Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 23rd August, 2017)

I rode on this track way back in the early 1950s, my uncle being a member of the society. I believe the track was quite a new thing then. Can anyone confirm the date it came into existence?

I remember going on a train at Haigh Hall where you actually sat IN the train, rather than ON it, as in the photo. It would have been, I THINK, in the late 1980s.

It's the Wigan and District Model Engineering Society.

Irene you sit on this train in Haigh Hall

https://youtu.be/EKqXcHuTSVM

And sit inside on this one

https://youtu.be/94r5N14egi0

Anne, the first oval track was built in 1947 , it was extended in 1974 and the present track extension was built in 1984. The Wigan Model Engineering society was founded in 1937.

irene is on the wrong track.

Thankyou, Mick. The one you sit IN always reminds me of The Miniature Railway at Southport, which took us to "Pleasureland" and holds such a special place in the memories of Wigan children.

Thank you Brian B those dates fit in nicely with my memories of being 10/12 years old. Maybe the uncle I mentioned could have been a founder member. I also remember him speaking in reverent tones of a Mr. Nobel, (spelling) could also have been a founder member.

The sit in train is now in Southport, Irene. Looks a little different, but it is the one that used to run in Haigh hall.

Alan, I feel I must annoy you in some way by the comments you make about my posts, but until I know what I have done it is impossible for me to apologise for it. Sorry, love! Whatever it is, it wasn't intentional. x.

Thankyou, Lynne, but the sit-in train I recall at Southport was in the 1950s when I was a small child, and I remember riding on the Haigh Hall train when my own children were small, in the late 1970s/mid 1980s. That isn't to say the Haigh Hall train didn't replace the Southport train in later years....I am just going by dates. Thanks again, Lynne. x.

Irene, I don't think you annoy Alan, he was just making a pun. The TRACK for the sit in train is of a wider guage, 15 inches. How could you ever annoy anyone! This track, the model engineers, is well worth a visit. It is open on a Sunday and most Wednesdays.

Lynne you are completely on the wrong track. Irene the one you remember in Haigh Hall STILL runs in Haigh Hall and the one you remember in Southport is STILL in Southport. Both different trains and such fond memories of both of them.

Maybe the tracks should be up graded to stop the confusion.

Irene you've done nothing, i'm just pointing out your on the wrong track from a different train.

Anne, if your uncle knew Burt Noble(?)he might well have been a founder member of the society. As a schoolboy member of the society, in the early 50's, I held the society President, MR Noble in complete awe!!Perhaps your uncle's name will jog a memory?

Then my apologies. I misunderstood your meaning, Alan. x.

Brian B My uncles name was Donald Slater whom I regarded with great affection. I remember him showing me how a lathe worked in his workshop when he was making one of his models.

Anne,I do remember your uncle Donald.
My little grey cells suggest a gentleman who was a chemist and rather a good amateur artist who painted pictures of locomotives. In fact I checked my memory with a friend who has a couple of paintings by your uncle Donald.We think he must have been one of the founder members of the society.

Yes you are right Brian B. It is nice to know the paintings will be appreciated.

Was Donald Slater moreof a herbalist than chemist ? Did he have a shop near the Makinson Arcade ? Did he display some of his paintings in his shop window ? Can anyone help with these questions ?

He was a qualified dispensing pharmacist with an interest in herbal medicine. His shop was in Darlington street where the magistrates court now stands. His paintings were only displayed to family and friends not publicly. Only ever had the one shop.

Why I ask Anne is my brother remembers a chemist/herbalist shop in Wigan that used to sometimes have a painting in the window. I was wondering if it could have been a relative of yours. I see on WW Almanac a Thomas Slaters death recorded on the 5th Jan 1938, this man was a herbalist who also dealt in surgical appliances...could that be your uncles father I wonder ?

H ot T....Could have been his grandfather, his father was living in Wigan at least until the mid 60s then moved to the south coast where he eventually died.