Wigan Album

I'm sure, at times, inanimate objects can exude a little charisma, character or appeal - these like any anonymous object found in the thousands of miles of railway lines up and down the country - simply don't, even though they are Wigan based. Just my opinion.

Hi JamesB, See 9th Nov 2006, The Hermits House. What does this say to you? Just wondering that's all. It sure worked big time for me, maybe because of the history.

Excellent photos Rev Long, these lines came from Springs Branch Depot (next to the coach house/old hall) and went to Central Wagon works, at one time crossed Manchester road, and up to Kirkless, New Springs. A large steel girder bridge on the Pemberton Loop line span over this track. The Pemberton line ceased in 1969 and lifted in 1971. This line went over the Great Central Railway, the line from Manchester Central to Wigan Central station closed to passengers in November 1964, the nearest station to this was Junction Terrace.

Colin, thanks for that info, I was a bit disorientated about the Rev's location. There's a Branch Street in Higher Ince, was that near where the track crossed the main road?

The sheer detail of knowledge is quite astonishing . Goes to show when the eyes and brain come together some things we hold whilst others we reject

Yes, Loz. The line went across Manchester Rd, then Belle Green Lane, up to Kirkless, it could also connect to the Whelley line, next to rabbit rocks.

i use to patrol this section of track in the early 1990's when i was based at springs branch the trenchy was to the right just out of shot and the floods as i knew them was a bit further on to the right full of fish both pond and lake. and the tracks had loads of class 40 action on them in the 1980's gggggrrrrrrr hear them growl to this day.