Wigan Album

I re beer this happening every day for the couple of years I commuted to Liverpool. Thanks for the memory

Nearly 45 years later, I think this is still happening every day at Rainford (except Sundays when the trains don't run). The trains only go as far as Kirkby these days, not through to Liverpool Exchange, and the last time I travelled this way the signalman was standing at ground level to give the token. Probably not allowed to lean over the balcony these days - health & safety, you know!

They still use the balcony to hand over the token.

You can't use the balcony today, the train has to stop for the token.

Tony Cook here.
I was a Special Class Relief signalman at Wigan North West Station in the late 1960s, and one day the Signalman's Inspector told me that they were installing Single Line Token machines (designed by Edward Tyler in 1878) in Rainford Junction Box, and would I go and train the resident signalmen in their use.
He was not aware I had never set foot in Rainford Box and I didn't even know where it was, and additionally, I had never worked with Token machines before. However, I read up on the rules governing Token working and successfully trained the men how to use them.
In 1921 a serious head-on collision occurred on the Cambrian railways at Abermule between Montgomery and Newtown in mid Wales, when 17 persons lost their lives. (In 1941, aged 11 I met the mother of one of these passengers who perished.)
It was to my surprise the Token machine installed in Rainford box originated from none other than Montgomery.
I recall how it was necessary to go down the steps to give the token to the driver, and I was a bit fed up wasting my time ndoing this, so I devised a method were I would extract the token from the machine and place it on a long stick, and as the train passed the driver would grab it. Hence me being at the top of the steps in the picture.!!!

Very interesting commentary Tony, thanks for posting.

Is that same recycled token machine still in use today at Rainford Junction? Guess they made stuff to last in those days.

One question about the date of the photo. Couple of things suggest this was taken in late 1970s, not 1970 - blue & grey livery on the DMU (blue & grey was reserved for Inter-City coaches only in 1970), lack of headcode and lack of a paraffin tail lamp.

They still use the long stick,with a hook on it tony.

I am 83 years old now, and going back so far, maybe I'm suffering from a little dementia. "Sorry"

In reply to English Electric. I would say it is still the same machine. Cannot think of a reason for it not being so.

Garry: I was right. They still use the balcony. I was on the train only last week.

I seem to remember hearing that the token machine in Rainford box was changed/renewed with another reconditioned one when the branch at Kirkby,Dale Lane was put back in as the single line circuit had to be reconfigured around 15 years ago so that freight trains for the Potter Group could be locked inside on the branch line at Dale Lane & therfore clear of the Rainford-Kirkby single line.

Thanks for the info.
I was the very first signalman to work the machine when placed in this box at the introduction of the token signalling regulations