{{Short description|Defunct railway in England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} {{Use British English|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox rail line |box_width = auto |name = Wigan Junction Railway |color = |logo = |logo_width = |image = |image_width = |caption = |type = |system = |status = closed |locale = [[North West England]] |start = [[Glazebrook West Junction]] |end = [[Wigan Central railway station|Wigan]] |stations = |open = |close = |owner = |operator = |character = |depot = |stock = |linelength = |gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}} |speed = |elevation = |map = |map_state = }} {{Wigan Junction Railway}} [[File:Boar's Head, Haigh, Hindley, Pemberton, Plank Lane, Strangeways & Wigan RJD 77.jpg|thumb|A [[Railway Clearing House]] map showing railway lines around Wigan in 1907]] [[File:Glazebrook & Partington Ellesmere RJD 138.jpg|thumb|A [[Railway Clearing House]] map showing (left) railway lines around Glazebrook & Partington in 1903]] The '''Wigan Junction Railways''' connected [[Glazebrook West Junction]] with the Lancashire Coalfields at Wigan.
==History== {{Infobox UK legislation | short_title = Wigan Junction Railways Act 1874 | type = Act | parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom | long_title = An Act to authorise the Construction of Railways in Lancashire, to be called the Wigan Junction Railways. | year = 1874 | citation = 37 & 38 Vict. c. cxvii | introduced_commons = | introduced_lords = | territorial_extent = | royal_assent = 16 July 1874 | commencement = | expiry_date = | repeal_date = | amends = | replaces = | amendments = {{ubli|Wigan Junction Railways Act 1875}} | repealing_legislation = | related_legislation = | status = | legislation_history = | theyworkforyou = | millbankhansard = | original_text = | revised_text = | use_new_UK-LEG = | UK-LEG_title = | collapsed = yes }} {{Infobox UK legislation | short_title = {{visible anchor|Wigan Junction Railways Act 1875}} | type = Act | parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom | long_title = An Act for amending and extending the Wigan Junction Railways Act, 1874, for authorising the construction of additional Railways in Lancashire; and for other purposes. | year = 1875 | citation = [[38 & 39 Vict.]] c. clxxxix | introduced_commons = | introduced_lords = | territorial_extent = | royal_assent = 2 August 1875 | commencement = | expiry_date = | repeal_date = | amends = {{ubli|Wigan Junction Railways Act 1874}} | replaces = | amendments = | repealing_legislation = | related_legislation = | status = | legislation_history = | theyworkforyou = | millbankhansard = | original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/38-39/189/pdfs/ukla_18750189_en.pdf | revised_text = | use_new_UK-LEG = | UK-LEG_title = | collapsed = yes }} {{Infobox UK legislation | short_title = {{visible anchor|Wigan Junction Railways Act 1878}} | type = Act | parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom | long_title = An Act to confer further powers upon the Wigan Junction Railways Company; to authorise the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway Company to subscribe to the undertaking of and to enter into arrangements with the Wigan Junction Railways Company; and for other purposes. | year = 1878 | citation = [[41 & 42 Vict.]] c. xcvii | introduced_commons = | introduced_lords = | territorial_extent = | royal_assent = | commencement = | expiry_date = | repeal_date = | amends = | replaces = | amendments = | repealing_legislation = | related_legislation = | status = | legislation_history = | theyworkforyou = | millbankhansard = | original_text = | revised_text = | use_new_UK-LEG = | UK-LEG_title = | collapsed = yes }} The Wigan Junction Railways (WJR) was [[Incorporation (business)|incorporated]] by the '''{{visible anchor|Wigan Junction Railways Act 1874}}''' ([[37 & 38 Vict.]] c. cxvii) on 16 July 1874.{{sfn|Dow|1985a|pp=68,104}} The Company`s first chairman was [[Nathaniel Eckersley]] (1815-1892).<ref>Dow, op. cit. p.104</ref> It was to link the coalfields around Wigan with the [[Cheshire Lines Committee]] (CLC) line at {{stnlnk|Glazebrook}},{{sfn|Conolly|1976|loc=p. 45, sections C3, C2, D2}} on the line between [[Liverpool Central High Level railway station|Liverpool Central]] and [[Manchester Central railway station|Manchester Central]].{{sfn|Awdry|1990|p=171}} Promoted by local businessmen, it came to the interest of the board of the [[Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway]] (MSLR) which suggested that it might become an extension of the CLC, in which the MSLR had a one-third share.{{sfn|Dow|1985a|p=8}} However, of the MSLR's other two joint partners in the CLC, the [[Midland Railway]] (MR) were in favour, whereas the [[Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)|Great Northern Railway]] (GNR) were not. Accordingly, the MSLR and MR decided that its construction should be supported by both companies, and later on be formally added to the [[Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee]] (SMRCC), a body which was owned jointly by the MSLR and MR only.{{sfn|Dow|1985a|p=104}}
