Wigan Album

I bet some of the parts on these would be worth a fortune to the Steam Preservation Societies.

I have the impression that some groups have become so proficient at restoration, that if they could get their hands on one of these pictured, they would rebuild/restore even examples as far gone as these!

a few parts from them paid for my wedding in 1966 Ron

At that time AP, these engines "were not that far gone" has you put it. It was almost the end of steam by BR. Some engine were in perfect working order, but still had to be scrapped with the gas axe...as you can see, rolling stock aswell couldn't escape the axe. Nowt do with Dr Beeching.

Garry: I describe those pictured, as far gone, in so much as they are sans tenders, nearest, sans its steam dome, and probably the steam collector within. Difficult to see in photo, but copper and brass from within cab probably gone: as today, being of value it is usually first to go! Running gear, I cannot see. There is something missing off the running boards: probably lubricators or some such.

However, as Dai Woodham pointed out, the shells on his scrap line in Barry, that had been stripped of the more wanted parts by restorers, also in turn, were purchased and restored.

Hence my comment.

Many were NOT in good condition, because as the end of steam drew nigh, BR had them on minimal maintenance, so ordinary wear and tear was not kept up with. Smoke boxes that could not be kept air tight, cracked frames, and similar problems abound in some. (Royal Scot class in particular were so-plagued) In contrast, a lot of the mid-century Pacifics had done about one and a half million miles, and though in good condition , were in need of expensive re-fits, whereas Riddles 'Standards' especially the 9F's had less than a tenth of the usage that would have been their life expectancy.

Look up the saga of keeping 'Flying Scotsman' going: particularly its last rebuild.

I spent some time roaming around there aitch
lovely picture and great memories

Good comment AP, thanks.

the top right hand corner shows the Double 7 club in patricroft road, with the Catholic club just in shot, and a couple of the cabs are still showing guages on which would mean a few of the brass and gunmetal flanges are still in situ, the foreman at the time would soon ensure that they would be removed, as metal as we called it was a large part of the income off the locos, more so with the fireboxes

Did the Crabs have copper fireboxes then, Aitch?

On the top left of the photo I see a goods van body removed from its bogie and being used as a store. I remember some people buying these as make shift garages and with the side loading doors made it easy to reverse a car into. Seem to remember they got the name "banana boxes" because Fyffes used to transport fruit in them (but might be wrong). I think there was one just inside the gates next to St Williams bowling green that someone used for storage.

Sorry the store is top right of the photo

The van tops were most certainly sold, mostly for storage to a lot of farms around the area, and when I was breaking up we did use one just inside the gates mentioned, for keeping our burning gear in, and AP I'm not too sure about the crabs or any other fire box being copper but some of the ones had an inner firebox which was copper,and some had long copper rivets holding them in place, we called them sausages, being the size and shape of the aforementioned, they were easily hidden in pockets, but needed to be balanced each side and not have to be too greedy when taking them for your home use

my late husband worked at wagon works.

Aitch...a train robber.

Aitch,It's that not so bright spark Garry(dimmer than a two
watt bulb)coming out with stupid comments again,keep your
stupid comments to yourself Garry

Wiganer, if that makes his day, well so be it, I just add comments so as to keep the thread alive

Wiganer..it was done tongue-in-check, Aitch is my mate...unlike you, who's no sence-of-humour or intelligence.

i have a book on central wagon works.its called requiem at ince some stunning photos an a interesting read its not been out long

Garry and Wiganer, can we get back to the thread which was to show people where the double 7 club was, no one has as yet mentioned it, and you should know it Garry, its close to where you lived or maybe still live

Yes Aitch your right, double seven club, Central wagon works I've graced all that...been there done that, Ince is great, my home.

Aitch, I lived at the top of Patricroft Rd and lost count how many times the fire brigade turned up when the railway carriages caught fire when being cut up

This must have been somewhat poignant & painful for you Aitch (having to break em up & end their existence)

Bet you would have much rather been driving or firing them.

Baldylocks I did fire them, and drove them as well when I had a driver who would let me, I was a full fireman and had quite a few drivers, mostly spare men from what we called the control link, My last regular driver was a chap called Harry Marriot who lived in Junction Terrace, we were on the GC line through Irlam to Man Central, he was a bit too old to let me drive, as he couldnt fire the engine while I did, so it was mostly down to the spare men and me doing overtime, one in particular who let me drive for him was Sid Darbyshire, from Hindley, but he was always in Higher Ince labour club, I sure miss them days, but my wife and DR Beeching changed that for me.

aitch
did you know owen goulding ex wigan gc man or tommy anglesea springs branch

Mickey, I certainly knew Tommy Anglesea, he was a passed fireman which meant he was a spare driver and I fired for him more than omce, but as regards Owen Goulding, I cant bring him to mind

Spent many a Sunday morning down at Springs Branch wanderng through the Loco Sheds and train spotting, befoire wandering up this stretch of line to my Grans for Sunday Lunch. Theline eventually took you to Manchester Road at Ince and across up behind the slag heaps which used to be behind Belle Green lane. The old line then crossed Belle Green Lane just up from the Royal Oak, but before you got to the Bush. There were gated level crossings at both points where the line crossed the roads.If you think conjestion is bad on the road to Hindley now, just think what it would have been like if the line were still open and the level crossing in use !!!!!

I remember Coronation Class 46257 City Of Salford ending up at IWW after a short stay on the scrap line at Springs Branch. She was in a lovely condition, but sadly had to go...What a waste...Whoever made those ridiculous decisions at that time, and why???

Dave c, congestion wasnt bad at either of the crossing gates, there are a couple of photos on here somewhere showing a train passing the crossing at Belle Green Lane, but there wsnt really that many trains went up, my uncle Jimmy was at one time the signalman at the Manchester road crossing, and he would let me go in the box with him, and as a youngster it was exciting watching the trains pass, but there was never an old up of traffic then, but god help it if it was happening today

Aitch, is the Tommy Anglesea you mention the same bloke that drove fork lifts at Taylor's carpet factory?

Loz, I have no idea if the Tommy Anglesea I knew ever worked any other place than the Branch. ?

Jarvo, It was 46243 CITY OF LANCASTER that met its end at Ince Wagon Works.46257 CITY OF SALFORD was scrapped at Troon in Ayrshire.

Owdbills reet Jarvo, it was the city of Lancaster,(a Red un) I can remember it being shunted in to the line near the wagon repair shop, cant remember who cut it up, I am not too sure who cut it up, or if it was cut up, but Tommy Liptrots brother Eric seems prominant in that picture

I must have got mixed up. A lad who I went spotting with 'down t'nick' was from Salford. City Of Lancaster it was then.

Jarvo's always mixed up .

tommy anglesea was on the railway man and boy.i was told a lifer at the branch.

been reliably informed today that the couple of men who cut the city of lancaster up at the wagon works were Cliff Lewis and Jack Pemberton

I have just read your last comment and it brought tears to my eyes. Cliff Lewis was my Dad who Is now passed away. I remember him coming home full of burns, I was very proud of him. I now live is South Africa and it is my brother Stephen Lewis who sent me the link to this page, it’s lovely to read about the past in Wigan, Hindley, Ince.w

My dad Gordon Cliff worked there in the 60's.