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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 2nd October, 2017)

Gathurst Railway Bridge


Gathurst Railway Bridge
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Photo: Mick Byrne  (Panasonic TZ100)
Views: 2,976

Comment by: Cullie on 2nd October 2017 at 09:14

Our section of track at gathurst with a crappy 150 unit spoiling the shot

Comment by: Dave on 2nd October 2017 at 17:07

Having walked up the track undisturbed , we used to stand on top of this bridge , leaning on the fence , watching cars go under. Now we would be arrested , but back then we just did it , no one bothered , no car drivers reported us . When a train came we just stepped aside and carried on . Was it crazy?
Of course it was, but it was also different then... In those days we had six huge bonfires on Nov the 5th on a stretch of land, and not one police officer or fire engine was ever seen OR needed. Sorry, I,m going on a bit.. But those were our days. They never scarred me lad... We had fun and left me not only still intact but with wonderful memories.
I felt free then , I hope the youth of today do also . Thanks for the post Mick and the now fading but lovely memory.

Comment by: Howard P on 2nd October 2017 at 18:46

I suspect better if a steam engine was crossing the bridge.

Comment by: Gary Leece on 2nd October 2017 at 22:09

Do you know the driver, Mick? He's looking straight at you.

Comment by: britboy on 2nd October 2017 at 23:03

An old familiar sight, in my teens I used to flying down from shevington on my racing bicycle with the rest of the Wigan Wheeler group, long before the traffic lights were there.
The race was on for first man to get to the top of gathhurst hill, the finishing post was the Orrell sign at the top of the hill.
It usually tested who had put the most training hours it!

Comment by: Dave on 3rd October 2017 at 00:42

Britboy, We called it Gathurst 'Brew' I salute yours and your groups fitness to get up it. What did your group do at the Navigation bridge? How many were there of you? Would have be good to watch. I always found coming down the Brew scary as it wasn't wide and you always knew of the bridge coming. I never had the guts to just let fly down it even though every bit inside of me wanted to. I also always wanted to live on Gathurst Brew, simply because of the legend me and my friends made it on our bike rides.

Comment by: britboy on 4th October 2017 at 01:51

It was usually the Sunday ride, there was about 10-15 of us, start in the market square in Wigan at the side of the old toilets and off up to Preston stopping for a short time at the Unicorn Cafe Walton le Dale.
Then it was off around the Trough of Boland and further afield, usually returning back down through Shevington, at the end of the day it was still race on for the top of Gathurst hill, a big test for an end of day sprint.
As for the navigation bridge, we didn’t come to fast down from shevington but just after the bridge everyone was watching for a breakaway sprint for the Gathurst climb, all hell broke loose after the navigation bridge.
Great memories :-)

Comment by: Tony on 4th October 2017 at 10:55

I like Sprinters. Not at all crappy!

Comment by: owd bob on 4th October 2017 at 12:59

If thats the driver at the window- who the heck is driving yon choo choo !!!

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