Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 13th April, 2022)

What's that there on the railway line?
Looks like my old brown shoe.

Well said, Dennis.

I, also have those same memories. I was eight years old in 1954 and you were probably on the platform with me. Small world. Great photo.

Dennis it always reminds me of The Houghton Weavers singing The Blackpool Belle, went from northern stations.

I hear slamming doors . Whistles . The engine's slow laborious start , like a stiff brush on gravel . The couplings clinking into life . Picking up speed . The carriages rhythmic rattle , da da da da , da da da da , like Beethoven .
Your dragon analogy is right on Dennis .
Those trains were alive , breathing hard , sweating at journey's end like tired horses .

Nice view. I like the garden and wooden train there.

Aye it's a bit of a soulless station these days of which i'm pretty familiar. I am off to catch the train even now!

Dennis, in 1955 the train to Southport would have been hauled by a 2-6-4 Tank, based at Bolton, Newton Heath or Wigan's own L&Y depot just beyond Dorning Street.
By 1965 the vast majority of trains were DMUs on this route (diesel multiple units) with steam occasionally on the Liverpool Exchange route and on specials to Southport.
The track was double, either side of the platforms, to allow passing, with a small bay platform near to where you are standing.
In 1955 Southport had two busy stations, St Luke's and the terminus at Chapel St. Now, there is just the terminus with the line doing a loop around Meols Cop - otherwise still dead straight from Wigan.
On the platform at Wallgate were slot machines, 6 old pence for a bar of Four Boys chocolate. That was luxury back in the day!

I hope you don't get a bit of grit in your eye, Dolly dear! Lovely photo....I love railway stations but even the stations seemed to have more character when the trains were steamers. There is a lovely atmosphere on Pickering station when we go for the forties weekends...A combination of steam and an old-fashioned buffet and waiting room. I can remember making a metal strip with my name on via a machine when I was a little girl on the above station platform....the finished product was no earthly use to be honest but I enjoyed making it. I think it cost sixpence.

I remember being on North West Station as a young Trainspotter many years ago.
Things were relatively calm with a few passengers wandering up and down as they waited for their train. Then the bell rang to announce the imminent arrival of the next train.
Suddenly, the platform began to fill with more passengers, porters and mailmen on little engines pulling trains of trolleys behind.
Shortly, the expected train came thundering into the Station and, almost before it came to a halt doors were swinging open, the guardsvan was surrounded by the porters and mailmen and the entire platform became a maelstrom of activity with passengers getting off and others getting on. Porters and mailmen were throwing parcels and mailbags off the train and on to the trolleys and others were throwing parcels on to the train.
After only a few minutes doors began to slam shut, the little train of trolleys disappeared, the Guardsman blew his whistle, waved his flag and the train roared off to the north.
Suddenly, the platform was all peace and quiet again…. Until the next train arrived of course.

"otherwise still dead straight from Wigan."

It's dead straight from Parbold, but it's all over the place from Wigan to Parbold.

I'm with you, with those memories Dennis. My brother in law was a train driver, he loved the steam one's.

I to went to Southport almost always from the bay. Bank holiday Monday one year on our way to Southport the sky went black and by the time we got to Southport the heavens had opened and every body out for the day came back to the station we were late going so it meant with the crowds arriving in the station we didn’t even leave the station I can remember it being freighting the crowds were horrendous so it was back on a train after being pushed about for ages. Not a good day.

Goes to show Kathleen, some days it’s just not worth getting out of bed!

Even considering happy childhood memories being recalled , there are lots of examples of viewing through rose coloured glasses in today's comments. In reality, until relatively recently, Wallgate Station was a dirty, miserable, dump with gas lighting on the platforms until the 1960s. As for the trains, it wasn't advisable to sit on the carriage seats in clothes that weren't already black.

Kids don’t worry themselves about such things Derek.
Steam engines ran on coal and were unavoidably dirty. The smoke and steam they gave off made everything around them dirty and that included the passengers as well.
The grit in the eye that Irene mentions was a common occurrence in the age of steam.

My grandfather’s brother had a jewellers shop on the other side of Wallgate from the station. It was directly above the tunnel and as the trains came in he would lift me onto the desk to watch. This would be circa 1960. He had to keep the window at the back of the shop permanently closed as, with each train entering or leaving the station, the room would fill with smoke. Even in the summer he had to ensure the window was closed at all times. He didn’t moan about it. Just accepted that is how it was!

The grit in the eye was so common they made a film just about the grit. It was ' A Brief Encounter' and it really was gritty for the time. Some carrying on went on! Irene will agree ...

I am really curious now Veronica, I will have to watch this film!!

Just a little mention to whoever tends the plants and flowers. Well done. I was told it was one of the station staff who enjoys gardening.