Wigan Album

That's lovely!

Thanks for that, Irene. This painting is the first I've done since the two other w/colours I uploaded in August of last year. Prior to those had been almost ten years since I'd done any artwork - be getting 'rusty' the way I'm shapin'.

Very delicate -watercolour is not the easiest of mediums and many give up with it! You were brave to attempt a steam train!

I wish it was as nice as this painting today. It's just an overgrown mess and the viaduct is almost falling down, very sad.

Philip,that's lovely..I've tried watercolor painting..but I find it difficult..give yourself a .pat yourself on the back.

Thanks for that, Maureen. Hope your Oils / Acrylics are going well!

Philip.. I tried acrylics..but my love of painting is in oils..I've just finished one waiting for it to dry then varnish..you're very good with watercolours Philip.

Hi Phillip, when I first looked at your painting on PAD, to be honest, I only gave it a glance. The following day, using my IPad I zoomed in. All I can say is the more you look the better it gets. The gradient takes you down, the arches inviting . I felt I was walking then suddenly looking up. Thanks Phillip, would love to see more of your work.

He certainly deserves more recognition.

Zooming in with the use of your iPad, Kas, tells me you're quite a 'tiger'. And, yes, The Douglas Valley/Viaduct was a smashing view. 'The Valley' and other images of the town's (and its environs) attractions would have been just the ticket plastered outside of St Pancras Station during the 1930s. "Ah, well..."? Glad you like the painting. Thanks.

Did Queen Victoria ever travel across the viaduct? One viaduct she stopped the train refusing to travel over because of the height... She took a horse and carriage. On another , I read, she ordered the train to stop as she crossed to admire the view.

Where is or was this viaduct, and could this have been the original reference to Wigan Pier?

could be viaduct known localy as 20 bridges

It's the viaduct that carried the now defunct Whelley loop line across the river Douglas Allan. It's between The Boar's Head and the old bleach works. Nothing to do with Wigan pier I'm afraid. I believe the last time a train passed over it was in 1972. It was rumoured some time ago that Richard Branson was considering spending some of his millions to have it reopened, but he must have changed his mind evidently. It is also an excellent painting.

Thanks for the extra info Ozy'; The Boar's Head, and the old Bleachworks. Glad you like the painting (had considered asking you for something in fine Railway metre to serve as its thumbnail). Regards.

Great work Philip, you have a style all your own and the imagination to go with it.

G.W. - Thankyou. I enjoyed doing the painting yet remain hopeful 'just one' original 1930s Wigan Railway Poster in this style, will appear in the town's archives - Now then,...
Regards, and continue with your walks.

Ozy, The Whelley loop line survived until 1976, it was built to serve Collieries and Iron works and also known as the Wigan bypass line..heavy goods trains slowed down passenger express trains through Wigan so this line was used mainly for goods. The line was known locally as the Whelley line, Built by the Lancashire Union Railway co in 1864. The line closed soon after the West Coast Mainline was completely Electrified in 1976.

Thanks for that Cyril, I'm sure you're much better informed on railway matters than I am. I think the fact that I'm not a railway man has already been well established. Thinking about it now, there was a lad came down from Scotland working with the overhead catenary crew on the west coast electrification, and when the job ended, he came driving for the firm that I worked for. That would have been around 1976.

Regards. Ozy.