In 100 years time people will be able to look up these videos and see how things was in our day, you have documented so much Martin you should genuinely proud of what you have accomplished on this channel,if only we had someone like you 200 years ago we would be able to see and know so much more , hat's of to you Martin.
Capturing buildings and areas before they change is a brilliant idea. Document what people ignore will make an invaluable archive. A real asset for the future.
Very well said! A worthwhile project for anyone to carry out in their local area. Document what is there, because much of it will inevitably change. I remember moving to the town I now live in and passing a derelict pub every day. I always wanted to have a look around or take photos of the outside. Never did, because I was always passing by car. It was less than a minute walk in the opposite direction to the town centre so I was always walking the opposite way. They put hoardings up and demolished what was there in days and started to build flats. I was made homeless because the landlady wanted to sell the house we were renting... Ended up having to find somewhere to live, the time and money was just right that we could buy a flat on that plot. I documented the last 30% of the build, but I often wish I had made the effort to take photos of the derelict pub that once stood where I live. Especially because this thought had crossed my mind many times. The worst thing? Several more places I promised to document since have now long gone - such as some WW2 parts of the airport that I work at that were still standing only a couple of years ago.
underwaterdick I agree. There is Hartshead power station and the Millbrook sidings that I like to explore. I’ve made lots of documentaries on the place, but there is still more that I want to see. I don’t have long though, as the place is going to probably be demolished for houses and a country park
My father moved to Horwich when the railway works at the Viaduct in Earlestown was closed down. Been there a couple of times to collect wood or re-new our 1/4 fare passes. He was a wagon builder a very skilled man who made much of the furniture in the house I grew up in which was in Haydock. I still have many of his tools.
You still have many of his tools and i bet they are still just as good now as when he used them. I have some files that were my grand dads and they are still sharp.
My first job on leaving school was in the offices of the Viaduct works. Only lasted 3 years when they shut the place down and made us all redundant. I was only 19 then. I feel a mild connection to you as it was me who signed off the paperwork for workers to get their "bundles" of wood....did many a hundred of such paperwork!
Phil Goulding hi Phil. Yes my dad had lots of ‘bundles’ from the Viaduct. He built a sizeable garden shed for around 1shilling and six pence - 7+1/2 pence in today’s money! He used to go into the factory to feed some of the cats during holidays. Bought cat food from Woolworths in Earlestown and then into the factory. Yes I still have his bench vice, lots of drills, hammers, and chisels (been using one of them this morning), and many tools that the youth of today would not even know the name of. Adze, brace and bit, and many others. He made wooden toys for me when I was small some of which I have copied to make toys for my grandchildren. He helped me countless times when I was working on my house. Great man sadly missed. Many of his tools are stamped L.M.S. The railway company of the time.
Martin, you're an inspiration... So much so that I'm creating a new Birmingham based history, decay and regeneration channel. Your videos have made me far more curious about exploring historical sites, I'm glad that you're documenting this in Manchester. I'll try and do my part here in Birmingham!
I can recommend a place for you to explore - The Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company. I been around there and it's fascinating. Many of the original buildings are still used, and I believe some of the old equipment is too.
Horwitch Loco Works, visited one Sunday morning late 50’s, when I was a young Trainspotter. Don’t think I was yet a teenager. An older lad had organized a formal visit for our non existent Club. A guide was waiting for us and he was annoyed as most of us where just kids far too young to be legally taken around an industrial site. We went around the 3 or 4 long sheds that ran parallel to Chorley Road and we wrote down every number we could, then transfer to our Ian Allen books on type. Some years later as a 16 year old I started work at Elglish Electric works at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows. That would have been 64 and they where doing some of their last orders for Locos. One for Poland and one for a East African country diesels including Deltics for Brit Rail no longer the Steam I grew up on. I stayed there until the converted one of the massive loco building sheds to constructing ships engines quite big I could stand in a individual cylinder. Walking past an Army recruiting office in Bolton I went in and had a chat. I ended up joining as an Aircraft Technician and did 23 years in that job before obtaining my UK CAA Aircraft Engineers License. How’s about something on the old Gordon Works which built the Bayer Garret locos, probably the most massive locos build in UK, there is one in Manchester Science Museum. Good work hope you keep it up. John
what a place Horwich must have been in its day..i began trainspotting in 1962..just about saw some of the great steamers..but now I appreciate those workaday shunters and freight engines...and Gorton was a massive place too
I personally only find them aesthetically pleasing when they are well painted, clean and polished. Otherwise I think they don't look great when worn or dirty. Diesel locos are the opposite, they don't look particularly nice when all shiny, clean and well painted but when they are filthy they look like they are in their element. I guess it is because steam locos were designed to be painted well and polished. Diesel locos were designed to be functional and were inherently dirty with the fuel and oil.
@Captain Dildoface is that why they were that shape? Great question. The BOB class do look a bit odd when shiny and clean. Probably looks better dirty, like a modern diesel. Because of its long square lines. I think IMO it's because a steam engine has many skillfully made mechanical parts on display, so it's great to see the love and care that went into keeping locos clean and shiny for each railway company. Diesels have all the interesting working parts hidden out of view so mud, diesel and oil all over them seems more impressive than paint shop fresh.
