Wigan Album

Which way are we looking?

Fantastic photo from a great era. Shame the station dosent look this nice today, far too soulless and characterless with metal seating (and not enough seats), no proper shelter thats in a right state, no ticket office (can't be a bad thing really with the extortionate fares they charge; £3.40 from Bryn to St Helens is criminal), plus CCTV cameras all over the place installed a few years ago adding more to our little prison camp country. And now green high fencing around the bridge for no apparent reason.

Judging by the empty rolling stock, he would appear to be heading for Halewood.

Yes Ozy, correct heading to Fords.

Ab I don't agree with you one bit. One thing is for sure, the green fence on the bridge is there for a reason, it's to stop people mainly kids try to touch or go near the overhead power cables that would result in death.
You have to understand railways like me.
Hope you've learned something.

Garry... What green fencing and overhead wires?

Happy new year Carol.
The railway line from Wigan North West to Liverpool Lime Street has been Electrified. This passes Bryn which is the first station after Wigan. Although the main line at Wigan has been electrified since 1974, the branch line just after Springs Branch to lime Street wasn't until now. So the Wigan to Lime st railway line electrification program is now completed since May 2015. Many bridges and walkway have had to be modified to accommodate the (OHLW) Overhead Live wires and to make safe for the general public. So Network Rail and Health & Safety work together to protect the public from instant death if they come in contact with the live wires, so a fence is erected around the bridge. This type of fence is not just at bryn but all over the railway network after the line has been electrified.

Paula the photo is taken facing toward Wigan with the train facing Garswood/St helens

garry you posted ,"you have to know about railways like me".this did amuse me cos a while ago you did not know the difference between a class 40 diesel and a peak diesel.
you posted that misnomer till all got fed up of your mistake.

The train is on it's way to Liverpool.

I waiting for people like Baker boy.
I have forgot more about Railways and other things in general than you'll ever know.

baker boy- there's a big difference between the identity of a diesel train and knowing the railway network.

No baker boy it's YOU thats got it wrong.
Garry says "you have to UNDERSTAND about railways like me"
I love your comments Garry.

Well Garry, when that Valentine's Day card drops through your letterbox this February 14th, there'll be no prizes for guessing who it's from, will there you rascal ? Wooo hooo !

That 'stitch repair' to the stone bridge pier, just to the right of the wooden stairway, really stands out.

I wonder if they were using some particularly high-bond compound?

garry you still don't know a peak from a class 40,i believe you know all about owt,do you agree anne.

What are these comments all about?

Nice pic of a Brush Type 4 years ago.

Bryn, a station changed. More interested in the four lines and, what has happened to the bridge.

A drug addict more like!

Ok the lines to the right were the slow lines and the bridge has long since gone. From Springs Branch to Bryn was indeed a real hard climb and slowed the passenger trains down. The slow lines were designed for slow goods trains.

Thanks Garry. Where did the slow lines go to?

Barry, after the slow lines reached the summit, which is just after the station, they then crossed over to the lines in the photo.

Why have they recently, for no reason, decided to rebuild of the wall of the bridge and made it so high that no one, not even the worlds tallest person, can see over it and look down at the lines?. I've noticed this has been done all over the place, at one station they put a metal board across the footbridge to make impossible to see over it. I bet the usual excuse will be down security and safety or whatever silly excuse.