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British Railways Wigan

26 Comments

railway men possibly Springs Branch
railway men possibly Springs Branch
Photo: barbara atherton
Views: 3,340
Item #: 27910
does anyone know any of these men on here
my granddad ( Arthur White) is right hand side front row with his arms crossed

Comment by: Vb on 29th May 2016 at 21:25

What year is this photograph as I think the young man third from left middle row was a relative of mine. He was a fireman in the early fifties. His name was Len.

Comment by: Neil Cain on 30th May 2016 at 12:52

I think I know the man on the extreme left back row, and the one third in from right middle row,as I have an original pic taken at Lower Ince shed with them on. Maybe this is the old G.C. shed. I will get back on with names A.S.A.P.

Comment by: Neil Cain on 30th May 2016 at 15:56

the extreme left back row is Billy Greenhough, the 3rd from right middle row is Harry Banks and I am almost certain my uncle, Stan Morris is 4th from right back row. That would make this Lower Ince shed on the Great Central during the 1920s as he never worked at Springs Branch

Comment by: Vb on 30th May 2016 at 17:29

Thanks for that Neil it wouldn't be Len then. After the war he worked on the railway up to about 1956. Someone wrote a book about the railway men and his name was listed in it.

Comment by: Neil Cain on 30th May 2016 at 18:33

Vb I know that when Ince shed shut many men transferred to Springs. What was Len's surname? I am sure, looking again, that I know another man but need to see 'A Footplateman Remembers' by Fred Darbyshire.

Comment by: Vb on 30th May 2016 at 21:12

That is the book Neil his name was Biggadike. He was from Lincolnshire originally. My father in law.

Comment by: Neil Cain on 31st May 2016 at 12:29

Vb, do you have that book? If not I know it is in Wigan Library. If you can see it there is a photo of a group of men stood up on an engine and in front of it. My copy is on loan so I can't recall all the names on it but some are obviously on this photo too. When I get the copy back I will come back to this photo and try to add more names. My uncle told so many tales about what these chaps got up to.

Comment by: irene roberts on 31st May 2016 at 14:53

Neil, I think that is your Uncle Stan too, and I think Vb would enjoy the stories he told.

Comment by: Barbara Atherton on 31st May 2016 at 15:07

Hi Sorry for late reply not had chance to get on... I have not had chance to get on line. I don't know what date it is, I was wondering about that myself. Neil are you the Neil that sent me a picture of my granddad and his work mates on a train quite a while ago? It would be interesting to hear some of the tales they use to get up to lol... :)

Comment by: Neil Cain on 31st May 2016 at 16:16

That's me Barbara. You were going as BABSIE back then I think.One tale was about a lad name of PARKY (Parkinson). They came off shift and straight into the Manley pub. Parky was legless by the night's end but they thought he'd be fine going back to Poolstock as all he needed to do was follow the canal. The fact he'd most likely end up in it never entered their heads.

Comment by: Neil Cain on 31st May 2016 at 16:26

That is my uncle Stan so it has to be Lower Ince. His son, my cousin, confirms it. He got sent to Hunstanton in Norfolk for a bit when the L.N.E.R. took over the Great Central. The lad he went with took a huge crate of barm cakes with him not trusting to the food outside Wigan, They must have gone stale before they got through them....then maybe not.

Comment by: irene roberts on 31st May 2016 at 18:09

If the barm cakes were from your Grandad Cain's pie-shop in Belle Green Lane, Neil, they wouldn't have got chance to go stale! All their produce was delicious!

Comment by: Barbara Atherton on 31st May 2016 at 18:21

Hi Neil still got that photo.. I put it in a frame and it sits on my t.v. :) I am going to try and get that book you mentioned.. Wish I could find some more photos of him on his train. My granddad died when i was young so didn't get to hear stories about his time on the railways. :)

Comment by: Neil Cain on 1st June 2016 at 20:14

Barbara, keep coming back to this picture every so often and let me know if you can get to see the book.

Comment by: Helen B on 1st June 2016 at 22:20

Can one of you guys help with my question about the colour of the uniform on item # 27916/7? No offence meant, I really don't think any of you are so old!

Comment by: Neil Cain on 2nd June 2016 at 10:40

Sorry Helen I'd have no idea. The lady's shawl looks like it might be quality but I'm no judge.

Comment by: Neil Cain on 7th June 2016 at 20:18

The man in the middle front row appears on the photo in Fred Darbyshire's book but unfortunately Fred didn't tie every name to a man pictured so I can't help further.

Comment by: Vb on 8th June 2016 at 14:40

Have got the book from Wigan Library and noticed Len had left by 1952. Looking forward to reading it!

Comment by: Neil Cain on 8th June 2016 at 16:40

Glad you found it Vb. You should enjoy it. Happy reading.

Comment by: Vb on 10th June 2016 at 14:38

Pleased to see on pg 88 a little story of Len and Jack McCann having trouble with the engine! Also Jack Clayton was Len's best man at his wedding in 1942. He worked on the Lincolnshire railway as well Neil.

Comment by: Neil Cain on 10th June 2016 at 19:30

Glad you have found some good anecdotes Vb. Fred passed away some years ago but left a fine account of railway life in his book.

Comment by: Vb on 11th June 2016 at 08:58

Found out that Len had trained for the Royal Artillliary but could work on the railway coming from Lincolnshire with farm produce and going back with coal. He was then based at Ince and met his wife to be. Because of jumping off the train whilst still moving (which the railmen did a lot to catch another connection)he injured his back and this triggered off a life long illness of disseminated sclerosis. He ended up having to leave the railway and worked in the stores at the Metal Box. He always spoke of his time at Ince and would have been thrilled to read the book. He died in the late 90's. Thanks for reminding me of the book Neil.

Comment by: Neil Cain on 11th June 2016 at 11:18

Just shows how one error of judgement can change your life.I am so glad to have been able to put you in touch with the book Vb. Don't know if you saw an article in Past Forward Magazine entitled 'Great days on the Great Central'?
It may appear if you Google it.Regards Neil

Comment by: Neil Cain on 11th June 2016 at 11:23

Vb you need to type in the title then '+past forward' after it.Alternatively try Past Forward issue 30

Comment by: vb on 11th June 2016 at 12:59

Thankyou Neil I will do that and possibly try to get the issue.

Comment by: Wendy Farrimond on 4th April 2023 at 22:46

Hi Neil
Do you think Harry Banks is in this photo?
Thanks
Wendy

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