Wigan Album

In My opinion This line should never have been closed, Just think what an asset this ;
line would have been to-day..

I also completely agree with what Cindy above has written, especially with all the traffic chaos today it would be definitely be advantageous to people who would want to pop into Manchester shopping Pus it would also benefit people along the line in both directions , very short sighted then and still are today ..

Cindy. If a poll was taken, I should imagine that a majority of the British population would consider that the wholesale closure of the majority of Britain’s railway network was utterly unnecessary.

At least Manchester Central station where this train is at, still exists.
The building gets used for exhibitions and annual political conferences.

I live in Blackrod and the size of the trains coming through to take people into Manchester are so small.They should be called cattle trucks standing room only.

Another foggy, steamy train station full of atmosphere. Shades of 'Brief Encounter' ...

Correct, Dolly dear, (Veronica). It really feels like I've got a bit of grit in my eye!

Springs branch driver don godson and fireman tony durkin

History on a foggy November night. Imagine now, taking this trip on a dull December morning straight to the centre of Manchester from the centre of Wigan. Such folly by Beeching: the ghosts still haunt the Grand Arcade. The empty shops echo the sound of the 75er edging towards the platform's buffer stop...

I thought trains still run from Wigan to Manchester all be it from different stations at both ends? Is there not enough stations in Wigan with two?

bernard was the drivers name Hodson not Dodson

the driver was Don Hodgson I think he was involved with Springs Branch football team, he is on W.W. with the team about to leave for a match in Dublin 1964

Correct Tom he was involved with Srings Branch football team along with some young Fitters.

Peter P. A very short-sighted comment. Yes there are still trains between Wigan and Manchester but there are other communities in between that were also served by the Wigan Central to Manchester Central line. These communities lost their railways forever and it those places that Cindy and Alan are referring to.