The Iron Bridge in Hindley

The iconic structure is to be removed soon due to electrification of the line. I’ll be sad to see it go!


Oct 2021

Some photos on Wiganworld:




Links, clockwise from top left: Brian, 2008, c. 1957, Bill Eatock, Late ‘80s, c. 1958

We used to stand on there when we were kids.Train spotting.

The bridge certainly afforded you a great view, Sonlyme!

Stood on the bridge many times waiting for trains to pass underneath and get covered in smoke and steam.Used to cross it to go fishing in Deep pit and Square lodge.Sad really but that's progress.Any idea when it is being demolished Joanne?

I wonder when it was built, I will miss it

Bruce Asher.

Welcome to Wiganworld, Bruce.

Retep1949, I don’t know when the bridge is to go, just that Sheila Davidson, a volunteer with Friends of Hindley Station, tweeted that it won’t be there much longer and that the groundwork for electrification has begun.

Peter G, I wonder when the bridge was made and who made it as well. It’s sad that it’s to be scrapped, I went to photograph it yesterday and quite a few dog walkers and a family used the bridge in the short time I was there. It will definitely be missed.

I think it was built originally, for safe passage across the railway for railway staff, and miners, because back in the day that was a very busy railway line, serving several local collieries, and there was a connection to the Blackburn line at Adlington, and because of the volume of the railway traffic, over the several running lines there, it would have been unsafe for folk to cross those lines by stepping over the tracks, hence the construction of the bridge LINK

So I don't think that bridge is needed there now, but it will probably end up being moved to one of the 'Heritage Lines' in this country, which won't be a bad thing, because if that happens, many more people will be able to enjoy that bridge, because it really is a nice bridge

T.T.S. It shouldn't be going anywhere It should stay where it is. It was built around 1890 and is an icon to us Its like our Blackpool tower.

I cannot find any information on the interweb, which says that the bridge is being removed, if it is a very recent decision, then maybe the condition of the bridge structure is very poor, the lady who tweeted the tweet, works as a guard on Northern Trains.

Electricfication?

When?

jarvo ,the railway bridge on Ince Green Lane at Ince station was closed for 6 days last week for surveys to assess suitability for electrification of the line.
No indication of any future commencement of the electrification works.
Fossil ,News at 10,Ince!!

It was announced last September LINK

It is the 13 miles from Wigan Wallgate Station to Lostock Junction, which is being electrified, as the rest of the line from there into Bolton, has already been electrified.

It makes you wonder how they are going to fit the wires under Wallgate, and on about Iron Bridges, will the iconic Iron Bridge in Wigan, the three hundred yard long urinal from King Street to the Station, will that be demolished too

Tommy Two Stroke

They are only are only electrifying the line from Lostock Junction to Wigan North Western so that some main line services from Manchester have an alternative route to Preston than the present Chorley.

There will be still diesel multiple unit services to Southport and joint Diesel/Electrical multiple unit services to Liverpool Central via Wigan Wallgate and Kirkby.

I forgot about that, I had read somewhere, that they were going to run the electric services to Manchester from Wigan Northwest, by bringing Platform Two back into operation, and extending both of the bay platforms.

Originally they were going to electrify the line into Wallgate, from Liverpool, using the live third rail type of electrification, Wigan Wallgate is the terminus station of the Merseyrail Northern Line, that plan was one of the reasons why the line from Liverpool Exchange to Wigan escaped closure in the early 1970s
A new line and station for Skelmersdale is in development at the moment, connecting to the Wigan to Kirby line, in between Upholland and Rainford, and it looks likely that it will be an electrified line, so could the Wigan Wallgate lines to Liverpool and Southport, be electrified using the live third rail system ? And there are classes of trains which can run on both the 1500dc third rail system, and the 25k electrified overhead line system, they can change from one system to the other whilst the train is moving, such trains are in use in London, so such a train could come from Liverpool or Southport on the live third rail system, and then carry on from Wallgate Station, and on to the Manchester or WCML, raising its third rail shoo's, and then raising its pantograph, to connect to the overhead electrified line system

Tommy Two Stroke

We can only be thankful at the moment that we have finally got rid of the 37 year old awful Class 142/143/144 Pacers (buses on tracks) which people in London have never had to endure.

No second rate transport for them, just continual renewal of new trains, buses and even new underground lines.

The sad thing is that some of the Preserved Railways are getting the Pacers for some ridiculous reason.

Levelling up is nothing but a charade where public transport is concern!

Couldn't they start the work whilst the rail unions are on strike ? GB

get up a petition to save it sure they could jack it up and repair it

Ladies Lane railway bridge is to be demolished & replaced: M.E.N. (18th Nov):

“… part of the £78m electrification of the railway between Wigan and Bolton … Seventeen bridges and structures on the 13-mile route must be modified to give enough clearance for 25,000-volt cables to be installed to power future trains.”

The existing bridge is a hotchpot of brick arches and metal footbridges, and is a lot wider than most folk realise, because at one time Hindley North, as that station was known as, it was a very busy station, with four platforms.



