History of Wigan   (Help with ancient and recent history.)

I have been lurking on these boards for many years, but have only yesterday, been able to sign up (thanks Ron).

With my ancestors, during the Victorian age, living in New Springs (Woodfield Street) and me being a train enthusiast, I have been particularly interested in the old photos posted over the years relating to the Springs branch railway and the area that surrounded it.

I therefore decided to create a modest representation of the Springs Branch Railway by utilising the route builder from a computer game called Train Simulator. Within the program you can import the topographical data for the Wigan area to a bare "green field site" and by overlaying Google maps and referring to old maps, lay down the track and landmarks. From these basics I have been able to model and create the representation of the long gone Springs Branch Railway that ran behind Woodfield Street.

The following is a link to a video I have made about the line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMOwce0UMEk&t=2s

In my attempt at recreating the original line, I would like to thank you for the marvelous photos and scraps of information that have appeared over the years in various posts on this site. They have helped me enormously to create something that I hope resembles the line.

In my endeavour, I have learnt so much about the industry surrounding Wigan, particularly in the 19th century, that leaves me incredulous. As I mention in my video, I am sure that when the archaeologists explore the area in 2000 years time, they will come to the conclusion they have discovered the centre of the industrial age universe!