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Written by Mark Bearton - 27 Oct 2004
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Location notes
Parbold is a small village and station 7 miles west of Wigan on the line to Southport and is also on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
Railway type and traffic
Currently locos are banned from this line, with the exception of engineers trains, so trains are usually classes 142/150/156. The interest here comes largely from the Semaphore signalling.
Environment
This is a small semi-rural village with many walkers visiting from the Canal towpath.
Road directions
Take the A5209 west from junction 27 of the M6 and after dropping down the very steep Parbold Hill and crossing the railway and Canal turn right into the village.

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Parbold map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a small car park situated by the canal also on street parking.
Public transport
Parbold is served roughly every half an hour by trains from Southport to Manchester Airport and Oldham. There is also a bus service linking Ormskirk and Wigan.

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Amenities
There are plenty of small shops in the Village including a Fish and Chip shop and several pubs. There is a Brewers Fare pub situated on the top of Parbold Hill.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Parbold

Googly map
Streetmap links
Parbold general view map
Parbold close up map

Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Parbold



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Photographic notes
In the morning the light would be best for trains from Southport including the semaphore at the west end of the station. The ideal light for pictures facing east at the station of the two semaphores would be hazy sunshine as the light is never quite right.
A short, very pleasant, walk along the canal brings you to Chapel Lane crossing with its own semaphores. Chapel Lane is the second over bridge along the canal towards Wigan after leaving the village. Here in a morning you can get shots of trains heading towards Wigan (though without signals) and in the afternoon shots of the trains passing over the crossing with signals in view.


General views - All photographs © Mark Bearton unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north west


Fig 1 - Looking north west

Morning shot from station towards Southport.

Fig 2 - Looking south east


Fig 2 - Looking south east

Shot of train entering station from Wigan.

Fig 3 - Looking north west


Fig 3 - Looking north west

Morning shot at Chapel Lane Crossing.

Fig 4 - Looking south east


Fig 4 - Looking south east

Afternoon shot at Chapel Lane Crossing.

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