Photo-a-Day (Saturday, 21st April, 2018)
Slag Heap
Photo: Mick Byrne (Panasonic TZ100)
That slag heap was the old railway embankment
'slag-heap'? is that not the embankment for the old railway line Mick?
Interesting photo. Anyone know why the slag heap has not been planted with trees etc, like in other parts of mining country. Near Mansfield there is a good example of what can be done to naturalise these spoil heaps. This one would make a great area for people to walk etc, with the water nearby.
I believe that is to bethe route of the new road linking Westwood to the M6 at Orrell. (if it ever happens!!!)
They have left it like that it will be the new link road from Orrell to the new link road at Chapel Lane were the cooling towers were.
Good photo Mick. The railway embankments were built up by waste from the mining industry including dirt from stone works ,mine shafts, tunneling. slag from the blast furnaces, common name slag heaps.
Whatever it was built from - slag, pit-waste, or excavated earth - this is a railway embankment - not a slag heap. Personally, I prefer it the way it is. "Naturalising" such features leads to them losing all sense of their history - they may look pretty, but too much is lost.
You're right Rev David, it's the railway embankment of the old Pemberton loop line that ran from Hindley to Pemberton. The line closed in 1969 and the track lifted along with all steel bridges.