Oh my. Even when you think its a failure , my family and i are mesmerised with anticipation. We love your videos Martin. Hope you enjoyed your concert. Your fans from Peru
Another interesting look down memory lane. Love it when you compare maps old and new plus slot in your old pics. Pure history. Thank you for your videos.
Nice to hear and see you again Martin. I said to my wife this morning if only the canals and all the railways were kept. We certainly could do with both today. The work your doing many look forward to seeing and they are really enjoyable. Thanks for vloging 🙂
Hi Martin Used to live down there at 204 Station Rd from 1954 (was 2 years old) until about 1972 when i moved to Manchester. used to play all round that area many happy memories..Where you was at the bridge underpass ( was just known locally as the Iron Bridge ) you could go under it and take the path going to Horwich or if you went Straight on through the fence ( trespassing ) you could get to the back of Horwich Loco Works Also going that way there was the remains of some old works and i think it was a Old Pit Head Shaft. Then from there moving along the back of the works you came to what we called The Peat Moss with its Light Railway for the Peat Trucks. Can't remember how many times me and my mates where chased of there for pushing the Trucks along the lines and then riding in them. HAPPY DAYS. Thanks for bringing back so many Memories.
Made me happy to hear the horwich crab got a mention, I was very fortunate to inherit a 7 1/4” gauge crab off my late great grandfather who made it in the 60s
Another top video for a miserable Sunday evening. Don't worry if there's not a lot to see - your narration, research and mapwork always cover all the bases. Nice one.
showing failures as well as successes is just as important. it's reality. and it still shows your "process", which is interesting to see. and you still gave us good information about the history of Horwich. so this vlog was NOT a fail!
Lived in Horwich all my life and walked from Old Station Park in Horwich down the line to Blackrod as a kid in the early 90s. Back then there was still come track and signals remaining. Sad to see it's all gone now. Ta for the video!
Remember seeing the shunter on a Horwich Works open day in the 80's... it was a Wigan Springs Branch shunter outposted to Horwich. They maintained the Bury line units and units from Merseyrail late on and had a third rail test track set up on the run down to where the M61 is. Brings back a lot of memories.
Thanks Mart, lots of questions but I won’t bore you with a long message but keep taking us to these places, be nice to see inside the remaining buildings and so much of our industrial history being lost.
Yes Horwich Works was a vital enterprise and should never be forgotten in the history of Greater Manchester. My only connection was in about 1980 when I visited Horwich Fire Station. This was a "part time" Fire Station with only one Leading Firemen per shift employed, but when the sirens sounded the part-time crew turned up, and most of them were from the Loco works.
Hi Martin - oh good - another vid - I miss you when you go quiet! Your vids are interesting and I like the down to earth no-nonsense way you do it all. Great stuff! And genuinely engaging...
You are in my neck of the woods now Martin. All my Mother`s family worked at Horwich Loco Works, I grew up on the A6 in Westhoughton across the valley from there and saw all the steam engines being lined up for scrap in the 60s. I lived near Hilton House station, now long gone, but that was on the line connecting the Bolton to Preston line with Hart Common and Atherton. I used to spend hours at the junction trying to spot a "Namer" in the 50s. Fascinating video Martin. If you look around Horwich you will see many streets named after the great Victorian engineers.
That Horwich works building you showed near the end retrofitted for new businesses looks just like the Westinghouse electric in E Pittsburgh that has taken on the Keystone commons industrial park. I ran a 500 ton overhead crane lifting 5 ton coils of steel when it was the Industrial park. Your video brought back those memories even thought we're an ocean apart. Thumbs up even though you didn't find much.
Well, Martin, if I didn't feel crap enough before, you've brought a tear or two to my eyes. . . I find it hard to swallow the dereliction and destruction of our country's railway network. It can be depressing, yet as we all know, nothing is forever, but I can't help but think we're throwing out the baby with the bathwater. . . . I think it's more important now, than ever, to document and record as much as we can, because it won't be long before there is nothing left of the railways that built this nation, kept it fuelled, fed and supplied through two world wars, only to be destroyed in this period of (relative) peace. I may sound gloomy, but just now I'm going through a depressive time.
Take heart mate. Things are never as bad as they seem . Trust me, I've had plenty but I still wake up and am grateful to see daylight. Everything else is a bonus. You are right about the loss of the past but hope springs eternal. Martin's films are important work for documenting this stage of the changing landscape.
That concrete over the newspapers looked like a pre-formed train platform...also...when you found the papers,I couldn’t help thinking of Billy Liar ...ha,ha...
Attended an auction at the works in 83/84. Selling off engineering Tools, Various drilling, milling, laths. Grinding Machines. Plus storage racking hundreds of items. Purchased the entire storage system of the parts store for a Customs warehouse at the Airport it's still in use today!! Must of the equipment sold, sent to India/ Italy/ Holland. Arranged the shipping of them!! Don't forget this was the time of Thatcher. Lots of Folks being laid off.
