Wigan Album
Crooke
4 CommentsPhoto: RON HUNT
Item #: 31805
The weighty cargos say much for the photo's great appeal.
Me, we used to play on it and the John Pit train line.
Remember it well. Used to get a ride on the foot plate of the trains from John Pit. When the barges left laden with coal, Crookers would “Keb” for coal.
My sister and I once had a ride (or should it be sailed) on a coal barge when it had loaded at Crooke and got off at Ell Meadow, we thought it was great and had a laugh waving to folks walking on the towpath. I remember the noise of the coal being tipped onto the barges was deafening.
The coal would also come down from Robin Hill Colliery and go past the side of Gidlow Houses, was told some thirty odd years ago by the then resident of the end house that everything would shudder and rattle when the trains went by.