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Wigan Springs Branch re-born !


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Anyone help please? i came across this pic' (dated March 1987) of the last of the class 25's at SP, i know both in this pic' had been renumbered into the 900's towards the end, i know one of these is deffo' 25 908 but don't know the other? I think 25 908 never moved again after this day and may even have been shoved or pulled in this pic' It was dumped for over a month and a lone class 25 on shed from what i can remember even the scrappers had gone. Only reason i ask is i'll be modelling one of these soon and i'm numbering it as a 900, one side only :jester: Anybody know on here where all the class 25 pics' are or can be posted?

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  • 4 weeks later...

I had a quick run out to "The Branch" on Thursday, as it was nice & sunny.

 

Not much progress, I can't fathom the headshunt, seems only trains 4 coaches long will be able to enter the existing depot, I've not seen a proposed track plan, so the (as yet un-laid) sidings to the north will have a separate access, their length etc, I don't know.

 

From Taylors Lane (south end) I saw this Ninky Nonk going on shed.

 

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As said the north sidings are not yet laid but work was going on with digging machines and orange men surveying etc.

 

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Finally the DB depot sign (I've never noticed before) - Vigan Depot  Hmmmmmmm !!!!

 

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Brit15

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Anyone help please? i came across this pic' (dated March 1987) of the last of the class 25's at SP, i know both in this pic' had been renumbered into the 900's towards the end, i know one of these is deffo' 25 908 but don't know the other? I think 25 908 never moved again after this day and may even have been shoved or pulled in this pic' It was dumped for over a month and a lone class 25 on shed from what i can remember even the scrappers had gone.

I visited the depot on 22nd March 1987 and according to my notes the 25s on shed that day were 25.254, 25.907 & 25.908. All three were withdrawn awaiting removal for scrapping along with 08s 08.284 / 293 / 396 / 477.

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I had a quick run out to "The Branch" on Thursday, as it was nice & sunny.

 

Not much progress, I can't fathom the headshunt, seems only trains 4 coaches long will be able to enter the existing depot, I've not seen a proposed track plan, so the (as yet un-laid) sidings to the north will have a separate access, their length etc, I don't know.

 

From Taylors Lane (south end) I saw this Ninky Nonk going on shed.

 

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attachicon.gifIMG_0661.JPG

 

attachicon.gifIMG_0669.JPG

 

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As said the north sidings are not yet laid but work was going on with digging machines and orange men surveying etc.

 

attachicon.gifIMG_0673.JPG

 

attachicon.gifIMG_0674.JPG

 

Finally the DB depot sign (I've never noticed before) - Vigan Depot  Hmmmmmmm !!!!

 

attachicon.gifIMG_0678.JPG

 

Brit15

On the track plan, I screenshotted this from the NR video:

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  • 1 month later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Had another appointment in Wigan again this morn' so i called in, nowts changed at all especially at the storage sidings end and the area behind the old steam shed site. A lot of tree cutting and embankment weed removing and pruning has been done at the Taylors Ln. end....there's nice clear view of the main lines now looking South off the road bridge!

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And a happy festering season to you and yours Owd Bob - enjoy your Turkey lobbies with a nice thick suet crust on top !!!!

 

Thanks for the update, I must get to "The Branch" again soon !!

 

Brit15

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post-6884-0-69104300-1545674314_thumb.jpg

 

Singalong to this music

 

 

Signalman Wenceslas last looked out

From Crompton Sidings window
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When two Sulzers came in sight
Hauling winter fuel

"Hither, Driver, stand by me
Please be in conversation
Yonder train, what is he?
What's your destination?"
"Sire, we're loaded with Bickershaw coal,
Hence across the main is my immediate goal

To our final destination, which is

Westwood Power station

Bring me coal and brew some tea
Bring your tea bags hither
Thou and I will therefore sup, as
I cannot give you the road you desire

So after tea driver and mate forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather

 

(The ***** signal is still ON !! -  Back to the signalbox ------)

 

Signalman, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer." (Without ale - The pub's been open over an hour !!!!)
Mark my footsteps, my good driver
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

 

Given the road AT LAST !!!!!!