Just found your post of old Horwich railways. I went to Horwich Count Secondary School in the early mid 60's. We had as GCE subjects Technical drawing, wood work and metal work, As we were feeders for the craft trades essential for the life blood of the works. Great video and look forward to viewing others ta mate. Ps I was a steam train spotter and still have all my Ian Allen books too.
If you walk about thirty yards past the station road bridge, in the opposite direction to which you walked, one of Blackrods back platforms is still extant.
Another great video Martin it is such a shame that a site like that which was so important to Britain that there is just nothing left to remember it, keep the video's coming Martin.
We have a locomotive works that still stands in my area - Interestingly in Manchester, NH, USA! Search 675 Canal Street, Manchester, NH USA using Google street view. Its a very long, low red brick building. I've been inside, it was very interesting!
Hi Martin. Up to the age of 11 I lived just off Arkwright St. (one of the streets running from Chorley New Rd. (CNR)). As there is a gentle hill from CNR and approx. 500m away I remember being able to see, from my bedroom (possibly around 1973), the top of what may have been a castings area - I think this as I remember occasionally seeing an orange glow from the steel structure (some of this still appears to be there: 53.592296, -2.545623) and hearing a terrific crash of what may have been scrap steel being dropped. Looking at the map it is amazing to see how big the Loco works was. Also, like most of Horwich at the time, as kids, we were taken to see the devastating fire at the Railway Mechanics Institute (RMI), a building of at least four storeys, which had been empty for sometime before the fire in the 1970s.
Good one Martin. I worked at the loco works from 1978 until closure in 1983. My dad and grandad also worked there. My grandad came over from Ireland in 1896 to work as a blacksmith. My suggestion for other videos would be the mine workings in Clifton Country Park (Swinton) or around Wardle reservoir in Rochdale. Apologies if you have featured these.
HEY, Marg, put the kettle on... Martin Zero.... He's back..... Oh, so glad to see another video Martin.... been waiting to discover on your legs.....All Fascinating. Changes for ever.
Fascinating vid mate. The tile wall showing the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway lines. Still had Douglas and Ramsey as destinations for the isle of man, great stuff. Regards Paul.
Oh Martin, you should ignore diesels and start looking into steam, they are just so majestic and beautiful. My Step-Dad used to volunteer at Didcot Oxfordshire to help restore old steam locomotives and he rode on the footplate of a few. Last year I got to see one of the steam engines used as the Hogwarts Express when it made an unscheduled trip to Par, Cornwall. Here in Par we have one of the only working really old turntables I would love for you to see it, there is also the old railway buildings too and they are very similar to the ones shown. A fantastic video and look back at the past with some wonderful photo's, thank you so much for sharing. x
Hi Martin. That was in no way a “fail “! It’s important to document these places. So glad you are doing that with Manchester and have series planned. I m looking forward to it. Totally with you on the train spotting side of things. My childhood spent travelling all over the country, the north in particular, has left me with a lifelong interest in seeing old industrial and commercial places. It’s why I love your channel so much and appreciate the time and effort you put into making these films. Looking forward to the next one! 😁👍👊
I toured Horwich Works in the v early .’50’s with the Ian Allen Locospotters Group. Amazing place. The narrow gauge railway was in full operation with several tiny steam locos including Wren which is now in the National Rly Museum in York. It was NOT in such shiny condition when I saw it at Horwich!
The Rumworth Playing Fields in Bolton (Deane) near Dovedale mill is about to change forever! it would be good to know the History of this place as its very old! they are planning to build house's on it. Love the vids martin keep them coming!
Space 1999...that brings back some memories! Anyway, thoroughly enjoyable video even if you didn't make any big discoveries. Looking forward to your other explores.
Really interesting video, Martin, I always like a bit of historical railway related stuff, that looked like an inspection pit, may have originally been inbetween a section of track where the engine would have been worked on from underneath. A 1,000 locomotives in 15 years, wow, they'd struggle to get that many made, even today!
Thanks for this video.I had completely forgotten about Horwich Works. I used to stay at my grans in Preston during school holidays 1981/82 and would often travel by rail to Crewe to indulge my trainspotting habit.The works was visible and dozens of EMUs outside lined up was a regular sight.
Your videos are so informative and while I know you do this because you enjoy it, this is effectively an archive for future generations. Its absolutely vital we have people like you dedicating your time to this kind of thing.
Great video Martin. It's wonderful you are doing this type of video before all history gets wiped out! I love and appreciate what you do! Thank you...take care!
I may be totally wrong, not being a Horwich local, but I'm sure there used to be a coal mine there. Just up the road there is Chequerbent, that was a big mine, and still had a rail link, as of last year - behind the restaurant of the same name. Going the other way, just past Adlington, was another colliery - Ellerbeck. That square hole with the wood lining might have been a vent shaft. There is also a 'plague pit' burial ground around there somewhere. A lot of Horwich works was demolished when the Reebok and surrounding estate was built. If you look on a map, and find the Reebok, come past it on DeHavilland way, to the roundabout for Chorley New Road, turn left, and all that area on your left was the loco works. - Now, DeHavilland way - opposite the Reebok is a square building - off Hall lane and Mill lane - that used to be a British Aerospace site, where I believe they used to make missiles for the RAF.
