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Photos of Wigan
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Wigan Album

Whitley

18 Comments

Whitley Fields .7th March 1965.
Whitley Fields .7th March 1965.
Photo: Barrie
Views: 3,052
Item #: 29795
With ref.to #29785-Jack mentioned spotting at Whitley Fields(crossing). This was a good place to watch from being straight.From memory,the path alongside the line came from Gidlow Cemetery/Walter Scott Avenue. The train was the Birmingham-Glasgow Express(can you remember the signboards on the coaches?)

Comment by: Eric on 18th October 2017 at 07:51

Can't recall that train Barrie,the mid day scot ran up till 1965.that was London glasgow

Comment by: Jack on 18th October 2017 at 10:01

Thanks for that Barrie.Happy memories of the steam namers passing through.I remember the mid day scot and also the caledonian

Comment by: Ryecatcher on 18th October 2017 at 10:41

Spent many hours sitting on that fence train-spotting

Comment by: Alex on 18th October 2017 at 13:03

The coaches were The Caledonian London-Glasgow they ran everyday.

Comment by: Jarvo on 18th October 2017 at 13:24

A named Type4 maybe? Accra or Apapa?

Comment by: Ex engineer Standish on 18th October 2017 at 13:49

Remember trainspotting here and who can recall the 2 football pitches ,now sadly lost to housing development .

Comment by: DerekB on 18th October 2017 at 16:32

It's not possible now to walk from Whitley Crossing to the bridge at the bottom of Walter Scott Ave since it is blocked from where the path starts to the bottom of what was always called Scout's hill.

Comment by: Eric on 18th October 2017 at 19:01

The Caledonian stopped running in1964

Comment by: A.W. on 19th October 2017 at 10:54

As a very small child I remember being taken for a walk along this path and coming out somewhere near the Boar's Head.

Comment by: Barrie on 19th October 2017 at 13:28

With reference to The Mid-Day Scot, from memory (and diary) this "named" train ran in the early part of 1966 with a stop at Wigan (disbanded May 1966). I travelled on it each month until the change in timetable. Then it was 10.45 express to Wigan and beyond.Can't remember the fare paid in those days.(return)
Another footpath veered off through the cemetery and round towards Standish Woods or back to Boars Head.

Comment by: Network rail on 19th October 2017 at 18:43

The Caledonian sleeper runs six days a week, Sunday to Friday. Scotland to London Euston.

Comment by: Barry Old Line Adict on 19th October 2017 at 18:56

Great pic! Always wondered what the small distant signal was for? Boars Head junction?

Comment by: Eric on 19th October 2017 at 21:06

The Caledonian sleeper was not running in 1965.It only started in 2004.

Comment by: Howard P on 20th October 2017 at 10:32

I suspect Eric is a little confused.

Comment by: Norman Cunliffe on 20th October 2017 at 11:27

Yes Ex-engineer,I certainly remember the rugby pitch. I played there regularly for St.Anne's rugby team organised by Brian Leigh. We changed in St.Anne's Scout hut, walked up Beech Hill Avenue, then along Dawson St, crossed over the railway to 'our' rugby pitch.

Comment by: Monty Pylon on 20th October 2017 at 13:29

No one suspects Eric

Comment by: Eric on 20th October 2017 at 19:21

I will try and list a name of the trains that passed through Whitley crossings.Royal Scot .1862-2003.Ulster express 1927-1975.Devon scot 1990-2002.lakes express dates unknown.Northern Irishman 1952-1966 ( sleeper) Royal highlander 1927-1996 ( sleeper).Mid day scot 1927-1965.Caledonian 1957-1964.Caledonian sleeper 2004- present day.Cornish scot 1985-2002.Coronation scot1937-1939.Clansman (sleeper).dates not known.This one did stop at Birmingham.Which one would be the train in the photo.? Cheers eric

Comment by: Robert on 21st October 2017 at 15:09

Barry Old Line.

Yes the distant signals were for Boars Head Junction,the lower arm on it's own doll was for going round the corner on to the branch to Haigh Junction.

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