Whelley railway station

Their goods yards remained open until the Whelley loop closed in the 1970s.

[3] The key purpose of the Whelley Loop was to enable trains to avoid Wigan.

The loop came into its own in passenger terms with Summer seaside specials, notably to and from Blackpool.

Pixton, for example, has a fine 1961 shot of a Summer Saturday Sheffield to Blackpool train at Lowton St Mary's.

It would bear right at Hindley South onto the Whelley Loop and then join the WCML at Standish, bypassing Wigan altogether.