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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Springs Branch

8 Comments

Springs Branch circa 1964
Springs Branch circa 1964
Photo: John Morris
Views: 2,606
Item #: 30998
Stanier mogul on the turntable at Springs Branch

Comment by: Irene Roberts on 3rd March 2019 at 16:05

My brother worked here and I was allowed on the footplate watching coal being shovelled into the fire. The heat and glare was unbelievable! Health and Safety would have a field-day now but I loved it and I never came to any harm.

Comment by: Philip G. on 3rd March 2019 at 17:17

I guess you gave the 'rashers on a shovel' a miss, Irene. But I still find it amazing how recorded music of a 'railway beat' can sound so variable . . . Coronation Scot, City of New Orleans, John D Laudermilk's Blue Train . . . Beltin!.

Comment by: Irene Roberts on 3rd March 2019 at 18:54

Philip. I have the dvd "Night Mail", and I LOVE the poem contained in it, "This is the night mail crossing the border, bringing the cheque and the postal-order" to the sound "da-da-da-dum, da-da-da-dum" of the train on the track. We used to learn a poem at school to that same beat, "From a Railway Carriage"....."Faster then fairies, Faster than Witches, Bridges and Houses, Hedges and Ditches". I LOVED the clackety-clack of the old steamers on the tracks! xx

Comment by: Owd viewer on 3rd March 2019 at 20:05

This is the view I got from my bedroom window of the turntable in the 1950_60.

Comment by: Philip G. on 3rd March 2019 at 22:26

Thanks, Irene; I enjoyed reading your 'school poem.'

Comment by: irene roberts on 3rd March 2019 at 23:08

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Philip....."each a glimpse and gone forever", xx

Comment by: Jarvo on 4th March 2019 at 07:30

I notice the loco has a Fowler tender. Never my cup of tea. I so preferred the Stanier type. Much more modern and in line with the loco's streamlined build.

Comment by: Albert.S. on 9th March 2019 at 15:00

This must be a different location than the turntable positioned in the 1940s . If you remember owd Wiganer, the turn table was exactly, and in close proximately to the comunial large back yard that Henry Street , and Warrington Road enclosed.

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