Construction began on 27 October 1876, the first sod being cut by the [[Home Secretary]], the [[R. A. Cross, 1st Viscount Cross|Rt. Hon. R. A. Cross]],{{sfn|Dow|1985a|p=104}} who was also [[British MP|MP]] for [[South West Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)|South West Lancashire]].{{sfn|Rayment|2010|loc=Lancashire South West}} The line was opened between Glazebrook and Strangeways for goods on 16 October 1879, and was extended to Wigan on 1 April 1884; passenger services also began on 1 April 1884.{{sfn|Awdry|1990|p=171}} The trains were provided by the MSLR.{{sfn|Awdry|1990|p=171}} [[Wigan Central railway station]] was opened on 3 October 1892.{{sfn|Awdry|1990|p=171}}
On 22 July 1885, the St. Helens and Wigan Junction Railway was incorporated to construct a branch to [[St Helens Central (GCR) railway station|St Helens]] from the WJR at Lowton St. Marys:{{sfn|Conolly|1976|loc=p. 45, sections C3, D3|p=45}} This company was renamed in July 1889 the [[Liverpool, St Helens and South Lancashire Railway]] (LSHSL); The line was opened on 2 January 1900.{{sfn|Awdry|1990|p=144}}{{sfn|Dow|1985b|pp=9–11}}
The CLC constructed a curve from their line at Dam Lane Junction to the WJR line at Glazebrook Moss Junction; known as ''Glazebrook West Curve''. {{convert|37|chain|m|lk=on}} in length, it was authorised on 25 May 1900 and opened on 1 July 1900, creating a triangular junction at Glazebrook; by this means, trains from Wigan (and also St. Helens) could run to [[Warrington Central railway station|Warrington]] and [[Liverpool Central High Level railway station|Liverpool Central]].{{sfn|Dow|1985b|p=194}}{{sfn|Dow|1985b|p=32}}
On 4 August 1905 the GCR was authorised to absorb both the WJR and the LSHSL, which was formally carried out on 1 January 1906.{{sfn|Awdry|1990|p=171}}{{sfn|Dow|1985b|p=106}}
==Route==
*[[Wigan Central railway station|Wigan Central]] *[[Lower Ince railway station|Lower Ince]]<ref>[http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/l/lower_ince/index.shtml Disused Stations: Lower Ince]</ref> *[[Hindley South railway station|Hindley South]] *[[Bickershaw and Abram railway station|Bickershaw and Abram]]<ref>[http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/b/bickershaw_and_abram/index.shtml Disused Stations: Bickershaw & Abram]</ref> *[[West Leigh and Bedford railway station|West Leigh and Bedford]]<ref>[http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/w/west_leigh_and_bedford/index.shtml Disused Stations: West Leigh & Bedford]</ref> *[[Lowton St Mary's railway station|Lowton St Mary's]]<ref>[http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/l/lowton_st_marys/index.shtml Disused Stations: Lowton St. Marys]</ref> *[[Culcheth railway station|Culcheth]] *[[Newchurch Halt railway station|Newchurch Halt]] *{{stnlnk|Glazebrook}}
In April 1884, there were seven trains in each direction per day, all running between {{stnlnk|Manchester Central}} and Wigan. Six of them called at all stations between Glazebrook and Wigan, and some also called at {{stnlnk|Urmston}}, {{stnlnk|Flixton}} and {{stnlnk|Irlam}}. There were two expresses: the 10:40 from Manchester reached Wigan at 11:15, calling only at Glazebrook; and the 12:00 from Wigan, which ran non-stop to Manchester in half an hour. The Sunday service was of just two trains in each direction, calling at Urmston, Flixton, Irlam and all stations between Glazebrook and Wigan.{{sfn|Dow|1985b|p=354}}
In the 1970s, part of the trackbed was converted to [[Culcheth Linear Park]].
==Future== In 2009 ATOC identified the south part of the line connecting Glazebrook with the Chat Moss line as a feasible link line for freight use.{{ATOCConnectingCommunitiesReportS10|page=21}}
==Notes== {{Reflist|20em}}
==References== *{{cite book |last=Awdry |first=Christopher |authorlink=Christopher Awdry |title=Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies |year=1990 |publisher=Guild Publishing |location=London |id=CN 8983 }} *{{cite book |last=Conolly |first=W. Philip |title=British Railways Pre-Grouping Atlas and Gazetteer |edition=5th |date=January 1976 |publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing|Ian Allan]] |location=Shepperton |isbn=0-7110-0320-3 |id=EX/0176 }} *{{Dow-GC2|ref={{Harvid|Dow1985a}}}} *{{Dow-GC3|ref={{Harvid|Dow1985b}}}} *{{cite web |url=http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Lcommons1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813003354/http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Lcommons1.htm |archive-date=13 August 2009 |title=The House of Commons: Constituencies Beginning with L |first=Leigh |last=Rayment |date=11 May 2010 |work=Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page |location=Sydney, NSW |url-status=usurped |access-date=13 June 2010 }}
[[Category:Closed railway lines in North West England]] [[Category:Rail transport in Greater Manchester]] [[Category:Rail transport in Cheshire]] [[Category:Great Central Railway]]