# Wigan Junction Railways

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wigan_Junction_Railways
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wigan_Junction_Railways.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigan_Junction_Railways
> Source revision: 1338154631
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Defunct railway in England

Wigan Junction Railway Overview Status closed Locale North West England Termini Glazebrook West Junction Wigan Technical Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

v t e Wigan Junction Railways Legend Wigan Central Wigan Darlington Street Springs Branch Manchester–Southport line Ince Lower Ince Wigan avoiding line to Pemberton Hindley to Springs Branch Junction Manchester–Southport line Lancashire Union Railway Lancashire Union Railway "The Whelley Loop" Strangeways West Junction Hindley South Strangeways East Junction Platt Bridge Manchester and Wigan Railway Bickershaw and Abram Park Lane Halt Liverpool, St Helens and South Lancashire Railway West Leigh and Bedford Lowton St Mary's Junction Lowton St Mary's Chat Moss line Kenyon Junction Culcheth Newchurch Halt Liverpool–Manchester lines Glazebrook

A [Railway Clearing House](/source/Railway_Clearing_House) map showing railway lines around Wigan in 1907

A [Railway Clearing House](/source/Railway_Clearing_House) map showing (left) railway lines around Glazebrook & Partington in 1903

The **Wigan Junction Railways** connected [Glazebrook West Junction](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glazebrook_West_Junction&action=edit&redlink=1) with the Lancashire Coalfields at Wigan.

## History

Wigan Junction Railways Act 1874 Act of 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. Citation 37 & 38 Vict. c. cxvii Dates Royal assent 16 July 1874 Other legislation Amended by Wigan Junction Railways Act 1875

Wigan Junction Railways Act 1875 Act of 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. Citation 38 & 39 Vict. c. clxxxix Dates Royal assent 2 August 1875 Other legislation Amends Wigan Junction Railways Act 1874 Text of statute as originally enacted

Wigan Junction Railways Act 1878 Act of 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. Citation 41 & 42 Vict. c. xcvii

The Wigan Junction Railways (WJR) was [incorporated](/source/Incorporation_(business)) by the **Wigan Junction Railways Act 1874** ([37 & 38 Vict.](/source/37_%26_38_Vict.) c. cxvii) on 16 July 1874.[1] The Company`s first chairman was [Nathaniel Eckersley](/source/Nathaniel_Eckersley) (1815-1892).[2] It was to link the coalfields around Wigan with the [Cheshire Lines Committee](/source/Cheshire_Lines_Committee) (CLC) line at [Glazebrook](/source/Glazebrook_railway_station),[3] on the line between [Liverpool Central](/source/Liverpool_Central_High_Level_railway_station) and [Manchester Central](/source/Manchester_Central_railway_station).[4] Promoted by local businessmen, it came to the interest of the board of the [Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway](/source/Manchester%2C_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.[5] However, of the MSLR's other two joint partners in the CLC, the [Midland Railway](/source/Midland_Railway) (MR) were in favour, whereas the [Great Northern Railway](/source/Great_Northern_Railway_(Great_Britain)) (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](/source/Sheffield_and_Midland_Railway_Companies'_Committee) (SMRCC), a body which was owned jointly by the MSLR and MR only.[6]

Construction began on 27 October 1876, the first sod being cut by the [Home Secretary](/source/Home_Secretary), the [Rt. Hon. R. A. Cross](/source/R._A._Cross%2C_1st_Viscount_Cross),[6] who was also [MP](/source/British_MP) for [South West Lancashire](/source/South_West_Lancashire_(UK_Parliament_constituency)).[7] 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.[4] The trains were provided by the MSLR.[4] [Wigan Central railway station](/source/Wigan_Central_railway_station) was opened on 3 October 1892.[4]

On 22 July 1885, the St. Helens and Wigan Junction Railway was incorporated to construct a branch to [St Helens](/source/St_Helens_Central_(GCR)_railway_station) from the WJR at Lowton St. Marys:[8] This company was renamed in July 1889 the [Liverpool, St Helens and South Lancashire Railway](/source/Liverpool%2C_St_Helens_and_South_Lancashire_Railway) (LSHSL); The line was opened on 2 January 1900.[9][10]

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*. 37 [chains](/source/Chain_(unit)) (740 [m](/source/Metre)) 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](/source/Warrington_Central_railway_station) and [Liverpool Central](/source/Liverpool_Central_High_Level_railway_station).[11][12]

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.[4][13]

## Route

- [Wigan Central](/source/Wigan_Central_railway_station)

- [Lower Ince](/source/Lower_Ince_railway_station)[14]

- [Hindley South](/source/Hindley_South_railway_station)