I am surprised that they did not electrify that line, when they electrified the Manchester-Bolton-Preston line.

That’s a great photo, TTS.

Hindley Station is 174 years old today! (FoHS)

Is it really an 'iron' bridge, or is it just a rumour?

I would say that it is 'Wrought Iron'

As part of works at Ince and Westwood a footbridge was removed, from over the Pemberton loop line but notreally sure , and transported , repaired and installed at Parsons Meadow. All depending on condition I am sure something coild be done similiar . Or maybe someone has already got plans for it.
ps I think there are a number of issues regarding safety and electrification which prevent it remaining

Orrellite

This is one of two bridges over Poolstock Brook, at Parsons Meadow, and I must admit it does looks like a railway bridge



I have not got a picture of the other bridge, but maybe they cut the railway bridge in two, and put two bridges in Parson Meadow

There was another iron bridge in Hindley behind Leyland park.

Retep1949

That one is still there.

Looks very familiar. Originally we only installed one and no ctting was involved other than to replace a couple of deck plates. Work was circa 83/84. Perhaps it was cut down later it does look shorter but everthing does after 40 years.

To be raised soon LINK

The money would be better spent on making Hindley Station more accessible for the disabled with the installation of lifts etc and a improved car park for commutors who work in Bolton or Manchester instead of spending the money on a bridge which is now hardly used.

Owd Codger

I thought that is exactly what they have done, or they are doing, lifts at Westhawwton, Hingley and Hince

Video from Simon Rhodes about the Wigan to Bolton Electrification Project

Deep Pit Bridge (Iron Bridge Hindley] works LINK

From the beginning LINK

All of Simon's video's LINK

Thanks TTS, that’s a great vlog!

Jo Anne

You are most welcome

Raising the bridge

deep pit

Sonlyme

That's brilliant

Why waste money lifting the bridge to and from nowhere when it is hardly used by anyone now and there is a road brdge over the line a couple of hundred yards or so away?

Crossed that bridge many times to go fishing in Deep pit and the Square lodge.They seem to be doing a good job preserving it for future generations to use.

So that's why the bridge is being lifted at great expense to save the legs of a handful of anglers having to use the road bridge to do a bit of fishing at a couple of ponds!

Owd Codger

Yoo chose reet name for yourself, that bridge is part of our railway heritage, and it didn't just serve as a walkway over the railway for the miners, it carried part of the signalling system for the railway too, and you never know misery guts, if they build a load of houses around that location, then that bridge may come into it's own.

He is a miserable old sod always moaning about everything.For someone who goes on about railway heritage even saving a old railway bridge cannot please him.

The Iron Bridge brings great memories to folk in Hindley. It was part of the cross country course at Cardinal Newman school and as Peter says above great access to the fishing ponds. We used to love standing on there waiting for steam trains to come under and disappear in smoke. Part of our history. BTW Peter I noticed last week they've knocked down the old dole at last down the Lump. Wish we had a quid every time we've dove through those privets when we were kids lol.

Had a few scratches from those privets.I remember Jimmy Matindale coming down on a trolley that had the biggest rear pram wheels I had ever seen,when he got to the bottom to turn left into Harper St the wheels buckled and he went flying over and eventually landed in the privets taking a few of us with him.Happy days.

Jimmy Martindale is a distant relation to me His dad and my dad were cousins, I think he lives in a flat up Broadway somewhere.

Tommmy Two Stroke

You seem to have forgot what you said about the bridge on the 25/04/2022 at 14.14 at the latter end of your posting.

Sorry, but I find it rather sad that they can find the money a raise a hardly used bridge from the days of an old pit that is only a couple of hundred yards or so from a railway station which lacks facilities like lifts for rail passengers with mobility issues or even the making of a new more accessible entrance to the station from the car park like they are doing at many stations elsewhere.

And someone who thinks a bit more realistic about priorities, improvements and any waste of tax payers money can hardly be called a misery guts!

Owd Codger

Excuse meee !!!!

What did yoo say ????

I said "WHAT" at 14.14 on the 25/04/2022



Listen sonny,,,, you have been around for quite a while on this planet, and yoo should not forget that so have I too

When you were walking through Liverpool Exchange Station in the early 1970s I was probably walking in front of you, and that is where I have been ever since, in front of you, one step ahead of you, so if yoo want to start doing dirty shithouse tricks by misquoting people, then my advice would be to seek advice from someone like myself, on how to to do it properly


Liverpool Exchange Station in the early 1970s

Tommy Two Stroke

You would not have been walking in front of me on Liverpool Exchange Station in the seventies as the last time I was on the station was ten years or so earlier when along with mates I was on my way to catch a ferry to the Isle of Man.

Thanks anyway for showing the picture of the old EMU Class 502 with driving car number 28313 at Exchange Station prior to its withdrawal.

Oh, and the weather changes as well as opinions!

Just been reading this thread about the bridge and it only last week I visited the original "Ironbridge" in Shropshire

PeterP

All thanks to Abraham Darby who at the start of the industrial revolution discoverd that it was better to produce stronger iron with the use of coal rather than charcoal.

