LET'S MAKE A BOLT TO BOLTON

We leave Chorley behind and make a beeline towards Bolton, pausing at Blackrod to catch LMS (ex L&YR) steam railmotor 10617 to Horwich. 

At Horwich, the staff have turned out to greet us.

The L&YR had their main workshops at Horwich. Here, we're inside in pre-grouping days.

LMS 12501 in Horwich Works in the 1940s.

50650 at Horwich in 1949.

More ex L&YR locos at Horwich, it's 1957 now.

There was a small narrow gauge system at Horwich Works, operated by steam and diesel locos.

Across country now (see the map here) to another L&YR line at Bromley Cross station.

Here's the signal box and station in August 1963 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

At nearby Hall-'i-th'-Wood we find this Leyland Atlantean of a local independent, Blue Bus, in 1994.

We're now in the northern outskirts of Bolton, where Bank Top Brewery can be found.

And so to Bolton. The town's main railway station, Trinity Street, is our first stop. Here's the exterior in 1963 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

Inside, LMS railmotor 10617 again.

There was plenty of steam about in the 1960s.

40076 passes through Trinity Street station.

Northern operate most services today.

Close by was the loco shed, seen here in LMS days.

Another railmotor, LMS 10600, on shed in 1936.

A few more steam locos at Bolton shed in BR days.

The Bolton Crook Street Train Crash 16th March 1918

That's where I'll leave you today. Next time, we'll venture into Bolton town centre.

NORTH TO CHORLEY

First stop today is Rainford Junction, on the L&YR.

 

Not far from Wigan (though we're not going there just now) is Orrell, where Walthew House Colliery had this Haigh Foundry 0-4-0ST for internal shunting.

A new bus for Preston Royal Blue Motors, photographed at Orrell.

Standish station, LNWR, on the West Coast Main Line.

'Black 5' no. 44939 at nearby Standish Junction.

Standish has a Market Place.

A later view of the cross and the stocks (Creative Commons License).

St Wilfrid's church, Standish (Creative Commons License).

Wigan Corporation's trams reached Standish and, here, the tracks are being laid.

Almond's Ales, brewed in Standish, have long vanished.

There is, however, a good range of pubs in Standish. First up, the Black Bull.

There's also the Boar's Head.

The Crown is also worth a visit.

A former Burtonwood house, the Horse Shoe, is now shut.

Back to the WCML and Balshaw Lane & Euxton station (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

LMS 'Royal Scot' class no. 6115 passes Euxton.

Next stop is the town of Chorley. Here are a pair of postcards from my collection.

Chorley Market is worth looking at. There's a good "chippie" and a micro bar called the Bob Inn.

Fishwick's of Leyland used to run into Chorley.

Stagecoach operate most of the buses today.

Arriva and Transdev bus can also be found.

There are plenty of real ale outlets in Chorley, but you'll get none at the Shepherd's Arms, as it's shut.

In contrast, the Shepherds' Hall is Chorley's first micro pub.

I've not been in the Plough since 2000, when it sold a decent pint. I'm told it still does.

Another micro pub, the Ale Station. It's since been renamed as Inn The Dog House.

The Crown is a classic town centre boozer.

As the light fades, we approach the Potters Arms, only to find it's "long term closed".

So, that was Chorley. Next time, we'll be heading south east. Meanwhile, here's a link to the route so far.