- [Bickershaw and Abram](/source/Bickershaw_and_Abram_railway_station)[15]

- [West Leigh and Bedford](/source/West_Leigh_and_Bedford_railway_station)[16]

- [Lowton St Mary's](/source/Lowton_St_Mary's_railway_station)[17]

- [Culcheth](/source/Culcheth_railway_station)

- [Newchurch Halt](/source/Newchurch_Halt_railway_station)

- [Glazebrook](/source/Glazebrook_railway_station)

In April 1884, there were seven trains in each direction per day, all running between [Manchester Central](/source/Manchester_Central_railway_station) and Wigan. Six of them called at all stations between Glazebrook and Wigan, and some also called at [Urmston](/source/Urmston_railway_station), [Flixton](/source/Flixton_railway_station) and [Irlam](/source/Irlam_railway_station). 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.[18]

In the 1970s, part of the trackbed was converted to [Culcheth Linear Park](/source/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.[19]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDow1985a68,_104_1-0)** [Dow 1985a](#CITEREFDow1985a), pp. 68, 104.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Dow, op. cit. p.104

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEConolly1976p._45,_sections_C3,_C2,_D2_3-0)** [Conolly 1976](#CITEREFConolly1976), p. 45, sections C3, C2, D2.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAwdry1990171_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAwdry1990171_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAwdry1990171_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAwdry1990171_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAwdry1990171_4-4) [Awdry 1990](#CITEREFAwdry1990), p. 171.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDow1985a8_5-0)** [Dow 1985a](#CITEREFDow1985a), p. 8.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDow1985a104_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDow1985a104_6-1) [Dow 1985a](#CITEREFDow1985a), p. 104.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERayment2010Lancashire_South_West_7-0)** [Rayment 2010](#CITEREFRayment2010), Lancashire South West.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEConolly197645p._45,_sections_C3,_D3_8-0)** [Conolly 1976](#CITEREFConolly1976), p. 45, p. 45, sections C3, D3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAwdry1990144_9-0)** [Awdry 1990](#CITEREFAwdry1990), p. 144.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDow1985b9–11_10-0)** [Dow 1985b](#CITEREFDow1985b), pp. 9–11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDow1985b194_11-0)** [Dow 1985b](#CITEREFDow1985b), p. 194.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDow1985b32_12-0)** [Dow 1985b](#CITEREFDow1985b), p. 32.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDow1985b106_13-0)** [Dow 1985b](#CITEREFDow1985b), p. 106.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Disused Stations: Lower Ince](http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/l/lower_ince/index.shtml)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [Disused Stations: Bickershaw & Abram](http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/b/bickershaw_and_abram/index.shtml)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Disused Stations: West Leigh & Bedford](http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/w/west_leigh_and_bedford/index.shtml)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [Disused Stations: Lowton St. Marys](http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/l/lowton_st_marys/index.shtml)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDow1985b354_18-0)** [Dow 1985b](#CITEREFDow1985b), p. 354.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ATOCConnectingCommunitiesReportS1021_19-0)** ["Connecting Communities – Expanding Access to the Rail Network"](https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/about-us/publications/archive/299-2009-06-connecting-communities/file.html) (PDF). London: [Association of Train Operating Companies](/source/Association_of_Train_Operating_Companies). June 2009. p. 21. Retrieved 7 September 2018.

## References

- [Awdry, Christopher](/source/Christopher_Awdry) (1990). *Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies*. London: Guild Publishing. CN 8983.

- Conolly, W. Philip (January 1976). *British Railways Pre-Grouping Atlas and Gazetteer* (5th ed.). Shepperton: [Ian Allan](/source/Ian_Allan_Publishing). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7110-0320-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7110-0320-3). EX/0176.

- [Dow, George](/source/George_Dow) (1985) [1962]. *Great Central, Volume Two: Dominion of Watkin 1864–1899*. [Shepperton](/source/Shepperton): [Ian Allan](/source/Ian_Allan_Publishing). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7110-1469-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7110-1469-5). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [655324061](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/655324061).

- [Dow, George](/source/George_Dow) (1985) [1965]. *Great Central, Volume Three: Fay Sets the Pace, 1900–1922*. [Shepperton](/source/Shepperton): [Ian Allan](/source/Ian_Allan_Publishing). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7110-0263-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7110-0263-0). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [500447049](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/500447049).

- Rayment, Leigh (11 May 2010). ["The House of Commons: Constituencies Beginning with L"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090813003354/http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Lcommons1.htm). *Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page*. Sydney, NSW. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2010.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wigan Junction Railways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigan_Junction_Railways) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigan_Junction_Railways?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.