cemetery Road)? Was it the Coaching House, or something similar? This big pub was always our landmark for getting off the bus coming from Platt Bridge direction when we were visiting the cemetery.

It's called the Coaching House now, but it was the Old Hall in them days, everybody still calls it that now.

the pub was the old hall(springs branch secound mess room)

Looking at the last comment about the Pub on the corner , very strange that as I have just left a comment on the site of Springs Branch about the Pub and retirement partys

gr8 photo,brings back a lot of memories of 40s and 25s.stopped off at the branch a few times,found the orange tiles very striking in the mess area.handy camoflage for shirking shunters,ha ha.was a llandudno jct man myself,but im from st helens originally.keep the photos coming..

I was once in the messroom at springs branch,when a secondman came over to the table i was sitting at and told me that i have to pick up the golden rivvet on the way out,i think at the back of the depot.was this an in house joke,like the bucket of steam?there was a lot of sniggering going on,if anyone remembers this can theysay what it means.

THE PUB WAS THE OLD HALL I WAS THE SHUNTER AT THE BRANCH.

Does anyone remember the well trodden path, over the wall to the Walmsley? As an apprentice in the early 80's, i used to wander across to Jennys shop on Warrington Road for breakfast.

Alongside the OHL works train, on the banking to the south of the OHL storage area there was a training span for OHL staff where I and Malcolm Hitchen spent many enjoyable hours teaching new skills to trainees . The Training School was in the two classrooms on the first floor of the depot building adjacent to the messroom. We had great assistance from the depot Traction staff in transporting trainees to and from North West Station; it was very much appreciated. When the School started it was the only one of its kind anywhere on BR, our services were much sought after. some of the first trainees were from Bedford OHL Depot and the were lodged overnight at the Old Hall pub. Happy days! Both Malcom and I moved on to other things while retaining an office facility at the depot, Malcom as the Safety Manager and me as the WCML Training Eng.

Nice one Arthur, happy days indeed. How are you getting along these days? Braddy keeps me posted about you when i see him. Take care me old mate. Dave

Nice to hear from you Dave, you were a good mate. John tries to keep me in touch. Hope things go well in Crewe E.C.R for you.

did anyone take judo lesson at the old hall in the early 50s can you remember the instructors name

I like this picture also, and would like to put it in my book.