Wigan Album

The railway line from Pemberton Coll used to connect up to this line, just about where the shed is left of centre. Also, the Pemberton Loop line can be seen diverging away to the left

The position of the signal box which closed in 1969 is on that side because there were four lines joining here as you said from Pem colliery, walked across the bridge last week and the view is now well overgrown.

Spot on Winder, I think it linked on to Goose Green Junction
that was known localy, then on to Bryn Junction?
Norley Colliery springs to mind aswell, but I could be wrong?

Yes, the line did go to Norley Coll. It went under Little lane near Appleton Farm, I think thats what it was called, under the Pem Loop, under the Wigan- Liverpool line near Alexandra Park, crossed Victoria St and then over Ormskirk Rd and Union Bridge and then on to Norley Pits. It was called Union Bridge because it was built by the Lancashire Union Railway.

Great history winder, well done.

Brilliant history guys. Was this a late picture? Lack of signals, at such a busy junction?

Tony, There was a signal post at the end of the platform on the Wigan side and 2 more on the other side of the bridge

A good picture indeed, just look at the immaculately manicured permanent way! As far as I am aware, there a very few pictures of the branch line between the L.U.R. at Bryn Jct. and the collieries in and around Norley Hall.
If you look on places/Pemberton/page 1; and places/Newtown you can see a couple of pictures showing some of the under-bridges that carried the mineral line. The 1908 map shows clearly the arrangement of running lines at Pemberton Stn. and Pemberton Jct. with east and west connections off Blundell’s colliery and May mill onto the L & Y main line in the vicinity of the station itself, and then further to the east the main junction with the later L & Y Wigan avoiding line diverging off.
There was also a West to South facing spur from the L & Y main line round to Goose Green Jct. on the L &NWR Norley branch, which presumably gave the L & Y running powers along part of the L & NWR Norley branch?
Interestingly, the 1908 map calls the branch the L&NWR Pemberton branch in some places towards its extremities and the L&NWR Norley branch in the middle section around the Goose Green Jct. area! A very busy and industrious area in its day.

Bottom left of this picture were allotments. One belonged to Jimmy Cuerden from Princes St. off Little Lane.