Wigan Album

Many Wigan people, especially the older ones, will have very fond memories of this railway station. I know I have. Happy days.

Two separate booking offices! Even the smallest station must hsve employed several staff in those days.

In the book "The Orrell Coalfield" Ref is made to the pedestrian arch referred to as being constructed over Hustlers rail line on which coal was transported to the canal.

The Post to the far right of the train, was that for the mail bag, Mick?

Garry, I think that's an early version of a colour light signal

Interesting to see the signs indicating two booking offices in operation at Gathurst - one for the Wigan platform, the other for the Southport direction. No booking office or staff at all there now.

In those halcyon days Gathurst would probably have employed about six to seven fulltime people.

Thank goodness people are more honest nowadays, so we only need a conductor to take fares on the train, and don't need ticket collectors at every station.

believe me Rev. the guards very often DO NOT collect fares especially on Northern Rail and people on short journeys never pay !!!!

Rev. David, I recently went to Liverpool Central from orrell on the train, I walked the length of the train several times trying to find a conductor/guard to pay my fare, there was none on board. At the Liverpool Central barrier the ticket inspector let me through and advised me to buy a return ticket at the ticket office there. I could easily have walked off without paying but being honest I paid the required fare and got a ticket.

I often travel from Manchester Victoria to Wigan Wallgate in the early evening on Saturdays, when scores of people board the train at the unmanned stations on the route, heading into Wigan for a night out.
Although the better part of a hundred people may have boarded the train, I have never known the guard/ticket inspector to emerge from his cab, to sell or inspect tickets.
The same also often applies to the Southport/Wigan service.

Having received a fourpenny one for daring to ask for a tuppenny fare, I'm well aware that discretion is often the better place of valour.

Mick; I saw the new alterations at Manchester Victoria last Saturday. There are now ticket operated barriers and I had to show my pass to a chap who then opened one of them.

On a recent trip to London, most of the underground stations are unmanned. Numerous youths were jumping over the barriers unchallenged. I remembered my age and decided against it! lol