Wigan Album

Absolutely wonderful, just brilliant. It could be anywhere on the line back to the sidings but my guess is either down by Giants Hall or anything before, hard to guess at.

Is it LINDSAY?

Andrew - you can just see the junction to Taylor pit behind the loco. Walked that route many a time. I'd love to see photos from between Giant's Hall & Gidlow lane.. Btw - I've found another photo of a loco near Giant's hall. I'll dig it out.
AP - I think it is Lindsay.

A saddle tank or a saddleback as we used to call them when we were kids in the late 40s early 50s. Even now in my mind, i can see 'Robin Hill' crossing School lane in Standish loaded with coal on it's way from Robin Hill drift mine at Almond Brook to the washery near Boars Head.

AP, is Lindsay the one that sued to be at Carnforth Steam Museum about 30 odd years ago?

AW: Yes

Lindsay was still at Carnforth a couple of years ago, but it was 'mothballed'. Not sure if it's sill there or not.

Brings back memories. Wasn't one of the other engines named Hector?

SJB, I think it's Wantage. The original is on Flickr and when blown up you can just make out the lettering.

Me too Roy. Used to live on Wigan Road, through our back garden, up the banking and watch the trains go by. When we were feeling brave we used to walk through the tunnel which was cold and dark.

Great set of photo's Steve.
Yes it does look like the junction where the line goes up to Taylor pit. The old Standish Washer used to be on the left.
That same place these days is a total mess, the trackbed is flooded and in places you need wellies to get through.
Thanks for posting the pics.

I worked at John Pit about 1954 for a short while as a loco fitter. I can remember the three engines all of the 0-6-0 Saddle tanks they all had names, I think one was Dorothy, I can't remember if they all had ladies names.

I think they had allsorts over the years. My Dad used to go spotting at Whitley crossing/rylands sidings in the very early '50's and took a photo of 'Pemberton' an 0-4-0 saddle tank. That photos sadly disappeared - haven't seen it for 30 odd years..

The locos working from Johnpit, were Wantage, Hector, Hercules, Lynsay, Robin Hill, & the last one (without a name) was a twin engined diesel electric Green Rolls Royce..Not all at the same time
I may have missed one out, so stand to be corrected ;o)

Where's Winder? these days?...I'd have thought he'd been the first to comment on these great photos of pit railway history.

myself & nephron, used to service the Rolls Royce every Sunday Morning.
As for "Hercules", that could be wrong, it was probably Achilles

Winder's on here as Cliff, Colin :)

Here's alist of loco's in N.C.B. days;
Hector, No7, Wantage, Sultan, Pemberton, Achilles, Robin Hill, No30, No2, Rodney, Gordon, Lindsay, John, No6. Also the Yorkshire Engine Co had 2 diesels.

Ken: Dorothy is the one that fell into the collapsed mine shaft in 1945