Owd Bob Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 Wow! many thanks for the update and great pics' I have an appointment in Wigan this Friday again so i'll call in and see if owts different. Nice to see a proper-ish loco' going through in your pic' Apollo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 Thanks for the photo updates Apollo. Please keep them coming. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 Good that twenty three people will get work here as well and the site being used again. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 Will have to remember to look out when passing on my annual trip to Glasgow next Feb should be open then? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Not much change or progress looks to have been made on my visit this morn' but there's probably a lot of groundworks that's been done that is'nt really visible above ground. New track laying seems to have been started as seen from the Taylors Ln. bridge. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 Just for comparison heres a MGR Coal train from Bickershaw Colliery Leigh, with 20 055 & 20 106, taken in roughly the same spot on 14 Jan' '92. from the Taylors Ln. Bridge 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted August 11, 2018 Author Share Posted August 11, 2018 Had a run out to the branch yesterday, not a lot done since Owd Bobs visit above. The track at Taylors lane end seems odd, relayed / slewed track to the left of the new seems "pointless" !!!!! Seems more track will be laid towards up relief line (if that's its name) and seemingly nothing is currently happening at Brewery Sidings where I presume the main sidings will be laid. A few orangemen working here and there, mind you it was Friday afternoon in Wigan - POETS day (pi** off early tomorrow's Saturday !!). I'll revisit in a couple of weeks. Brit15 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 I bet those who live in them thar bunglelows thought they had seen and heard the last of trains nearly running in their back gardens Oh dear! What a shame ...never mind! Wonder if any are sellin' up and moving out now? I will try and call later this week and see if owts changed! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sandpiper Posted August 12, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2018 Seems more track will be laid towards up relief line (if that's its name) IMG_0550.JPG The running line nearest the camera is the Up Goods. Then Down Goods, Up and Down Fast, Up and Down Slow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 A bit more track lifting & laying seems to have been done since my last visit, i've never seen anybody working here every time i've called in on a Friday! Looks like a couple of points are going to be added, but what do i know about track work These two 90's silently snook up on me and came through heading south at 11.10am. 90 010 & 90 020. on containers. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share Posted August 17, 2018 (edited) Seems like they're crackin on a bit now Bob. Looks like a big load of ballast dumped at the top end also - ready for track laying there also soon.(Brewery sidings end). Nowt 'appens in Wigan on a Friday Bob - as I've mentioned - it's POETS day !!!! The good old days !! Brit15 Edited August 17, 2018 by APOLLO 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted September 3, 2018 Author Share Posted September 3, 2018 Just found this interesting small twitter vid. https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/1031442450840207361 Brit15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 Well that says and explains it all, thanks for finding & posting it! Fifty million from where and who Apollo? And they still have to get out and walk from one end to t'other and manually change the points So much for new technology! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted September 4, 2018 Author Share Posted September 4, 2018 (edited) I agree Bob, fifty million buys next to nowt on the railways these days after all the design consultants, environmental great crested newt surveys, management fees, etc etc you name it have been paid for. It seems were getting half a dozen electrified sidings with concrete footpaths alongside, we will see. Hope the driver applies his brakes well and hard on the turnback - a steep grade back down to the WCML I bet those in the bungalows alongside the headshunt are pleased. This location at Taylors Lane has history. Springs Branch Breakdown Train off to another job. Note the track to the left caused by a runaway MGR train down the bank (which will be the new headshunt) The runaway train went over the hill and she blew !!!!!! Wonder where this fine machine went - I think it was preserved ? - it was always busy around the Wigan / Warrington area. I hope they grease the new points well !!!! (see twitter vid) - they're needed to change the trains direction you know !!. Brit15 Edited September 4, 2018 by APOLLO 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Moxy Posted September 4, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 4, 2018 Wonder where this fine machine went - I think it was preserved ? - it was always busy around the Wigan / Warrington area. Brit15 Hi Apollo, if you know the number of it, this site http://www.bdca.org.uk/index.html may be useful. I have tried to blow up your image, but all I can make out is '***001' which may be a Springs Branch designation, rather than its TOPS number. HTH Moxy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 I remember seeing that peak that day but had no camera, i loved the crane and it was always missing at the weekends always busy elsewhere, i think it went to the NRM at York then God knows where! I'll see if i can find any pics' with the number on Moxy! See tha lives in Bent' mon' 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Moxy Posted September 4, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 4, 2018 See tha lives in Bent' mon' Ha ha, not quite Bob! I'm a bit further south than Chequerbent, I live about 300 yds from where Atherton Bag Lane station used to be. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 I can't find the Crane pics' anywhere They'll turn up when i least expect them no doubt! Ah! Bag Lane where all those new builds are going up at the mo' the station site and goods yard still have a lot of cobbles down. I remember the 'Barrs' pop factory of 'IRN BREW' fame, i think it was the site of R.Stothert and Sons many Edwardian era years before that. Back to those Bunglelows near the new line!...it'll be great news for any spotters wanting to buy a 'Price reduced for a quick sale' house in full sight of the West coast main line Apollo. I must do the lotto this week! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 Ref the steam crane info from Martyn Hilbert's Flicker account - the picture appears to be the same as well. Breakdown Crane (TDM1001) - Wigan Springs Branch. The Breakdown Crane at Wigan Springs Branch complete with its attendant runner trucks, was stabled under the partial cover of the old steam running shed at Wigan Springs Branch on the evening of September 27th 1977. Built by Cowans Sheldon in 1931 for the LMS, the 45 Ton Steam Crane was formerly at Lostock Hall depot before being transferred to Wigan in 1972 following the cessation of locomotive activity at 10D. Above info from a search using " Wigan Cowan Sheldon". Gordon A Gordon A Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Moxy Posted September 4, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 4, 2018 (edited) Thanks Gordon, According to BDCA website, that went to Midland Railway Trust Butterly, at least it was there in 2013. Here's a picture of the other side of it, also taken at Spring Branch https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/7360511788/ Moxy Edited September 4, 2018 by Moxy 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
balders Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 40009 on the breakdown train? Can't quite read the number......vac only, discs removed and no steam pipe or tanks. Great shot! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
E3109 Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 Wow! Peaks on SP weren't unheard of and especially after the 40s went, indeed my uncle who was an SP driver used to take me there when it was quiet on a Sunday and sometimes let me have a go on the shed job, supervised obviously. But to catch 45106 in green there is summat else and especially derailed, it didn't last long in green before it set alight. Epic capture sir and thanks a lot for posting this. Went past SP again today and there is a hell of a lot of work going on to turn it into a unit depot. Can't be sure but it looked as though the old fuelling point has been flattened, can any of you guys confirm this? I also wonder if the remains of the steam shed wall will survive? Either way, I'm glad the site has had a resurgence. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted September 6, 2018 Share Posted September 6, 2018 (edited) The fueling point was still there three weeks ago, see the third & fifth pics of mine above, it is hard to see from the other side i must admit with all that's going on around it. Edited September 6, 2018 by Owd Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 (edited) More progress again this week to report, my visit this morn' only lasted 20 mins' as the heavens opened! Nice crossing now installed with manually operated points, the old fueling point road has been re-laid with new track and ballast and the electrics to it look to have new wiring and new lighting installed, it looks to be ready for re-use again, after the last 20 years or so of none use Plenty busy on the main lines with several unit's passing through in such a short time, pic' for folks who bother with them. Looking South at an unknown d.m.u. which is heading North. Edited to change emu to dmu. Edited September 14, 2018 by Owd Bob 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37038 Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 That'll be the first day training run of Northern's new class 195. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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