Trains at Wigan North Western (WCML) 14/02/2024

The 212th video of my train spotting adventures.
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Hopping one station up from Warrington, we arrive at Wigan North Western railway station. A moderate-sized 6-platform station (only 5 in use), the most original station that preceded Wigan North Western was simply 'Wigan' or 'Wigan Chapel Lane' which opened in 1832; this only remained open until 1838; it became a goods yard right up until 2008, where now there stands a retail warehouse and carpark.
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After 1838, the North Union Railway opened their segment of track to Preston; the former station was relocated to the space which North Western now occupies; it was originally named 'Wigan' also. By 1846, the London & North Western Railway had formed after various rail amalgamations. A major incident occurred when half of a 25-coach steam train derailed at Wigan in 1873; this resulted in a nation-wide introduction of 'facing point locks' in points to increase their strength against constant rail usage.
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Between 1888 and 1894 the station was enlarged. The L&NWR's Manchester & Wigan Railway connected with both the LNWR Wigan station and Wigan Wallgate station nearby after 1864, offering services through to the now closed Manchester Exchange station, and possible through services towards Leeds. The line closed in 1969. The main station was then renamed to 'Wigan North Western' in 1924, named as such due to it having been part of the London & North Western Railway.
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Between 1971-72, the run down Victorian-era buildings were demolished, and the track layout was revamped in conjunction with the future electrification plans. The rebuilt station was reopened in July 1972. Later in October, all signalling around Wigan North Western was put under control of the Warrington Power Signal Box down the line. After 1973, electric train services using Class 86 & 87 locomotives began between London Euston and Preston; by 1974, these ran through to Glasgow Central.
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The station remains fairly unchanged since then, with the exception of clean-ups, small refurbishments, and a new passenger waiting room on the island platforms 5&6.
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Filmed on the:
West Coast Mainline
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Services seen:
AWC) Services towards Preston, Blackpool North, Lancaster, Carlisle, Glasgow Central, Edinburgh Waverley, Warrington Bank Quay, Crewe, Stafford, and onwards to the West Midlands, Birmingham and London.
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NT) Services towards Bryn, Prescot, Edge Hill, Liverpool Lime Street, Preston, Blackpool North, Wigan Wallgate, Southport, Headbolt Lane, Bolton, Salford Crescent, Manchester Victoria, and further towards South Yorkshire.
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Trains seen:
AWC) Class 390 Pendolino
NT) Class 150 Sprinter, Class 156 Super Sprinter, Class 158 Express Sprinter, Class 195 Civity, Class 323, Class 331 Civity
FL) Class 66
DRS) Class 66
DB) Class 66
WCR) Class 47 (47815 "Great Western")
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