Wigan Album

Spent many happy days playing down Branch and Train Spotting with Book of Train numbers bought from shop in Little Arcade ( can't remember name of Shop ).

Are my eyes deceiving me, or have those photographs relating to Newtown? been taken off W.W.A.?

Jimmy, you probably bought your Ian Allen train spotters book from Smith's bookstall in the little arcade. They moved to Mesnes Street in what is now The British Heart Foundation charity shop

The railway line furthest over to the right passed by a row of cottages, named Ball's Cottages, at the top of Taylor's Lane, where my uncle lived, in the forties.


In the thirties, I lived in the end terraced house,
opposite Spring View police station, on Warrington Road

Then the railway line crossed Warrington Road, and took wagons' to some kind of works, about six, or seven hundred yards, to the rear of where we lived. Road traffic in those days was very sparse, When the engine, and wagons crossed over the road, a man would be present with a red flag to stop any traffic.

The shop was Smiths newsagents.

I seem to remember Bert Smith newsagent had a little shop in Mesnes street (on same side as the later big shop,but a bit further away from Standishgate), at the same time as he had the Little Arcade stall. The big Smith's shop was previously Bailey's or Baillie's cafe and bakers in the 40s and 50s

Albert , if your eyes are deceiving you, then mine are too. I also noticed that the Newtown shots have disappeared. Odd!

Albert and Derek..I wonder why they've been taken off.

Maureen. I suppose it was all that controversy about copyright.

My brother Colin worked at Springs Branch mid 1950s-mid 1960s. There is something special about it but I can't find the words.

Irene. I think what you are looking for is nostalgia. We all have the same yearnings, but alas we have just to be content with memories. At least they are good memories.

In 1950 _60 lived on Warrington rd from my bedroom window was the sheds and the turntable at springs branch great days.

Owed Viewer,lived on tuther side of Warrington Rd,1950 to 1970 loved the smell of the Steam .Go to Bury on a Sunday when they run Steam Trains smell that steam takes me back years ,great memories.

Jimmy do you remember the hot house you went through a small metal door and into a room full of sand.

Owe Viewer,remember it well,also going on Footplate with Driver to Turntable and working Turntable ( what Health & safety ).Great days growing up in View.

My dad worked from springs branch for over forty years. I was born on Malvern crescent. Went back recently and can't believe how much it's changed. So sad.

Christene, agree with you we lived on Warrington Rd near St Mary's Church.Only pass through Veiw these days live in Bury now,so sad to see Spring View run down these days.

Christine,did you put a Photo on WW from your back garden looking to Ainscow St,St Mary's & Trenchie found it once can't find it again ( not very good on these things).