Wigan Album

I don't like getting wet (Not on the outside anyway), but I do like photographs taken in the rain.
Why is it that a bit of water can turn a non-event scene into something of interest?

Rain is wrongly too much despised. I love a summer downpour on a sweltering day. I like the atmosphere just prior to it and the dash for shelter in some doorway to watch it sizzling on the pavements. And the air smells so fresh and cool in the aftermath.

Spent many a Saturday in the '50s here with my platform ticket in my pocket and Ian Allen trainspotters "bible" at at the ready.

I love old photographs of railway stations. They had so much atmosphere. This one doesn't disappoint. I would guess that this was a Sunday photograph, but I could be wrong. Manchester Victoria is my favourite: the dimly lit underpass that separated the main platforms; and the lingering smell of steam...Romantic and distant...Another world, gone now, but remembered with fondness.

Although it's comforting to know that the rain's vain smite on the angler's open brolly would be held at bay, the sight of the angler's pike bung being dragged off into the jagged far distance by a monster of a fight like no other, would be good reason for the hunter to break cover and bear that wretched teem. And oh those few early days after the rains; Days when once dimly-lit views show their all as if by magic.

Some pictures are very powerful and hold deep seated memories.
Said goodbye to my father on this station. I was far too young to understand the meaning. I remember he took my mothers hand and kissed it. A few moments later, the train pulled away and I never saw him again. I understand now.. It's not only war that takes people away..

its certainly early fifties the colour lights at the end of the platform where installed circa 1954/55

Memories of Saturday excursions to Southport during the war.I have the smell of Appley Bridge linoleum works & Hoscar Moss sewage in my nostrils as I write.A little later Alderman Roberts,sometime Mayor,punching our tickets & a stentorian voice cryingBowton,Bury,Eywood & Rochdale

It's a long time since I heard Bolton pronounced as 'Bowton'... :@)

Jarvo,
What are you like on Railway/Hotelware ephemera?
I have a couple of English-made Hotelware 3" dishes dating from the early 1960s, both of which need clarification. One of the dishes shows NSWGR which seems to refer, only, to an Australian-government line. Do these letters refer to something else instead?
The other dish shows an 'outstanding' FH surrounded by bay leaves. What do these letters refer to?
I hope that you can help. Thanks.
Oh, I attended a surprise retirement Do last Saturday at which the eponymous Andrew wore an Old Gold-coloured pullover; it tallied with the colour of Broadbent's jersey, as seen on the 1956 bubble-gum card - Chix had it right.

Veronica.Owd Scowsers knew no different from Bowton's herbalist where the Sarspiralla & Dandelion & Burdock came from to Bwston Stree twhere everybody had an aunt & uncle

Oh I remember Bolton's Herbalists Donald I suppose you have seen item 1738 . A great picture of the shop. I loved the smell as you walked in there and the mahogany/glass cases with various scented items- a combination of everything Mr Bolton sold. I remember the hot Vimto as well. Nice interesting shops in those days in Scholes. As some wag said 'if Scholes could have been covered over with glass, it could have been the new Trafford Centre"! Yes it was referred to many times as 'Bowtons' by the older end.....it brings back very pleasant memories.

Philip, I'm no expert, but I do remember years and years ago, my Dad taking me to Belle Vue on the train. We stopped for a cup of tea/orange juice in the Victoria refreshment rooms. My Dad drank from a saucer that still had a L&Y symbol on it. We should have kept it as a souvenir - but didn't. Shame...

Thanks for trying, Jarvo. Thoughts of the NSWGR dish being part of an Australian outfit now seems to be holding water, but I'm still grappling with the idea of the FH dish being part of the Forte outfit - I'll keep searching.
Both dishes were included in a box of bric-a-brac given to me almost twenty years ago, while the rest of the box's contents were either chucked, or displayed on one of my car-boot-sale tables ('I don't do 'em' any more'). I like your mention of Dad's L&Y saucer - I can hear the chink-chinks from here. Take care.

This stations platforms were gaslit till 1978.

With regard to the above photograph of Wigan Wallgate, I would suggest it would be dated in the 1930’s. Both Wigan Wallgate and North-Western stations were re-signalled by the LMS in 1941 with the old signal boxes and semaphore signals at Wallgate being replaced by colour lights in July 1941.