Wigan Springs Branch headshunt

[montyburns56]

I was exploring the area around the remains of the Springs Branch that used to go to Platt Bridge & Bickershaw yesterday. Although it is only used as a headshunt for the Springs Branch depot these days, they have had a severe pruning of the trees recently. I'm just wondering if there are any plans for the area as the cutting back seemed a bit over the top for a mere headshunt.



Also do the nearby Goods Lines not have any regular traffic as the tracks look surprisingly rusty.

 

[Loop & Link]

The Goods Lines that dive under the WCML do you mean?

There is (or was) a Northern ECS that uses (or used) the goods lines 5F02 Warrington BQ-Wigan NW. 5F02 still runs but not sure if uses the same route.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I was exploring the area around the remains of the Springs Branch that used to go to Platt Bridge & Bickershaw yesterday. Although it is only used as a headshunt for the Springs Branch depot these days, they have had a severe pruning of the trees recently. I'm just wondering if there are any plans for the area as the cutting back seemed a bit over the top for a mere headshunt.

Also do the nearby Goods Lines not have any regular traffic as the tracks look surprisingly rusty.

Just out of interest, how did you manage to get so close to the tracks. I can only assume that you have a very good camera!

As an aside, what kind of things do Springs Branch maintain nowadays? I did read some years a go that DBS were using it for component removal. Back when I was a 'spotter in the 1970's / early 1980's the depot would be full of freight locos at weekends. Class 40's, 25's and 20's were always there in abundance. Memories!

 

[WatcherZero]

Did diesel locomotive breaking up right into this century, believe at one time HST that operated the WCML were also based and maintained in the depot. Recently its been used as a depot for electrification works plant and a training centre for plant machinery has recently been opened there.

Rumour again is that it will be refurbished for 319's and more lanes added (after similar rumour of electrification a couple of years ago) but nothing concrete in public domain yet, just the foliage cleared.

This is a disused back entrance to the depot that connected to the Hindley lines and all the former collieries tracks and Wigan Central station . The track is partially lifted I believe.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Did diesel locomotive breaking up right into this century, believe at one time HST that operated the WCML were also based and maintained in the depot. Recently its been used as a depot for electrification works plant and a training centre for plant machinery has recently been opened there.

Rumour again is that it will be refurbished for 319's and more lanes added (after similar rumour of electrification a couple of years ago) but nothing concrete in public domain yet, just the foliage cleared.

This is a disused back entrance to the depot that connected to the Hindley lines and is partially lifted I believe.

Many thanks for all of this. Its good to know that the depot is still being used, even if it is in a reduced role.

If indeed the rumour regarding the class 319's is correct I wonder whether the capacity that Allerton has for maintenance was over estimated? I'd assumed that Allerton would be responsible for the maintenance of all of the NW based class 319's.

 

[WatcherZero]

Allerton has the capacity but getting them all in and out is allegedly a slog and time consuming.

They lack overnight stabling yards for 319 dispersal that they can do with diesels but for example they cant use the stabling yard at Wigan Wallgate and Blackpool isn't electrified yet.

 

[montyburns56]

The Goods Lines that dive under the WCML do you mean?

There is (or was) a Northern ECS that uses (or used) the goods lines 5F02 Warrington BQ-Wigan NW. 5F02 still runs but not sure if uses the same route.

Yes, those are the ones I was referring to. I guess that they aren't being used much then!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Just out of interest, how did you manage to get so close to the tracks. I can only assume that you have a very good camera!

As an aside, what kind of things do Springs Branch maintain nowadays? I did read some years a go that DBS were using it for component removal. Back when I was a 'spotter in the 1970's / early 1980's the depot would be full of freight locos at weekends. Class 40's, 25's and 20's were always there in abundance. Memories!

Well the rest of the branch to Platt Bridge isn't really fenced off so ermm.... *whistles*
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

This is a disused back entrance to the depot that connected to the Hindley lines and all the former collieries tracks and Wigan Central station . The track is partially lifted I believe.

The track is still intact up to the bridge over the A58, but it's not connected to the main line any more.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Rumour again is that it will be refurbished for 319's and more lanes added (after similar rumour of electrification a couple of years ago) but nothing concrete in public domain yet, just the foliage cleared.

Perhaps that's why they've done it then? Thanks.

 

[popsider]

Yes, those are the ones I was referring to. I guess that they aren't being used much then!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Well the rest of the branch to Platt Bridge isn't really fenced off so ermm.... *whistles*
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


The track is still intact up to the bridge over the A58, but it's not connected to the main line any more.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Perhaps that's why they've done it then? Thanks.

The tree felling is all to do with Northern opening a depot on part of Springs Branch next year. Apparently they have no more space left at Wallgate.

 

[montyburns56]

Right, so it looks like the Springs Branch Depot is going to be reborn again. Thanks!

 

[popsider]

And regarding the question about the Goods lines, they do get used especially this time of year with the water jet MPVs coming and going off Springs Branch.

 

[popsider]

I now believe that the Northern depot at Wigan springs branch as now been cancelled and other locations are now being sourced.

 

[Ships]

I now believe that the Northern depot at Wigan springs branch as now been cancelled and other locations are now being sourced.

The old Burnden siding a at Bolton is being looked at. There's also the temporary depot at Leyland on the old truck factory sidings location!

 

[Elecman]

It is King Street sidings in Blackburn and Leyland Daf sidings that are being refurbished for Northern ( Leyland as a purely temporary site). For 319s there are the refurbished siding facilities at Preston PSB that were done up last year for TPE as a temporary facility.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Back when I was a 'spotter in the 1970's / early 1980's the depot would be full of freight locos at weekends. Class 40's, 25's and 20's were always there in abundance. Memories!

Indeed I have literally hundreds of photos of locos at Springs from that era.

 

[Jamesb1974]

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