Haigh Hall is a real favourite across Lancashire with families coming to enjoy the surroundings that the country park offers.
The site, just a few miles outside of Wigan, is a great place for people to enjoy a picnic, walk the dog and play games but the showpiece of the park was the miniature railway. Visitors could pay a nominal fee to ride the train but for the past two years it has been out of service and requiring some much needed care and attention. Luckily, this has been realised thanks to a dedicated engineer and rail enthusiast.
Wigan Today reports that Derek Moss, from Appley Bridge, stepped in to bring the miniature railway back to life by working closely with leisure and culture provider WLCT to bring the project to fruition. Mr Moss has had a love of railways all his life and told the news provider that he used to visit Haigh Hall when the miniature first opened back in the 1980s.
When he heard that it was in disrepair he was keen to help out and has so far managed to get the locomotive working once again. He is now hoping to continue maintaining the track so the controlling body can open as much as the complete loop as possible.
The project has also been backed by the Friends of Haigh Country Park and Stuart Murray, chief executive at WLCT, has praised the work done by Mr Moss. He hopes that this will once again attract families looking for something to on the weekends, during school holidays and on bank holidays.
Mr Murray told the news provider: "Derek has done a fantastic job in restoring the miniature railway and I’m delighted that it is running again. I’d encourage families to take a trip to Haigh Country Park during the summer holidays, have a go on the train and experience some of the other attractions we’ve got on site.”