It’s cordoned off because they are trying to stop the spread of Japanese knotweed and walking thru there spreads it ! I’ve been in most of the buildings on the works and they are stripped bear and nowt to see, top channel dude
Very nostalgic. I used to work in Nat West Horwich circa 1974 and in those days lots of people paid in cash and each week the loco works chief cashier came in to collect a sizeable sum of cash to pay the men still big workforce then
Hi Martin ! Manchester history guy strikes again. Even though there was little left it is a nice video after all. With a bit of sentimentality. But that's fine. So many things disappear without leaving traces and so many places change to beyond recognition so it is a good task to leave a mark in the net at least. Thanks for sharing !
eindelijk weer een film van je . dat gat in de grond is echt gevaarlijk ,moet je misschien ff over bellen met de gemeente . als daar kinderen spelen ,je moet er niet aan denken wat er kan gebeuren . blij dat je er weer ben. groet stef (nl)✌👍
Another great video ✌🏼 we watch a few explores, but really like yours because of the quality, information, and the gentle manner you bring to each video. Looking forward to the next 👌🏻👌🏻✌️
Another video of the industrial park, Horwich Loco Industrial Estate, Chorley New Rd, Horwich, Bolton BL6 5UE. Still appears to be a lot of the original buildings standing still in use as industrial premises. Worth asking to see if allowed to take a look around. Lovely old buildings
Yes, I worked in the foundry there for a few weeks in, I think it was, snowy '69. I've vivid memories and remember being startled by the little shunter engine on the way to the canteen one lunchtime. I reckoned that the works were the last bit of Victorian Britain still carried over. There were no guards on the machinery, just sturdy ordinary clothes and boots, as in the vids here. We were making cast iron chairs to bed the line, so far removed from the great days of locomotive building. It's where I learned to swear ...
I worked I there 5 years ago for mg fabs thay have moved now. I used those overhead crane's to move new over head line steelworks for the electrification from manchester to bolton and onwards . I also worked for west coast railway in Carnforth and met a old working man restoring steam locomotives he did his apprenticeship there in the late 70s.
hiya martin . got a couple of wagon plates and signal weights from horwich works remember our back garden photos . all the very best from nick and tracy in wigan x
I like your computer wallpaper/screensaver - Space 1999! We have the complete series both seasons. Occasionally my kids and I will watch them. Great video as always.
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In 100 years time people will be able to look up these videos and see how things was in our day, you have documented so much Martin you should genuinely proud of what you have accomplished on this channel,if only we had someone like you 200 years ago we would be able to see and know so much more , hat's of to you Martin.
Capturing buildings and areas before they change is a brilliant idea. Document what people ignore will make an invaluable archive. A real asset for the future.
Very well said! A worthwhile project for anyone to carry out in their local area.
Document what is there, because much of it will inevitably change.
I remember moving to the town I now live in and passing a derelict pub every day. I always wanted to have a look around or take photos of the outside. Never did, because I was always passing by car. It was less than a minute walk in the opposite direction to the town centre so I was always walking the opposite way.
They put hoardings up and demolished what was there in days and started to build flats.
I was made homeless because the landlady wanted to sell the house we were renting... Ended up having to find somewhere to live, the time and money was just right that we could buy a flat on that plot.
I documented the last 30% of the build, but I often wish I had made the effort to take photos of the derelict pub that once stood where I live. Especially because this thought had crossed my mind many times.
The worst thing?
Several more places I promised to document since have now long gone - such as some WW2 parts of the airport that I work at that were still standing only a couple of years ago.
underwaterdick I agree. There is Hartshead power station and the Millbrook sidings that I like to explore. I’ve made lots of documentaries on the place, but there is still more that I want to see. I don’t have long though, as the place is going to probably be demolished for houses and a country park
My father moved to Horwich when the railway works at the Viaduct in Earlestown was closed down. Been there a couple of times to collect wood or re-new our 1/4 fare passes. He was a wagon builder a very skilled man who made much of the furniture in the house I grew up in which was in Haydock. I still have many of his tools.
You still have many of his tools and i bet they are still just as good now as when he used them. I have some files that were my grand dads and they are still sharp.
My first job on leaving school was in the offices of the Viaduct works. Only lasted 3 years when they shut the place down and made us all redundant. I was only 19 then. I feel a mild connection to you as it was me who signed off the paperwork for workers to get their "bundles" of wood....did many a hundred of such paperwork!
Phil Goulding hi Phil. Yes my dad had lots of ‘bundles’ from the Viaduct. He built a sizeable garden shed for around 1shilling and six pence - 7+1/2 pence in today’s money! He used to go into the factory to feed some of the cats during holidays. Bought cat food from Woolworths in Earlestown and then into the factory. Yes I still have his bench vice, lots of drills, hammers, and chisels (been using one of them this morning), and many tools that the youth of today would not even know the name of. Adze, brace and bit, and many others. He made wooden toys for me when I was small some of which I have copied to make toys for my grandchildren.
