Wigan Album

This loco was built by the Wigan Coal & Iron Company in 1874 at Kirkless Works. It lasted long enough to be taken over by the National Coal Board and was scrapped in 1957 at Clock Face Colliery in St Helens.

Stuart you are a mine of information...

A working life of over 80 years!! What a champion. I wonder if it was like granddad's shovel and had its bits replaced umpteen times over the century[s] or is it a case of they don't build 'em like the SHAH anymore.

I can't be 100% sure, but I think this was the same shunter driven by my Uncle Dick at the "Top Place". He was the black sheep in the family, he talked about in hushed tones by my Nan, Alice Houghton, because he lived "over the brush" with a lady called Bessie (or was it Kitty) in a terraced house in Crooke Village. In any event my mum, loved him to bits. Visits to Crooke were a rare occurrence but I seem to recall treacle toffee featured in the agenda. His real passion was making wedding cakes. He taught my Mum the craft, Royal icing and all, and she later worked as a confectioner, at Lowthers in Cale Lane. It was a different world wasn't it? Not better, not worse' just different.

That’s a fascinating story Dr Keith Tattum, thanks for sharing. Talking about sharing, my maternal grandfather worked at Top Place, I lived near Crooke for a while and your christian name’s not bad either.