Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 13th January, 2022)

and to his right once stood Whelley station - one of the 'shortest-lived' stations in rail history

Interesting photo, why was the line so shortlived. Was it used during the war for transport to Euxton? I knew people who worked there.

I should have said people from Whelley who worked there through war and later.

National Cycle route 55, its a shame it doesn't go all the way to Adlington

Veronica, the line lasted over a hundred years. It was the station Malc mentions that was short-lived. It only lasted 2 months.

It is a shame Mick, but there are places where bridges would have to be rebuilt to get the track all the way to Adlington.

Thank you John, I misunderstood.
Do you know where people from Whelley would have caught the train to the ROF at Euxton?

Veronica - a stopper to Preston from Wigan NW would have called at Coppull, Balshaw Lane & Euxton, but I think there was a dedicated works' service from Wigan NW through Red Rock, White Bear, Chorley to a siding near where the modern Buckshaw Parkway station is now.

Whelley Station opened on the 1st of January 1872 and closed a mere two months later. The Whelley Loop which was constructed to allow trains to bypass Wigan on route from Blackburn to St Helens. The line which was built primarily for Freight opened in 1869.

On the 1st January 1872 the Lancashire Union Railway opened two stations on the line, one at Whelley and one at Amberswood.

Whelley station was located on the south side of a road overbridge that carried Whelley Road. The station had two platforms and a station master’s house was provided. At the time of opening Whelley was served by three trains per day which ran to Liverpool. The service was not a success and ceased after only two months. Whelley Station closed on the 1st March 1872. After cessation of the passenger services the station survived for nearly a century as a goods station.

The Whelley Loop itself carried numerous goods, excursion and diverted passenger trains well into the 1960's. The line was closed in 1970 but reopened briefly in 1972 when it was singled and it went out of use in 1976.

Veronica and Gary, having a works service through Red Rock sounds right. It would have also been possible to go from Wallgate station via Hindley North, Dicconson Lane and Chorley as well but I don't know whether trains ever went to the ROF station that way.

Yes trains did run into the ROF factory at sometime, I recall the train lines. When I started in 65 we went by coach but I was told they used to go by train. It seems a long way to go to the Wigan Stations from Whelley in the early morning to catch trains to Euxton.
Thanks for the info.

I remember Whelley Station being used as a private house in the 1960s.

That bridge is not under Wigan Road, it’s under Whelley.