He helped me countless times when I was working on my house. Great man sadly missed.
Many of his tools are stamped L.M.S. The railway company of the time.
Martin, you're an inspiration...
So much so that I'm creating a new Birmingham based history, decay and regeneration channel.
Your videos have made me far more curious about exploring historical sites, I'm glad that you're documenting this in Manchester.
I'll try and do my part here in Birmingham!
I can recommend a place for you to explore - The Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company. I been around there and it's fascinating. Many of the original buildings are still used, and I believe some of the old equipment is too.
Is it going to be more than railway history? as I would be interested if it is.
@@anneforster510 yes it'll be all manner of history from Birmingham and the black country. Not this channel though, it's called Bostin History
Horwitch Loco Works, visited one Sunday morning late 50’s, when I was a young Trainspotter. Don’t think I was yet a teenager.
An older lad had organized a formal visit for our non existent Club. A guide was waiting for us and he was annoyed as most of us where just kids far too young to be legally taken around an industrial site. We went around the 3 or 4 long sheds that ran parallel to Chorley Road and we wrote down every number we could, then transfer to our Ian Allen books on type.
Some years later as a 16 year old I started work at Elglish Electric works at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows. That would have been 64 and they where doing some of their last orders for Locos. One for Poland and one for a East African country diesels including Deltics for Brit Rail no longer the Steam I grew up on. I stayed there until the converted one of the massive loco building sheds to constructing ships engines quite big I could stand in a individual cylinder. Walking past an Army recruiting office in Bolton I went in and had a chat. I ended up joining as an Aircraft Technician and did 23 years in that job before obtaining my UK CAA Aircraft Engineers License.
How’s about something on the old Gordon Works which built the Bayer Garret locos, probably the most massive locos build in UK, there is one in Manchester Science Museum.
Good work hope you keep it up.
John
Nice ideas but some spelling lessons would help you a lot... 😑
@@tobys_transport_videos spelling mistakes eh. interesting post ! someones life story, bet a day out with you would feel like a month, miserable twat
what a place Horwich must have been in its day..i began trainspotting in 1962..just about saw some of the great steamers..but now I appreciate those workaday shunters and freight engines...and Gorton was a massive place too
There's something really aesthetically pleasing about steam engines.
Its because they are "alive" and have personalities! All locomotives in GB past and present are female even if they had a male name and that's a fact!
I personally only find them aesthetically pleasing when they are well painted, clean and polished. Otherwise I think they don't look great when worn or dirty.
Diesel locos are the opposite, they don't look particularly nice when all shiny, clean and well painted but when they are filthy they look like they are in their element.
I guess it is because steam locos were designed to be painted well and polished. Diesel locos were designed to be functional and were inherently dirty with the fuel and oil.
They're alive. They breathe, they move the cranks as if they were muscles... Steam engines are special.
@Captain Dildoface is that why they were that shape?
Great question.
The BOB class do look a bit odd when shiny and clean.
Probably looks better dirty, like a modern diesel.
Because of its long square lines.
I think IMO it's because a steam engine has many skillfully made mechanical parts on display, so it's great to see the love and care that went into keeping locos clean and shiny for each railway company.
Diesels have all the interesting working parts hidden out of view so mud, diesel and oil all over them seems more impressive than paint shop fresh.
@@underwaterdick I like the Industrial look of diesel locos, so i think i get where you're coming from in that regard.
So sad when history is wiped away. Thank you for this xxx
Oh my. Even when you think its a failure , my family and i are mesmerised with anticipation.
We love your videos Martin.
Hope you enjoyed your concert. Your fans from Peru
Great video! The Gronk featured at 11:11 (08624) is still around, in Freightliner livery these days. I think it's at Felixstowe at the moment.
Another interesting look down memory lane. Love it when you compare maps old and new plus slot in your old pics. Pure history. Thank you for your videos.
Nice to hear and see you again Martin.
I said to my wife this morning if only the canals and all the railways were kept. We certainly could do with both today.
The work your doing many look forward to seeing and they are really enjoyable.
Thanks for vloging 🙂
There are 2000 miles of canals left and in use.
Another excellent and fantastic video of when it was Great Britain.
Yeah when there were thousands of people dying from smog cause of the unchecked industrial revolution
@@mlalbaitero well don't watch it you bell
@@scottstenhouse3578 what're u talking about, I can still enjoy the video
I remember sneaking into Horwich works to look at the trains as a young teenager around 1980.
Hi Martin
Used to live down there at 204 Station Rd from 1954 (was 2 years old) until about 1972 when i moved to Manchester. used to play all round that area many happy memories..Where you was at the bridge underpass ( was just known locally as the Iron Bridge ) you could go under it and take the path going to Horwich or if you went Straight on through the fence ( trespassing ) you could get to the back of Horwich Loco Works Also going that way there was the remains of some old works and i think it was a Old Pit Head Shaft. Then from there moving along the back of the works you came to what we called The Peat Moss with its Light Railway for the Peat Trucks. Can't remember how many times me and my mates where chased of there for pushing the Trucks along the lines and then riding in them. HAPPY DAYS. Thanks for bringing back so many Memories.
