RAILSCOT | Wigan Branch Railway

Wigan Branch Railway

Introduction

This line runs from Wigan to Parkside on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. It now forms part of the West Coast Main Line.

It merged with the Preston and Wigan Railway to form the North Union Railway.

Dates

/ /1838	Wigan Branch Railway Preston and Wigan Railway North Union Railway Wigan Branch Railway and Preston and Wigan Railway merge to form the North Union Railway.
/ /1970	Caledonian Railway Lancaster and Carlisle Railway Lancaster and Preston JunctionRailway Preston and Wigan Railway Wigan Branch Railway Warrington and Newton Railway Grand Junction Railway Weaver Junction (south of Warrington) to Glasgow electrification authorised.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

Parkside [2nd]

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See also
Liverpool and Manchester Railway

Lowton

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195123 slowly negotiates the tight curve at Lowton as it approaches Golborne Junction and the WCML heading to Windermere from Manchester Airport on ...
Mark Bartlett 08/02/2021

Lowton Junction, at the north end of the Parkside triangle, seen from half way along the curve from Newton-le-Willows Junction in February 2021. ...
Mark Bartlett 08/02/2021

2 of 2 images.

Golborne Junction

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See also
^Winwick Branch^ (London and North Western Railway)

A pair of Voyagers head from Waverley to Euston at Golborne Junction on 22nd February 2021. On this short stretch of open line the four tracks from ...
Mark Bartlett 22/02/2021

1 of 1 images.

Golborne South

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390050 heads south passing the site of Golborne (South) station, which closed to passengers in 1961, on 22nd February 2021. The tracks diverge where ...
Mark Bartlett 22/02/2021

The goods shed at Golborne South, seen here in February 2021, is the only building to survive at the station site. Goods services finished in 1967, ...
Mark Bartlett 22/02/2021

This is the site of Golborne South station, on the WCML which closed in 1961. The old ticket office was in the bricked up section of the bridge above ...
Michael Butterworth 16/06/2017

88002 'Prometheus' passed here northwards yesterday on what may be its final loaded test train ... consist of loaded stone wagons with 68025 'Superb' ...
Michael Butterworth 08/04/2017

4 of 4 images.

Haydock Branch Junction

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Looking towards St. Helens Central, from the overbridge near Haydock Branch Junction in February 2023. This train of Shap stone, that has been tripped ...
Mark Bartlett 08/02/2023

66762 reverses twelve box wagons of stone back from the headshunt on the erstwhile St Helens Central branch up the gradient into the stone plant at ...
Mark Bartlett 08/02/2023

This remnant of the St. Helens Central branch survives in 2021 as a headshunt for trains to reverse into Edge Green stone terminal. This view looks ...
Mark Bartlett 22/02/2021

The Great Central branch to St. Helens Central meandered across south Lancashire from Lowton St. Marys on the Wigan Central branch but in 1968, long ...
Mark Bartlett 22/02/2021

4 of 4 images.

Bamfurlong

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Grubby GBRf 66719 'Metroland' has just joined the Down Goods line at Haydock Branch Junction on 23rd February 2022. It is seen passing through the ...
Mark Bartlett 23/02/2022

A double Virgin Super Voyager heads north at Bamfurlong on 18 June 2013. The station here only had platforms serving the slow lines (on the right) and ...
John McIntyre 18/06/2013

2 of 2 images.

Bamfurlong Junction

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Freightliner 66623 passes Bamfurlong Junction with the early running Hardendale to Tunstead on 23rd February 2022. The 66 used the Goods lines, which ...
Mark Bartlett 23/02/2022

DBC 66065 on the Up Fast line at Bamfurlong, with a shorter than usual intermodal from Mossend to Daventry, on 23rd February 2022. The tracks widen at ...
Mark Bartlett 23/02/2022

66762 has just rounded the curve from the St Helens line and is now heading south for a short distance on the WCML, with a trip working from Tuebrook ...
Mark Bartlett 08/02/2023

3 of 3 images.

Ince Moss Junction

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See also
Lancashire Union Railway

Fir Tree House Junction

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See also
Lancashire Union Railway

Springs Branch Junction

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See also
Springs Branch (North Union Railway)
Eccles to Springs Line and Tyldesley to Pennington Line (London and North Western Railway)

TPE 397007 crosses from the fast lines to join the St, Helens line at Springs Branch on 23rd February 2022. This was an empty stock working from ...
Mark Bartlett 23/02/2022

DRS 88010 'Aurora' passes Springs Branch on 29th July 2020 while working the 4S44 Daventry to Mossend intermodal service. ...
John McIntyre 29/07/2020

769448 moves around the servicing facility at Springs Branch on 29 July 2020. If you look very closely you will see that the pantograph is down so it ...
John McIntyre 29/07/2020

An MPV negotiates the new track work that has been laid at Springs Branch Junction, on the former trackbed of the L&NWR Eccles, Tyldesley and Wigan ...
John McIntyre 08/03/2019

4 of 5 images. more

Wigan North Western [1st]

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Books

West Coast Main Line and Branches in Lancashire: No. 21: Including Wigan, Preston, Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth and Blackpool (Steam Memories: 1950s-1960s)

Wigan Branch Railway

Introduction

Dates

Locations along the line

Parkside [2nd]

Lowton

Golborne Junction

Golborne South

Haydock Branch Junction

Bamfurlong

Bamfurlong Junction

Ince Moss Junction

Fir Tree House Junction

Springs Branch Junction

Wigan North Western [1st]

Books

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