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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



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Transport

17 Comments

South Lancs Tram heading for Leigh Market
South Lancs Tram heading for Leigh Market
Photo: Chris Heaven
Views: 3,088
Item #: 30631
Dated 13th August 1933 - South Lancashire Tramways car number 4 heading for Leigh Market. Note advert on front of upper deck for "The Old Firm, C. Cook & Co. Ltd of The Bazaar, Leigh - Everything for the Family". From other ads I've seen I gather The Bazaar was on Railway Road, Leigh and the firm sold furniture, carpets, floor coverings, curtains, ornaments, ironmongery, general tools, oils etc - i.e. they seemed to have lived up to the claim. I don't know the location of the picture though. The name above the door in the right background looks like "Griffin Inn".

Comment by: Poet on 7th July 2018 at 07:57

Not just a charming glance at the past but a vision of the future if politicians got their fingers out.

Comment by: jack on 7th July 2018 at 09:50

What a smart looking driver. Looks like an ex soldier.

Comment by: Ged on 7th July 2018 at 11:58

Fantastic photo Chris

Comment by: DTease on 7th July 2018 at 12:01

Warm, cosy cab ? Luxury! It's out in the open for this lad. Wind, snow, rain it's all the same to this driver. Not even a seat to sit on!

Comment by: Poet on 7th July 2018 at 13:07

He does look like an ex-soldier Jack. Did Hitler ever come to Leigh?

Comment by: Stuart on 7th July 2018 at 18:23

This picture was taken at the Great Moor Street terminus in Bolton town centre. This was the last tram route operated by South Lancashire Tramways, Bolton to Leigh (now bus route 582). The picture was taken by MJ O'Connor in February 1933. The trams ceased in December of the same year.

Comment by: fred foster on 8th July 2018 at 23:01

I had a ride on the last tram to Abbey Lakes in 1931. I was 6 months old and my mother told me about it. The trams were taken off that year. Later on, my dad bought a top deck of a tram as they were sold to make caravans and sheds. It was on our allotment until 1980 when it was finally demolished, having been a hen house all that time

Comment by: Brewster on 9th July 2018 at 09:57

Looks like the Metrolink is getting closer to Wigan.

Comment by: Johnny on 10th July 2018 at 10:01

Was there any trolley - buses ever operating in Wigan?

Comment by: Cyril on 12th July 2018 at 17:14

The driver reminds me of the photo of Captain Webb that was featured on matchboxes at one time.

They did Johnny, it was around twenty odd years ago when the last tram lines were taken up along Templeton Road Platt Bridge, the tram sheds being on Tram Street, not sure if they served all of Wigan or if there were other tram sheds around the borough.

Comment by: Roger on 13th July 2018 at 01:47

There was a steam tram shed in Hindley in the late 1890s, early 1900s, I think belonged to Wigan Council. Part of the building is still there, it's in Albert Street, public toilets, closed, but still there.

Comment by: Johnny on 13th July 2018 at 09:18

Thank you Cyril.

Comment by: Pw on 13th July 2018 at 10:37

I do not think trolley buses ran in Wigan.The only ones I remember we're on the St Helens to Atherton route

Comment by: Stuart on 18th July 2018 at 16:43

Yes. Trolleybuses did operate in Wigan very briefly, for 5 years between 1927 and 1932. There were 4 of them and they operated between Wigan Market Place and Martland Mill Bridge.

Comment by: Pw on 20th July 2018 at 04:25

Thanks Stuart,I did not know that.

Comment by: Ray on 20th July 2018 at 06:59

The Martland Mill trolley buses actually ran for seven years, Stuart - between 7th May 1925 and 30th September 1931.

Comment by: Ray on 20th July 2018 at 07:12

Correction to my comment above - should read 'six years'. Oops...

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