Thanks, I would have loved to have seen the area back then
Made me happy to hear the horwich crab got a mention, I was very fortunate to inherit a 7 1/4” gauge crab off my late great grandfather who made it in the 60s
Another top video for a miserable Sunday evening. Don't worry if there's not a lot to see - your narration, research and mapwork always cover all the bases. Nice one.
The culvert at 5:00 is beautiful. What craftsmanship for such a mundane purpose.
Yes I agree its lovely
I truly love the work you put into your videos, I love anything trains. Old or new. Thank you sir and keep them updated for us.
Thank you Jarrod
I don't even know Manchester but your video's bring interesting history alive in a way I find extremely watchable. Good work Martin.
showing failures as well as successes is just as important. it's reality. and it still shows your "process", which is interesting to see. and you still gave us good information about the history of Horwich. so this vlog was NOT a fail!
Lived in Horwich all my life and walked from Old Station Park in Horwich down the line to Blackrod as a kid in the early 90s. Back then there was still come track and signals remaining. Sad to see it's all gone now. Ta for the video!
Great video to watch on a Sunday night!
Remember seeing the shunter on a Horwich Works open day in the 80's... it was a Wigan Springs Branch shunter outposted to Horwich.
They maintained the Bury line units and units from Merseyrail late on and had a third rail test track set up on the run down to where the M61 is.
Brings back a lot of memories.
Thanks Mart, lots of questions but I won’t bore you with a long message but keep taking us to these places, be nice to see inside the remaining buildings and so much of our industrial history being lost.
Thanks Martin
Yes Horwich Works was a vital enterprise and should never be forgotten in the history of Greater Manchester. My only connection was in about 1980 when I visited Horwich Fire Station. This was a "part time" Fire Station with only one Leading Firemen per shift employed, but when the sirens sounded the part-time crew turned up, and most of them were from the Loco works.
Really, !! Thanks Peter
What a huge place, with so much work and effort put into it. Now its all gone, everything is so throwaway! Great history and pictures! Thanks Martin!
Hi Martin - oh good - another vid - I miss you when you go quiet! Your vids are interesting and I like the down to earth no-nonsense way you do it all. Great stuff! And genuinely engaging...
Fortunately there are still old maps of the area.
I also use them regularly to discover the area.
An interesting history.
You are in my neck of the woods now Martin. All my Mother`s family worked at Horwich Loco Works, I grew up on the A6 in Westhoughton across the valley from there and saw all the steam engines being lined up for scrap in the 60s. I lived near Hilton House station, now long gone, but that was on the line connecting the Bolton to Preston line with Hart Common and Atherton. I used to spend hours at the junction trying to spot a "Namer" in the 50s. Fascinating video Martin. If you look around Horwich you will see many streets named after the great Victorian engineers.
That Horwich works building you showed near the end retrofitted for new businesses looks just like the Westinghouse electric in E Pittsburgh that has taken on the Keystone commons industrial park. I ran a 500 ton overhead crane lifting 5 ton coils of steel when it was the Industrial park. Your video brought back those memories even thought we're an ocean apart. Thumbs up even though you didn't find much.
Well, Martin, if I didn't feel crap enough before, you've brought a tear or two to my eyes. . . I find it hard to swallow the dereliction and destruction of our country's railway network. It can be depressing, yet as we all know, nothing is forever, but I can't help but think we're throwing out the baby with the bathwater. . . . I think it's more important now, than ever, to document and record as much as we can, because it won't be long before there is nothing left of the railways that built this nation, kept it fuelled, fed and supplied through two world wars, only to be destroyed in this period of (relative) peace.
I may sound gloomy, but just now I'm going through a depressive time.
Take heart mate. Things are never as bad as they seem . Trust me, I've had plenty but I still wake up and am grateful to see daylight. Everything else is a bonus.
You are right about the loss of the past but hope springs eternal. Martin's films are important work for documenting this stage of the changing landscape.
MOONBASE ALPHA!! OMG! You're the best Martin!
Sad to see older railways slowly disappearing. I hope I can take a trip somewhere to find abandoned railways or stations. Great vid btw
That concrete over the newspapers looked like a pre-formed train platform...also...when you found the papers,I couldn’t help thinking of Billy Liar ...ha,ha...
Attended an auction at the works in 83/84. Selling off engineering Tools, Various drilling, milling, laths. Grinding Machines. Plus storage racking hundreds of items. Purchased the entire storage system of the parts store for a Customs warehouse at the Airport it's still in use today!! Must of the equipment sold, sent to India/ Italy/ Holland. Arranged the shipping of them!! Don't forget this was the time of Thatcher. Lots of Folks being laid off.
