Wigan Album

Express on the Pemberton loop, this line cut out Wallgate station, and knocked 10 minutes off journey time. The Pemberton line closed in 1969 and demolished in 1971.

I don't ever remember seeing this many tracks anywhere on the Pemberton Loop Line. Can anyone say where this photo was taken?

This photo was taken approx 1/4 miles west of Hindley station.The Pemberton loop commenced just over a further 1/2 mile down the line controlled by Hindley No 3 Signalbox.At the point of the photo there were 7 tracks comprising from nearest camera-up loop,up slow,down slow,up fast,down fast,down loop & Hindley goods yard shunting neck.

44887 was a southport engine in 1948,so probably not off the loop line as most of the eastbound expresses where bank hall engines eg mars 45698 ,unnamed patriot 45717,45717 dauntless and 45719 glorious where used extensively.westbound the black fives from west Yorkshire where sometimes used.principal express trains from Liverpool exchange where nearly all the above mentioned.

Baker boy: Not always. In the summer of 1966, Britannia class engines were used that were based in the Manchester area. 70038 Robin Hood was used on the 21.10 from Pemberton to Exchange; this was a mail train from Manchester. Also, a few ex LNER B1's were used on specials and normal duties from west Yorkshire.

Baker Boy I think your unnamed Patriot should be 45517

frank you are quite correct slip of the keyboard.

jarvo I think you will find the bi's where at agecroft for a while,where they wernt liked in comparison to a black five.the b1's firegrate was smaller? and had to be fired in a different way to the fives otherwise steaming could be impaired.never saw a brit on a loop line duty and I lived at the side of the line in pemb.standard nines where used in the last years of steam operation on the loop.though I have seen brits on the 5 o clock Manchester exchange /Victoria to southport