nigb55009

One night in the city, Dio

The official document used by staff when labelling parcels would denote the route by which parcels were to be sent. This could vary depending on the time of day the parcel was sent, especially when cross country services were involved. Wigan has two stations, North Western and Wallgate. They are about fifty yards apart on opposite sides of the road. Staff were not allowed to carry parcels across the road from the parcel office at North Western to Wallgate, insurance issues were mentioned. A parcel to Southport or Manchester had to be routed north to Preston then south To Bolton before finally heading west to Southport. Customers were advised to take parcels across to Wallgate themselves, some of the official afternoon routes were overnight, despite it being only eighteen miles by rail.

If you click on the Flickr image of the class 81 at Beattock, there appears to be a brake van on the rear. That would suggest the reporting number would be class 7,8 or 9. I suppose if one of the wagons is carrying dangerous goods, then it could also be a class 6, but there doesn`t seem anything obvious in the train.

"Wigan bank engine" was name used for the station pilot at Wigan North Western. During the 1980s and 90s it was officially Target 91. It worked at Wigan NW during the evening and at night shunting parcel and newspaper vans. During the day, in the 80s, the loco was used to shunt Wigan Canal Sidings and Prescott St Sidings as well as GKN at Douglas Bank. Occasionally trips to Springs Branch were made. In the late 80s and early 90s after the closure of the sidings at Prescott St and GKN, Wigan bank was used to shunt long welded rail trains being repaired at Springs Branch. This also involved tripping wagons to and from Wigan Canal Sidings. I`m not sure what year the use of Wigan bank ended, probably 1991 or 1992.

Yes, Abram Disposal Point was it`s official name. It was referred to as Albert Pit locally. My apologies, I mixed them up,it was forty years ago. It was operated by the NCB Opencast Executive.

I was a shunter at Bickershaw Exchange sidings for about eighteen months from October 1981. I could probably draw you a diagram of the sidings,it may not be 100% accurate, but it may help. Some trains ran from the Albert Disposal Point, which was adjacent to the exchange sidings and was accessed through the sidings. There are a few photos on Flickr of the exchange sidings. I would also suggest looking at the Wiganworld website. The NCB used two GEC diesel 0-6-0 locos. They were named Western King and Western Queen. The ADP had an 0-4-0 Sentinel. All the coal trains ran as Trip workings, including the Partington trains. During my time at Bickershaw trains also ran to Padiham CEGB, using MCVs. The only timetabled services were the Monday only departure to Burton Wagon Repair Depot and the return working, which ran to Springs Branch. The repaired wagons would then be "tripped" to Bickershaw as required.

Nothing else matters, Metallica

Long gone, UFO

The first class 31, 31180, runs east light engine at the start of the video and returns west at the end hauling three fuel tanks. 31187 is hauling the mixed bag of coaches. Could it be that train is a loaded test run after 31187 has undergone maintenance at Old Oak Common. The coaches may just be some redundant stock put together to form a test train, sectorisation would have meant very few spare rakes of coaches would be available for such a train at short notice. The paintwork on both 31s looks new, but 31187 appears to have it`s buffer beam painted red oxide, as if recently repaired. The fuel tanks hauled by 31180 could be heading to Reading Depot.

All the days, Mammoth

Armed and ready, Michael Schenker Group

Under the gun, Blondie

The railways have always done it. Look at the number of stations that were called something "Road", when in fact they were nowhere near the place they were supposed to serve Dent station is four miles from the village itself. I`m sure there are many more examples.

In C2949, there appear to be two catering vehicles. That would suggest an ECML express, possibly a class 47 covering a Deltic diagram.

Shadow of love, The Damned

Fire, Krokus

Devil Gate Drive, Suzi Quatro

Hit me with your best shot, Pat Benatar

If you want blood (you got it), AC/DC

Eyes of the world, Rainbow

Suzie smiled, Tygers of Pan Tang

Race with the devil, Girlschool

Midnight at the lost and found, Maltloaf

Wild on the run, Tobruk

Black Sunday, Jethro Tull