Manchester Victoria to Wigan North Western via Atherton

[@tsangpogorge]

Real throwback to 1980's British Rail this route is, just missing the Pacers.

[@InvisibleForest]

Great upload, cool to see this in cab view 🙂 This is a route I know well as I've travelled many times in the past on the class 150s and bouncy 142 pacers (I used to live in Swinton) and travel to and from Mcr to Wigan regularly. Used to stand on the road watching the big class 37 goods train thrash through toward Mcr in the early morning on my way to school and feel the floor rumble! Interesting you can still see where Pendleton station used to be before it was demolished, as well as the track widening still present for Irlams o'th Height station abd Pendlebury stations longs since gone. I've seen photos of this route when there used to be the two extra lines on the left (you can still make out the old tunnels along the way)

[@joshk_dj]

I've just subscribed, seeing as Atherton is my local station, it's nice to see what it's like going through the station from the drivers eye, keep up the great work

[@RickyNowis]

Superb drivers view to Wigan North Western. Loving the sounds of the class 158 Cummins engines in action :-)

[@anthonyweather7736]

HD video is awesome but the crackling on sound is poor. I'm originally from Atherton..now live North Manchester

[@peterg957]

Another superb video as always... Thank you my friend...

[@headsup2433]

I notice that this line was quadruple many years ago, must have been a busy line at one time.

[@paulmark63]

Thank You again brill

[@johnmorgan6176]

Really interesting ride. Why is the Athrtyon Down only 50?

[@noyonb1483]

I really enjoy these videos, so a big thank you to those involved in creating them. Could someone explain the function of the various ‘workstation’(s) that are listed. I’d never heard of them before. Many thanks and keep up the great work.

[@Jacleby]

It just refers to the different sub sections of signalling areas that are covered by Piccadilly SCC. Usually a signaler will be assigned a work station and he will be in charge of that area for his shift. I know for example at Tyneside IECC, you'll have say a Newcastle workstation, a darlington one, Sunderland etc...

[@Geeves8612]

It's crazy to think in the not too distant past it was still semaphores and the line wasn't even open on Sundays at all. Before the covid the line went through a real uplift in passengers and had a really good service.

[@johnestowell]

If I was a passenger on that trip I would be wondering what the trees were hiding 🤔

[@smilevideobritain499]

most enjoyable, thank you

[@geoffwalsh7371]

Why is this service running to Wigan's North Western station, I thought services on this line usually carried on to Southport or Kirkby and would therefore call at Wallgate in Wigan instead.

[@Geeves8612]

Leeds to Wigan trains generally ended at North Western due to the 153s that were previously used. Mostly switches to Wallgate from December 22

[@johncarter1072]

Would be good if you could add somewhere the unit that is working the trip....195?

[@TheCatOfWarCSGO]

It literally says in the description 'Recorded 15/06/2021 from a Class 158.'

[@EM-yk1dw]

Great film once again. Is Daisy Hill going to be electrified or is it just Bolton Wigan?

[@MrAuriga67]

Many rumors about Metrolink taking over the line,to get it to Wigan. As the Lostock Junction to Westhoughton and Hindley line is being electrified, i think the chances are pretty low.

[@joshk_dj]

@@MrAuriga67 so that means Atherton (my local station) will be electrified then, and they should be

[@MrAuriga67]

@@joshk_dj Waiting...... If the Metrolink does happen, then thats all you get, chances of heavy rail and electrification, very low.

[@class87srule]

The line towards Wigan from Hag Fold - 22':36" - has some ovegrown track on the left side and the bridges are unusually wide. What lines ran along at that point?

[@peterlane354]

See Don Coffey’s Wakefield Knowsley bin liner video which travels this route. He comments on the history of his routes. From the look of it this trackbed had four tracks for most of the route and you can see that later structures were built onto the trackbed. The alignment of the route is the result of patching together track that was not lifted. Hag Fold looks like an addition to the original stations.

[@musik102]

Well, Atherton has now got just one central platform but long ago it had more. One of the "lost" platforms was known as the"dirty platform" because it was used by miners.

[@phwbooth]

Excellent, thanks. Why is the line speed so low, though?

[@MrAuriga67]

Presumed subsidence from the many mine workings in the area. Before continuous welded rail was laid, the ride could of been described as "lumpy"

[@barryhargreaves3311]

1980s class 45s on Liverpool Passing dasy hill