Wigan Album

Fabulous photograph. To the bottom right of the picture are the 'Pemberton Loop' lines that by-passed Wigan Wallgate and ran from Hindley junction to Pemberton junction at Little Lane bridge. Slightly unusual to see a black five at the head of the train, as a Stanier or Fairburn tank was the norm on this route.

These black fives were see on regular runs on the Southport/Liverpool lines. The Tanks were used only when their were no turn tables.They were good going in reverse as well as forward.

On Saturday evenings during the summer of 1966, a Manchester to Exchange mail ran with a 'Britannia' class loco. The train left Pemberton at 21.10. On one occasion 70038 Robin Hood laboured up the Orrell Bank. Also seen B1's on specials from Yorkshire. Happy steam days.

Interesting to see the bulldozer in the background, looks as though it may be filling in the old "Clayhole"?

Seems a big loco for three carriages.

Stood many an hour on the bridge at Little Lane, with my pencil and paper, jotting down the numbers. . . ah, those were the days. Great pics Ron.

hello dave I can say most definitely the jcb in the background is filling in the "delph quarry I used to climb down every week os so fro the to left and back of jcb is billing road where I came from .

Hi Alan did you work at Plessey Wallgate?

45212 one of the last operational locos at the end of steam, it is still with us.On completion of an overhaul at Bury it will return to the main line for special trains.
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hello ron my sister anne winstanley worked at Plessey's, as for the photo being from hal-way -house then worsley mesnes and highfield schools all around this area I know like back of my hand, just to add how can they let them build houses on all those pit workings oppo pem station?

Cheers Alan There was a guy with the same name as you who worked there, when I did in the late 1960's early 1970's, who lived near to the station in Billinge Road

the dozer looks like a cat 955 which belongs to todds who had the job of filling in the claypits