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whelley loop viaducts

17 Comments

Whelley loop line .
Whelley loop line .
Photo: . Ozy .
Views: 641
Item #: 35797
Not a photo filched from Frank Orrell’s collection of masterpieces obviously .
Just my abysmal attempt to portray a section of the Whelley loop line as it was in February 1990 .
Taken through the parapet on the driveway bridge looking towards Hall lane .
Compare this with the shot posted by Mick Byrne on p.a.d 30.01.25.
Both were taken from the same area and both taken looking in the same direction .

Comment by: Slippery Mick on 25th May 2025 at 14:24

Sorry, but I can't bring myself to comment on this photograph for fear of saying the wrong thing.

Comment by: Cyril on 25th May 2025 at 16:20

Even back then it was said to be a footpath, but only used by horses and offroad bikers. I remember once parking up on the Red Rock Station car park, and intending to have a nice dog walk along the same stretch of track bed through the countryside, as I'd been told that it was, but it was in a worse state than what's in the photo, and as two ramblers wearing waterproofs and wellies pointed out, it gets a lot worse further on, so with sodden feet we turned back.
Has the track bed from Red Rock to Adlington also been filled, levelled and tarmacadamed, or is the council it comes under still thinking about it.

Comment by: Veronica on 25th May 2025 at 18:08

Were you swigging Pinot Noir or did you step in something not nice Ozy. It’s making my eyes swizzle..I know I have a cataract forming but I was told I needn’t have anything done yet…! Apart from that it would have been a good photo.

Comment by: Mick on 25th May 2025 at 18:10

This photo takes me back to when I was doing one of my paintings then the rain set it before I could cover it up.
Cyril, no, the Adlington path has not been started yet, and the paths have nothing to do with the councils

Comment by: . Ozy . on 25th May 2025 at 19:00

Yeah , I’ll readily admit that it ain’t the best photo that I’ve ever taken ; in fact I thought I’d made that clear at the outset … but evidently not it would appear .

But it’s what it is , and it’s the only one that I have unfortunately that gives an indication of how the line used to be .

Just take a look at the difference in Mick’s photo from 30.01.25 and the reason I bothered posting it may then become apparent .

And incidentally , I’ve always held the opinion that a sub standard photo will continue to be infinitely superior to any first class photo that nobody ever gets the opportunity to see .

It seems some would disagree however .

Comment by: Veronica on 25th May 2025 at 19:17

Yes it’s unbelievable how it’s changed with the work that’s been done. In 1990 the camera was king if I remember correctly and definitely not smart phones. I have many ‘blurred’ photos from the sixties that I wouldn’t part with for love or money. I was only joking about the blurry vision of leaves at the front not through the
arches of the bridge strangely.

Comment by: . Ozy . on 25th May 2025 at 20:12

It’s all about focal length apparently Veronica , although I’m no expert in photography , proof of which can be witnessed above .

Had my intention been to take a clear shot of the foliage in the foreground then the morass visible in the distance would have been blurred .

Toffee or ha’penny Véronique … which would you prefer , ‘cos the laws of physics dictate that you ain’t having both … and it weren’t me wot rote them laws .

Comment by: . Ozy . on 25th May 2025 at 21:00

Furthermore , I’d like someone to explain to me what precisely councils ARE responsible for , as it appears to me that every time councils are mentioned , someone more knowledgeable than I am sticks their yed above the parapet and sez " it’s nowt t’do wit’ council “ , without taking the trouble to elaborate .
So … what precisely is the function of a council?
Anyone care to give us all a rough idea at least ?

The reason I’d like to know is because they’re currently taking two grand a year off me and yet from what folk tell me , they don’t appear to have any say in owt .

Comment by: Mick on 25th May 2025 at 22:38

Moneys coming from Andy Burnham Manchester mayor fund.

Comment by: Slippery Mick on 25th May 2025 at 23:21

Depth of field, Ozy.

Comment by: Al on 26th May 2025 at 09:04

What is the logic of this photo.
Many disused railway beds are like this wet and muddy.

Comment by: Meg on 26th May 2025 at 13:53

I love your photo Ozy. Its subtle colours and slight blurriness remind me of an impressionist painting.

Comment by: . Ozy . on 26th May 2025 at 14:34

Take a look at Mick’s photo Al and compare the difference since they did the upgrading work .
Comparison .
There’s the logic .
And yer reet slippery …
Depth of field is the phrase I was looking for.

Comment by: DTease on 26th May 2025 at 17:32

Ozy, I took a photo from the same spot in 1993.
Item #32041 in the Album.

Comment by: Veronica on 26th May 2025 at 19:15

I’ve just commented on your photo Dtease it’s on the ‘recently commented’ at the top.
It’s beautiful. It’s side by side with Ozy’s.

Comment by: . Ozy . on 26th May 2025 at 20:27

Just seen your photo DTease .
It shows the state of the trackbed much better than mine does .
The mistake that I made was taking it through the railings . My second mistake was putting it on here .
Still … lesson learned eh?
But I always had this feeling that one day we’d end up side by side and thanks to Veronica we have … if only briefly.

Comment by: Eddie rowland on 28th May 2025 at 13:49

Why all these comments about the whelly loop line
Put some proper wigan photographs on that are really interesting.

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