Wigan Album

Either that or bottom of the road from Brimelow Farm? Cemetery on other side.

Looks like the crossing to Giant's Hall farm to me, the way it is on an upward incline.

Another great pic.
Giants hall crossing looks favourite to me, showing the road from Beech Hill estate.

I'd love to see a pic of the crossing over Gidlow Lane near the old ROF.

I've often wondered about photos of Gidlow lane when I've been around there.. I believe there was a coal sale yard where the kids playground is now..

Were this set of Locomotives, which have the same shape as Lindsay, all built at Kirkless?

Hedge at ne side, field at the other.
That's definitely Giants Hall track. From Giants Hall Rd to Alf Gills farm.
My playground, born in Giants Hall Rd, Ma & Pa worked at the pit, as did my bro'..

Can anyone think what those wooden wagons were used for? The photo is from the mid '50's and they look a little 'knackered' to be main line - weren't main line coal wagons heavy duty steel construction by this time?

I would hazard a guess they are used on mineral lines for transporting coal to Gidlow Washery, where it'll be processed and put in to steel tubs for the mainline.

Art u'll know.

This can't possibly be the Gidlow Lane crossing beyond the ROF. As I recall, there are 1930s built properties immediately to the right on what was the Brimelow Farm side of the crossing.

No Derek - I think Andrew was referring to the crossing near Gidlow washery that crossed the road from Beech hill to the cemetery.

AP I think that 20 locos to this design came out of the Kirkless workshop

My mistake SJB - I misunderstood Andrew's comment. Wasn't there a gatekeeper's house at one time to the to the left of the crossing as you approached Gidlow cemetery entrance?

To the left of the crossing at the top of Gidlow Lane, going on to Brimlows Farm & Gidlow Houses, was the Coal Sales Yard

DerekB - I'm too young to remember any of this when it was in use, but I do remember playing around a dilapidated old house type structure next to the crossing near the cemetery - would have been the late '70's - there were stairs going up to a second floor but were too dodgy for us to try. It's all overgrown now - any trace left is in the undergrowth.. I remember the remnants of the washer - the huge black conical structure and about 5 sets of rail lengths 100 yards long still embedded in concrete next to it... Just wish I'd been born 30 years previous. I'd have been everywhere with a camera and cine film!

That would be the red brick house, where Bob Reid, the surface boss at Giants Hall colliery lived. Right on the crossing going down to the rear entrance of the cemetary