Those who today use the the bridge near Hindley Station should be very grateful to him!

And if it was left up to you Old Moaner there would be no bridge to be grateful for.

Whats moaning about just stating an alternativer opinion that money would have been better spent on providing better facilties at a nearby station, especially for those who are disabled!

Owd Codger

As part of the electrification and upgrade of the line, they ARE "providing better facilties at a nearby station, especially for those who are disabled!" LINK

Tommy Two Stroke

Exactly what is being done at many out out of date stations all over the country as part of a rolling programme of improvements for people with mobility isuues.

The problem is that the further you go outwards from London, the more a station is down the list.

Nothing to do with any MP or Councillors claiming credit!

Owd Codger

Well yes, and they also give the brand new trainstock to London and the South and give us up North the cast offs.

I have not seen Hindley Station, but from what I can see at Ince Station, they are putting ramps down to the platforms.

It is good news though, the electrification and upgrade to the stations, and I wonder if in the not to distant future they might electrify the line from Crows Nest Junction to Manchester via Atherton, but saying that though, I don't think that Kier and Rachel will allow it, and by the time those two have finished there mischief, they will make Margaret Thatcher seem like Mother Theresa in comparison

Tommy Two Stroke

They do indeed give most of the new DMU and EMU Casses to down south below Bimingham and transferred the older Units to the North.

A example being the outdated Class 319 EMU Units which were used on the London Liverpool Street to Essex Holiday Resorts, which after being withdrawn, were then sent to a former army railway base at Long Marsden where they were re-fiitted and then moved to the North West as Class 769 EMU's

The only brand new Units working on local services in the North West are the Class 777 EMU Units recently introduced on the Merseyil third rail system.

As for the line between Crows Nest Junction to Manchester, one of the preposed futute plans is for it to be part of the expanding Metrolink Tram system to Wigan.

Most rolling stock is now leased

All rolling stock is owned by a number of ROSCO leasing companies like Porterbrook etc to passenger and freight rail operating companies under the control of the Government's Rail Regulator.

Under the system, rolling stock can be moved to the different rail operating companies to meet demand on services or stored until if and when required

MOST rolling stock is now leased by rip off companies who make huge profits.

But will things change as the franchising system changes, with Great British Railways taking over the running of the railways.

GBR

I certainly hope so TTS.

We can only hope that this new public ownership will not take the railways back to the bad old days of the loss making British Railways public ownership of dirty rolling stock and stations and lack of investment in the future to bring what was a railway industry behind the times of other countries.

Having said the above, I have never been in favour of the francising system as it was costing a fortune in re-spraying the rolling stock everytime a franchise changed or taken off a operaring company by the rail regulator for failing the conditions of the franchise.

I wish GBR all the best in carrying on with the good work of Network Rail who are already being carry out the many projects in bringing our railways to the 21st century standard of other countries.

Owd Codger

Then there is the cost of the train fares and what I think is the grossly unfair 'surge' pricing system, in British Rail days, by law British Rail had to give you the cheapest ticket option, not as it is now the dearest option.

Tommy Two Stroke

The fares have indeed been bad under the franchise system, but it remains to be seen if they will become more cheaper under GBR as unlike the loss making days of the BR public ownership, profits will have to be made to fund the many projects currently taking place all over the country to bring our railway system into the twenty first century world of rail travel in other countries.

Already, despite the axing of HS2 north of Birmingham, the Mayor's of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands are campaigning to get the section of line revised to link up with the Liverpool to Hull cross country route as they know how important it is to have a high speed rail link to the major cities of the North of England in the future.

OC this is a message from a professional railway man you really are deluded if you think the railways have improved

Handsomeminer

And like a few more luddites on Wigan World who rarely travelled on the railways, out of touch about the many improvements that are taking place all over the country like new lines, stations, new rolling stock, signalling etc.

You and a few others need to get around the country like I do to see what is taking place and also the incease in the number of passengers using the better facilities.

If you want to still enjoy the days of the past, visit a Preserved Railway like the East Lancashire Railway in Bury!

Be nice to visit the East lance railway but id be worried about getting home in case my train back to Wigan was cancelled as is often the case with this wonderful privatised railway

The reliability and punctuality on trains has nose dived over the last few years.The only good service I have used is South West trains and the locals are always complaining about it.I tell them they should try the service up here,same with the buses.

Haandsomeminer

For someone who has claimed to have worked on the railways, you do not seemed to know much about the many improverements and projects which are happening all over the country and costing millionss to bring our railways from the time of the stagnnent loss making days of public ownership to a modern railway system like in other countries.

Oh, and perhaps a reason why some trains are late or cancelled apart from the engineering work taking place may be due to another strike taking place or staff ringing in sick!

The privatisation companies have let driver numbers dwindle steadily for over a decade plus as it's cheaper to pay overtime than employ people then the cra p Tory government decided to stick there nose into pay negotiations and ruined industrial relations with everyone on the railway and for someone who has claimed to have travelled extensivley on the rail network you do not seen to have much knowledge of how bad the service has become