In his master's steps the driver trod
Where the snow lay dinted
The pair of Sulzers started to throb
Crossing the main at Springs Branch No1, which glinted,
Therefore, Springs Branch men, all be sure

Wealth rank or thirst possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor signalman
Shall yourselves find blessing

 

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:jester:  :jester:  :jester:  :jester: Happy Christmas Everyone !!  :jester:  :jester:  :jester:  :jester: 

 

Brit15

Edited by APOLLO
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The Raven pub is still going strong - met the old Gas lads in there a couple of weeks ago - still a good pint and the atmosphere is still there - probably the last "old" pub in Wigan.

 

Brit15

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Had another appointment in Wigan again this morn' so i called in, nowts changed at all especially at the storage sidings end and the area behind the old steam shed site. A lot of tree cutting and embankment weed removing and pruning has been done at the Taylors Ln. end....there's nice clear view of the main lines now looking South off the road bridge!

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Scissors crossing in a dead end siding, thats a bit of a luxury.

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Scissors crossing in a dead end siding, thats a bit of a luxury.

 

The diagram in post #105 appears to show two crossovers - maybe they were restricted for space/length?

 

Cheers,

Mick

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  • 2 weeks later...

As it's nice & sunny I had a run out this morning - no change from Owd Bob's photos 20 December at the south end.

 

Civil works are going on at the north end. No sidings / track laid yet, a huge ballast pile is present and they are working repairing / rebuilding the old retaining wall behind the houses, a lot of scaffolding here A large building has appeared, looks like linked portacabins, probably for the construction workers etc.

 

I'll give them a month & look again.

 

Brit15

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  • 2 months later...

A few pics from today, lots of new and old ballast is piled up, a new Grey Portacabin has been put up but is it staying for good? Plenty of time and a half work going on at the rear & side of the shed with concrete mixers and machines of all types busy working hard. Nice work by the machine driver on forming the new embankment just off the South East side of the Cemetery Rd. Bridge. Saw my first class 88 and a couple of old 90's passing, which helped to keep my mind off the chilly weather for the hour i was there.

 

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They've not done an awful lot since before Christmas Bob. Still new investment at 8F is very welcome indeed. has any track been laid at the north end (old brewery sidings) ?

 

I suppose the masts & wiring will be the last things installed.

 

Yes it's cold today in Wigan - snow forecast next week - sod the garden then !!

 

Brit15

 

 

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Too knackerin' for me to walk round to see over the Warrington Rd. bridge Apollo, only had an hour whilst swmbo did some shoppain for an hour at Morrisons Higher Ince. so i had to be back quick or face a major rollockin' :D The new service sidings area seems to be full of concrete footings for platforms and buildings but no track laid yet. Got a feeling the new embankment may be for a footpath or single roadway coming off Cemetery Rd.:pardon: I hope it warms up 'cos i'm of to N.Wales for a long weekend away this Thurs' Hoping to see plenty of N.G. stuff and 'The Prisoner' TV show convention.:yahoo_mini:A few more pics' from yesterday.....:rolleyes: Men & Machines hard it on a Saturday. The old Ince sidings head shunt area and the long brick wall is now clear of tree's and vegetation, so a good view of the WCML track, and the depot is visible from the Cemetery side again after a decade or two.:rolleyes: ...and a pic' of my first ever class 88, 88008.:rolleyes:

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  • 3 weeks later...
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Three views today taken from the bridge at the end of Taylor's Lane.

 

Looking towards the depot with large numbers of people in orange working in the distance around the connections to the new depot area.

 

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Two views looking south along the headshunt with the Volker Rail crews and plant in action.

 

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David

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