Wigan Album

Its a fair gradient from platt bridge, didn't think it was so steep.

Another belter Tom. Approaching Amberswood West Jct. with the original line to the right disappearing towards the underbridge at Warrington Rd. One of Wigan MBC's first acts of criminality - as far as the disused railway network is concerned - was the removal of this large embankment we see in the right of this picture. A measure of the gradient that John refers to, is better gained when one looks to the right of the nearest telegraph pole in the foreground and the parapet of the bridge hole under Warrington Rd is clearly visible. This is about the only tangible bit left in this view now, apart from a short section of embankment beyond the cricket club (the cricket club seem to have managed to appropriate most of the rest of it where it passes their ground!) The locomotive has dragged itself and it's load all the way from Bamfurlong Sorting Sdg.'s and it will continue to do so as it was a solid cllimb all the way to Belle Green Lane before it eased through Roundhouse and Lindsey Pit before increasing again all the way to Aberdeen (S/Box) between Red Rock and White Bear stations. Is it any wonder that you never saw an overweight fireman in those days! How times change, the Royal Scot class was once the LMS and later in BR days, an express passenger locomotive and is now relegated to goods duties, and with 6'-9" driving wheels to boot it wouldn't have been too much fun negotiating the gradients on the Whelley line!

Very interesting Dave, thanks.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but to me this looks like a light engine with the safety valves blowing. I can't make out any train of wagons.

You have to know what your looking at in more detail Mercury. The Royal Scot 4-6-0 with it's double chimney and 6'-9" drive wheels was designed for fast passenger trains. The Royal Scot class had frame fractures and smoke-boxes that could not be kept air tight, rebuilding and modifications gave the engines a new lease of life. But as Dave rightly says an Express passenger locomotive relegated to goods duties. The train is just leaving Platt-bridge with a full goods load, see front of the train and first left telegraph pole, you can see that the train is hauling possibly parcel vans. The train is slowly climbing the start of the gradient and as you say the pressure safety valve has blown off, this would indicate that the driver has shut off power temporally because of wheel slip. The Whelley loop line had a gradient for any engine, it must have been real hard work for the fireman.

Colin, thanks for the explanation. I can now just make out that the track curves away to the left behind the loco, and can just see the bridge in the distance. And, the gradient is now visible. Photographs such as this, along with informed comments and explanations from the likes of yourself, are a cornerstone of WW.

Thanks Mercury, always happy to help.