Just found your post of old Horwich railways. I went to Horwich Count Secondary School in the early mid 60's. We had as GCE subjects Technical drawing, wood work and metal work, As we were feeders for the craft trades essential for the life blood of the works. Great video and look forward to viewing others ta mate. Ps I was a steam train spotter and still have all my Ian Allen books too.
Fascinating stuff again. Thanks for sharing
Now our old building and industrial history is slowly disappearing great video from Martin
👍👍👍😊
Nice one Martin.
That guy looking out of the boiler on the left at 15.15!😊
At last something proper on youtube
Another great video, well done Martin. 👍
If you walk about thirty yards past the station road bridge, in the opposite direction to which you walked, one of Blackrods back platforms is still extant.
There was still some lovely finds, great video
Another cracking video Martin.
The 'Changes' idea is an excellent one. Looking forward to seeing it.
Thanks very much Ben
Thanks Martin for an interestingly informative video. Appreciated. 👍👍😎
Interesting video as always. Thanks for cheering.
Another great video Martin it is such a shame that a site like that which was so important to Britain that there is just nothing left to remember it, keep the video's coming Martin.
Quality and passion as always
Enjoyed this video Martin. Amazing how young the girls are working the lathes in WW1 at the locomotive works.
We have a locomotive works that still stands in my area - Interestingly in Manchester, NH, USA!
Search 675 Canal Street, Manchester, NH USA using Google street view. Its a very long, low red brick building. I've been inside, it was very interesting!
Hi Martin. Up to the age of 11 I lived just off Arkwright St. (one of the streets running from Chorley New Rd. (CNR)). As there is a gentle hill from CNR and approx. 500m away I remember being able to see, from my bedroom (possibly around 1973), the top of what may have been a castings area - I think this as I remember occasionally seeing an orange glow from the steel structure (some of this still appears to be there: 53.592296, -2.545623) and hearing a terrific crash of what may have been scrap steel being dropped. Looking at the map it is amazing to see how big the Loco works was. Also, like most of Horwich at the time, as kids, we were taken to see the devastating fire at the Railway Mechanics Institute (RMI), a building of at least four storeys, which had been empty for sometime before the fire in the 1970s.
Hello, wow sounds good. Yeah the works was massive. Never knew about the fire
All I can say is BRILLIANT
excellent video your channel is great been looking through your videos as i recently found your channel .
Good one Martin. I worked at the loco works from 1978 until closure in 1983. My dad and grandad also worked there. My grandad came over from Ireland in 1896 to work as a blacksmith. My suggestion for other videos would be the mine workings in Clifton Country Park (Swinton) or around Wardle reservoir in Rochdale. Apologies if you have featured these.
HEY, Marg, put the kettle on... Martin Zero.... He's back..... Oh, so glad to see another video Martin.... been waiting to discover on your legs.....All Fascinating. Changes for ever.
Just catching up on some of your old vlogs, very interesting, I remembered a relative in the 60s who drove diesel shunters in the docks in London.
Good watch 👍
Fascinating vid mate. The tile wall showing the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway lines. Still had Douglas and Ramsey as destinations for the isle of man, great stuff. Regards Paul.
Oh Martin, you should ignore diesels and start looking into steam, they are just so majestic and beautiful. My Step-Dad used to volunteer at Didcot Oxfordshire to help restore old steam locomotives and he rode on the footplate of a few. Last year I got to see one of the steam engines used as the Hogwarts Express when it made an unscheduled trip to Par, Cornwall. Here in Par we have one of the only working really old turntables I would love for you to see it, there is also the old railway buildings too and they are very similar to the ones shown. A fantastic video and look back at the past with some wonderful photo's, thank you so much for sharing. x
What always gets me is how nature just absorbs everything...
Brilliant Martin as allways,
Hi Martin. That was in no way a “fail “! It’s important to document these places. So glad you are doing that with Manchester and have series planned. I m looking forward to it. Totally with you on the train spotting side of things. My childhood spent travelling all over the country, the north in particular, has left me with a lifelong interest in seeing old industrial and commercial places. It’s why I love your channel so much and appreciate the time and effort you put into making these films. Looking forward to the next one! 😁👍👊
Thanks Martin. Great video as always very enjoyable.
I toured Horwich Works in the v early .’50’s with the Ian Allen Locospotters Group. Amazing place. The narrow gauge railway was in full operation with several tiny steam locos including Wren which is now in the National Rly Museum in York. It was NOT in such shiny condition when I saw it at Horwich!
The Rumworth Playing Fields in Bolton (Deane) near Dovedale mill is about to change forever! it would be good to know the History of this place as its very old! they are planning to build house's on it. Love the vids martin keep them coming!
ZM32, the Horwich Works Ruston diesel is still at the Steeple Grange Light Railway
Space 1999...that brings back some memories! Anyway, thoroughly enjoyable video even if you didn't make any big discoveries. Looking forward to your other explores.
Nice short video that,always fascinating to see the remnants of our industry and past.
Those mini engines were awesome.
