Roger Sim

Roger Sim - 3 October 2005

Brigg railway station and signal box

I've just found your website - splendid!!

I was born in Brigg more years ago than I care to remember!! I live in Cheshire now so it's nice to see what's going on in the old place.

My mum was a Brigg lass and she met my Dad (from Birkenhead) there during the war. In 1947 we moved back to Birkenhead but every year we'd travel over to Brigg to see Grandma (who died in 1954).

We used to go by train from Liverpool Central to Manchester Central then over the Woodhead route to Sheffield Victoria, change there for another train to Retford then another train to Brigg (It used to take most of the day!!)

It was such a busy line in those years. The signalman at Brigg was forever opening and closing the level crossing gates!! (I know because I spent many hours trainspotting there) - happy days.

The present train service on the line is a joke (every Saturday!!) especially when the government is trying to get us all to use public transport.

I had a trip there on the train a couple of months ago and was appalled at the state of the station. In the 50's it had an overall roof and was a very pleasant place with all facilities (bookstall-toilets-left luggage-enquiries etc-of course,it was staffed then) and all I saw last time was a windswept, run down shadow of it's former self. (Progress???)

More power to your elbow to get a decent rail service.

Best wishes,
Roger Sim.

PS-Nostalgic old fool that I am,my model railway layout is called Brigg Town!!!!!

Ed. Thanks for that, Roger. The way the trains are run here is certainly crazy nowadays. You'd not think that railways were invented here, when you look at the state they have descended to.

I guess when the oil runs out in another few years, the trains will be re-instated as the only practical form of transport left - but we'll have to wait for that ...