Wigan Album

Dark and atmospheric: Wigan North Western in the late fifties. Notice the middle track in between the up and down lines. A sign of things to come with a Derby built multiple unit about to take the 'long' route to Liverpool Lime Street via Bryn and St Helens. This task would usually be allotted to a Stanier or Fairburn tank. It's early morning and the two young trainspotters cannot contain their disappointment. St Joseph's church in the background now sadly locked and empty, adds to the 'Saturday morning' atmosphere.

Did anyone know my cousin David Abbott? He was always a train spotter and worked on the railway.

If this was 1958 it must have been one of the first services operated by DMUs. I travelled this route from Bryn to Liverpool regularly in early 1959 and only remember it being steam operated until later in that year.

Hope the young lad in wellies and short pants did not finish up with chapped legs

I was 6 years old when this photo was taken. I can only remember ever going to Liverpool once when I was little - we always went to Manchester to do any special shopping. But the point is we went on a train like this. It was the first time I had ever been on a dmu and I remember vividly that big white V stripe on the front looking ever so modern and different. Of course in a few years we were all lamenting the loss of steam

BR Derby lightweight powered by Leyland or AEC engines, the yellow linings at the front ends were known as cats whiskers.
Good photo Ron.

looks like they could be traction traction training or route learning to Liverpool

These DMU's started on January 1st. 1959 but trains from Liverpool to Preston and beyond were steam hauled into the early to mid sixties.

Remember round about this time getting a platform ticket at North Western then catching the train to Lime St. for an afternoons spotting there then back to Wigan all for the price of the platform ticket.

Is it ok to share this on a Facebook page? Will credit the photographer.