Yep, I love the names
Really interesting video, Martin, I always like a bit of historical railway related stuff, that looked like an inspection pit, may have originally been inbetween a section of track where the engine would have been worked on from underneath.
A 1,000 locomotives in 15 years, wow, they'd struggle to get that many made, even today!
Late again, but happy to be here! Always a delight, always interesting, always educational. Thanks for dropping some more wisdom on us!
I live down in London. But, my word, this is fascinating stuff!
Great to find your video. Really compelling stuff.
Thanks for this video.I had completely forgotten about Horwich Works. I used to stay at my grans in Preston during school holidays 1981/82 and would often travel by rail to Crewe to indulge my trainspotting habit.The works was visible and dozens of EMUs outside lined up was a regular sight.
Cheers Neil
Your videos are so informative and while I know you do this because you enjoy it, this is effectively an archive for future generations. Its absolutely vital we have people like you dedicating your time to this kind of thing.
Thank You for sharing this wonderful pice of history!
It would be a true shame if all those wonderful stone and metalwork will be demolished.
Yes I agree it should be incorporated
Very interesting must of been a hive of activity to turn out 1000 engines in such a relative short space of time.
We went to the Railway Musuem in York about 3 years ago, and saw Wren!!!
Great video Martin. It's wonderful you are doing this type of video before all history gets wiped out! I love and appreciate what you do! Thank you...take care!
I may be totally wrong, not being a Horwich local, but I'm sure there used to be a coal mine there. Just up the road there is Chequerbent, that was a big mine, and still had a rail link, as of last year - behind the restaurant of the same name. Going the other way, just past Adlington, was another colliery - Ellerbeck. That square hole with the wood lining might have been a vent shaft. There is also a 'plague pit' burial ground around there somewhere. A lot of Horwich works was demolished when the Reebok and surrounding estate was built. If you look on a map, and find the Reebok, come past it on DeHavilland way, to the roundabout for Chorley New Road, turn left, and all that area on your left was the loco works. - Now, DeHavilland way - opposite the Reebok is a square building - off Hall lane and Mill lane - that used to be a British Aerospace site, where I believe they used to make missiles for the RAF.
It’s cordoned off because they are trying to stop the spread of Japanese knotweed and walking thru there spreads it ! I’ve been in most of the buildings on the works and they are stripped bear and nowt to see, top channel dude
Thanks for the video it was very interesting.
Very nostalgic. I used to work in Nat West Horwich circa 1974 and in those days lots of people paid in cash and each week the loco works chief cashier came in to collect a sizeable sum of cash to pay the men still big workforce then
Brilliant thanks for taking us along again. Amazing how quickly these places can change
Hi Martin ! Manchester history guy strikes again. Even though there was little left it is a nice video after all. With a bit of sentimentality. But that's fine. So many things disappear without leaving traces and so many places change to beyond recognition so it is a good task to leave a mark in the net at least. Thanks for sharing !
Again a superb video! Thanks again
Thanks Martin I really enjoyed that. The brickwork was amazing
Another interesting video Martin, thank you so much.
I love watching your videos of your country’s history. Thank you!
Amazing video! That such a complex industrial plant has almost vanished is an example of how quickly history itself can vanish.
I cant get enough of your videos, they are fantastic... Thank you
eindelijk weer een film van je .
dat gat in de grond is echt gevaarlijk ,moet je misschien ff over bellen met de gemeente .
als daar kinderen spelen ,je moet er niet aan denken wat er kan gebeuren .
blij dat je er weer ben.
groet stef (nl)✌👍
Another great video ✌🏼 we watch a few explores, but really like yours because of the quality, information, and the gentle manner you bring to each video. Looking forward to the next 👌🏻👌🏻✌️
Thanks very much
Another video of the industrial park, Horwich Loco Industrial Estate, Chorley New Rd, Horwich, Bolton BL6 5UE. Still appears to be a lot of the original buildings standing still in use as industrial premises. Worth asking to see if allowed to take a look around. Lovely old buildings
I recently did a electrical course at the Horwich works industrial estate- great video liked
Yes, I worked in the foundry there for a few weeks in, I think it was, snowy '69. I've vivid memories and remember being startled by the little shunter engine on the way to the canteen one lunchtime. I reckoned that the works were the last bit of Victorian Britain still carried over. There were no guards on the machinery, just sturdy ordinary clothes and boots, as in the vids here. We were making cast iron chairs to bed the line, so far removed from the great days of locomotive building. It's where I learned to swear ...
Nice work Martin and team,thanks
Thank you Simon
I worked I there 5 years ago for mg fabs thay have moved now. I used those overhead crane's to move new over head line steelworks for the electrification from manchester to bolton and onwards . I also worked for west coast railway in Carnforth and met a old working man restoring steam locomotives he did his apprenticeship there in the late 70s.
Another great video Martin - also love the Space 1999 desktop
hiya martin . got a couple of wagon plates and signal weights from horwich works remember our back garden photos . all the very best from nick and tracy in wigan x
I like your computer wallpaper/screensaver - Space 1999! We have the complete series both seasons. Occasionally my kids and I will watch them. Great video as always.