Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 2nd March, 2021)

Was told of one fatal motorcycle crash on that road, this particular biker worked at the Springs Branch loco sheds at Spring View when steam trains were there, a presumed stray cat came to be seen around and at lunch times would come hoping to be fed scraps, anyhow some days later the cat hadn't been seen around, he then began saying to some of the others that he hated cats and boasting that he'd hit it with a shovel and thrown the body in an engine firebox that was steaming up . Some time later whilst on a day out riding his bike it crashed on Meadow Pit Lane, the bike caught fire and he got badly burned and died before the fire services got there.

When I was a volunteer at the RSPCA there was quite a few stories told about folks who had treated animals cruelly and ended up suffering a similar fate.

Simple, slow down, not only here, but all over the Country. People drive too fast.
While were at it, people in cars Van's etc, throwing fast food rubbish out their vehicles. You can see litter at the side of the edge row. I've see it happen, we need more unmarked police cars, that will catch them out.

Its because of speed, and motorist not being able to steer one handed, the next bend to the left along meadow pit also catches them out.

Dennis, I live next to the A59 at Much Hoole, and you would not believe the speed of the motor cyclists. They start off through Croston village and down Meadow Lane to the junction with Liverpool Road where they turn right to the traffic lights at Tarleton. Another right turn and straight down to Hutton, another right and down to the roundabout where they turn left towards Bretherton, straight to Croston and the journey starts again.

Car drivers don't even wait to get to the bend before falling off the road - I've seen a few cars in the field to the left on my infrequent drives through here. The hole in the hedge might have been where one went through. They usually escape with wounded pride, unlike bikers, sadly.

I used to go this way every week or so for years when I was still driving. It was the scenic route to Gidlow Cemetery from where I live. I did feel uneasy if any bikers were behind me, but they would usually overtake - hairy at times!

Denis -insurance companies will tell you, the worst culprits riding motor cycles are middle-aged and older men thinking they're back in their youth. The death toll of men in their 50s and 60s in North Yorkshire, racing to Whitby, is staggering. Most are on high powered bikes, flying off, literally, into the sunset.
The junction in the photo is awkward for being on a rise - the number 17 bus, an old double decker, Wigan to Blackrod, via Haigh, used to turn right there. Even in the early 1960s a few narrow squeaks ensued, with vehicles speeding the other way.
Cyril - an old philosophy, not as popular these days. Deliberately harm a living creature and you actually harm yourself.

Veronica, not all bikers are hairy!????????????

If you get to the same position as the white car on the left and you are going too fast you find the bend tightening up on you and you have nowhere to go except on the wrong side of the road. If you are unlucky you will go off the road altogether.
A biker in the same situation will have no other option but to bale out and put his or her fate in the lap of the Gods.

I remember almost coming a cropper rounding that bend in my dad's car just after I passed my test back in the 60's. Dad was sitting next to me - he just said "you won't do that again" and he was right. A corner to be given respect whatever you are driving.

As in Hairy - Scary B- and plenty tattoos!

They are the worst bikers who ride with shorts, tee shirts and trainers. The proper bikers with leathers are more professional riders. In my opinion.

Cyril, I put a comment on earlier as you had brought back a memory for me with your mention of Springs Branch and fireboxes but it hasn't been added so I'll try again. It was just to say my late brother used to take me to Springs Branch when I was a little girl, to collect his wages. I was often lifted onto the platforms of the shunting engines to see the coal being shovelled in the firebox and the heat and the glare was unbelievable, "Elf an' Safety" would have a field-day with that situation now but I beat them to it and never came to any harm. I know this has nothing to do with Dennis's excellent photo but one person's memory often triggers another. This is about the third time I have put a comment on a photo that hasn't been added. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or they are just being overlooked. I apologise if it is added later and appears twice.

Cyril, Karma will always bite back.

Irene,it's happened to me a couple of times this past week.?

I went through the hedge on a 650 Norton in 1965.

I was following a mate back from a party in Hindley down this road when I saw his rear light dissapear in front of me. There were no streetlights down there at the time. When I got to the corner he had negotiated an 8 foot drop into the feild having misjudged the corner. Result, bent front forks and wounded pride. We wern't speeding either, he was on an FS1E and me on a CD175. Scary times

You can't really speed on a fizzy not even down hill.

Bahave! A proper motorcyclist wouldn't be fazed by that bend. I've been round that bend countless times, on countless motorcycles, in all three directions, over close on fifty years. Anybody coming a cropper there are inexperienced, daft, or both!

Good photo Dennis. Me and my husband use this route a lot. (not recently due to lockdown) Tunley Lane Garden Centre, Wrightington Hospital, Southport, Derby House are just some of the places we go this way 'the scenic way' the OH always says. We have experienced a few near misses here over the years all down to travelling too fast round that severe bend.

"Power is how fast you hit the wall, and torque is how far you push it into the field".

I would love to see a Peloton of garish mamil cyclists come a cropper on this bend . Especially those that shout at the top of their voices like the cocks they are at 7 am on Sunday morning .

Those idiots on them stupid noisy trikes are the worst riders, and should be band from our roads.
As Garry says more unmarked police vehicles is needed.

Mr Tonkinton-Smythe. My mate was new to biking at the time, hence the FS1E. It's a mistake he never made again. I have also been round those bends at silly speeds, prefered the Red Rock to Haigh right hander personally but never had a problem round there, on all sorts of different bikes. Still, when you are ' enthusiastic ' about bikes in general, it's the done thing :)

I went through the hedge on a 650 Norton in 1965.

I went through the hedge on a 650 Norton in 1965.

I've driven along that road several times a week over the past 30 years and never seen any accidents.