Wigan Springs Branch Railway - (including Powell family history)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ธ.ค. 2017
- This is a very modest attempt to re-create the Springs Branch Railway near Wigan in Lancashire, using the build editor within Train Simulator. The period is very loose, say 1900 - 1945. Although living on the South coast, I became interested in this area when investigating my fathers family background.
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![โจทย์โหดเหมือนโกรธเป็ดถีบ [อะไรอยู่บนหัวกูวะ ... EP.4]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Dqlb7EZ9PGk/mqdefault.jpg)
I was brought up in Wigan (Ince, Poolstock and later Shevington and Orrell). My granddfather worked at Springs Branch. I did not realise how many pits there were and how industrial the area was to modern eyes. We just accepted it as being what it was; we didn't know any differently.
Brilliant recreation and i can tell you that every pub and land mark is spot on
Absolutely crackin video. Used to go round Springs Branch shed in the from 63 to 68 most Sundays. Lived in Ince from 62 - 81. Brought it all back. Donkey Lane, Wagon Works, Manchester Road and Belle Green Lane crossings. I thank you.👍
52* not 62!
Ace video I've cycled these routes many times, whish i could have seen the landscape as it was in 1900
Wow hand on heart that is the most amazing video i have ever seen you must have put so much work into that. I never even knew that there was a railway line that ran parallel to the leeds liverpool canal up to top lock and past the wutchi rucks and ending near to bottling wood. Wow that must have been some gradient up to top lock, i will treasure this recreation video for eternity as i used to walk and cycle all these routes.
Really Enjoyed this recreation. We used to visit Grandparents in Pemberton in the 1960's and 70's. The car run across from Crosby in Liverpool to Wigan was crisscrossed with many railways and the sight of engine smoke and the glimpse of a train made the journey always eventful. Wigan is still a special place to us despite the nightmarish road conditions around the area now. Perhaps there will be a revival of rail and tramway at least started in what remains of my lifetime (63). Hope they at least reopen the Burscough curves and then look to improving Southport to Preston and Blackburn.
Fantastic video showing places I'm familiar with over the past 30+ years in a totally new light (new to me, obviously)
Absolutely fascinating; must've taken a lot of work.
Thank you for taking the time 👍
Robert, I can't tell you how good this video is 👍👌
I've lived in Wigan all my life. I was brought up in Poolstock, but I now live very close to Springs Branch depot. I've always had an interest in the old rail lines that used to surround the area. It's mind boggling how complex the rail network once was in Wigan.
It is difficult to comprehend just how much it has changed. I have often tried to piece together locations as seen today with old O/S maps and photos. But this simulation is just amazing.. It must have taken a huge amount of research and effort. Thanks very much for sharing it.
Thank you for your kind comments. As you say, it is absolutely "mind boggling" how complex the rail network in the area once was.
Excellent video being from this area i love seeing about the history
Crikey, I enjoyed this. I googled Springs Branch hoping to see a few old photos and instead got a recreated landscape and a fine history lesson. I was born in Wigan in 1952, so a lot of this industry only remained as ruins and oral history but I do remember seeing trains on both the Pemberton and Whelley loop lines. One observation: I remember being fascinated by the twin bridges of The Pemberton Loop, crossing the Springs Branch and the Wigan Central to Glazebrook line. I'm sure I remember them as matching long span latticework girder bridges when viewed from Malvern Crescent.
Thanks so much.
Thanks for that Alan. You are absolutely correct regarding the bridges. I was actually constrained by the available assets in the Train Simulator program so could only make an approximation. Here is a link on "Wiganworld" showing a photo of the bridges you are referring to:-
www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=24073&gallery=Ince&offset=200
Are you perhaps a member of Wiganworld? I wanted to post a link on the site as I got so much info from the various posts and photos. I thought it may be of interest to the members. However, I have never been able to subscribe. Could you possibly post a link to the video. Thanks
Absolutely excellent. I can't imagine the painstaking research you did even before developing the footage.
FAB video this mate....Do you know what the part disused railway bridge across the old canal arm (top lock) was for ? There are the remains of four posts which run parallel with it, two either side of withinington lane...(possible level crossing)...... thanks again fott video
Thanks for the comment. The Springs branch crossed the canal basin to the right of Top Lock and left of what was Withington Hill terrace. Withington Lane had a bridge (long gone) that crossed over the railway line just prior to rounding the Albion Ironworks. There was no level crossing.
Brilliant piece of research and it really brings the past to life! Hope your a member of Wigan Now and Then on facebook Robert, which is where the reference to your video was given..
Thanks Norman. I have now :)
Absolutely brilliant work, thoroughly enjoyed watching this, thank you🙂
Absolutely superb video. I love poking around the former railways round Wigan/Leigh.
Any chance you could cover other disused railways in the area?
Thanks for the comment. I am currently 2 years into the Weymouth - Portland branch on the south coast and still only half finished! I would love to do another another local to Wigan but at 67 years old, I might not last long enough to get around to it :)
This is an amazing model and video (and well researched). The Wigan Archaeological Society researched and excavated on the Wigan Coal and Iron site at Kirkless a few years ago and always tried to image what a journey up that line would have looked like - well done.
Fantastic recreation of the Whelley loop spent a lot of time in the 60’s around that line it was a playground for me and my friend on the Walmsley park council estate...
Great Video, great research, I've walked most of the lines in question, if you look for it you can find evidence of most of the lines to this day, great video!
Very well done indeed. The scenery, buildings & track work are very realistic. You need a brake van on your train is my only comment !!
I know this area well. My mum was born in Belle Green Lane, Higher Ince 4 doors up from the crossing on the Signalbox side, as a (very) young lad back in the early 50's we used to swing on the level crossing gates when visiting Grandad. If I remember correctly the line here was reduced to a tatty single track then, and only used a couple of times a day.
This branch (Springs Branch) was one of the first branch lines in the world, connecting to the Wigan Branch railway which was built from Parkside on Stephensons Liverpool & Manchester railway to Wigan. A bit later other local railways joined together to form the London & North Western railway, and the Wigan Branch became part of the West Coast mainline from London to Glasgow.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigan_Branch_Railway
This is an interesting map showing the Springs Branch - Route of the Zeppelin raid over Wigan in 1918. They were after the Top Place Ironworks - they missed !!
www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/8/bxlb5qf8.jpg
i have an old enamel sighn from there, i found it in the canal when it was emrty in 1993 it says EMPTY TO THE WIGAN COAL AND IRON WORKS FROM HOWE BRIDGE SIDINGS L.N.W.R. its just over 8 inch by 6 inch white writing and blue background.
A fascinating re-creation. Must have taken a lot of time and effort. Is the route available to play?
Thanks for the comment. Sorry, no. To make it playable would need a lot more work and expertise.