\n Located on the roundabout outside of the Middlebrook Retail Park, the ‘ghost train’ or ‘ghost engine’ statue is dedicated to Horwich’s industrial heritage.\n<\/p>\n
\n The statue had fallen into disrepair in recent years, with visible rusting and degradation to its structure.\n<\/p>\n
\n Ghost Train renovations (Image: Henry Lisowski)\n<\/p>\n
\n Horwich and Blackrod First Independent councillor Peter Wright said: “Since the grant funding came through the council have got on with the work straight away.\n<\/p>\n
\n “It was in a bad way before, so it should look a lot better now.\n<\/p>\n
\n “We have been very lucky to get the funding in place.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Cllr Wright did note that the team had been pushing to get something new put in the statue’s place, but stated the repairs are ‘much better than leaving it as it is.’\n<\/p>\n
\n The sculpture designed by artist Tom Wilkinson, who creates a number of ‘ghost’ statues – statues depicting only the skeletal frame of various objects.\n<\/p>\n
\n The Ghost Train was designed as a replica of a steam engine, Horwich<\/a> being founded around the steam engine trade.\n<\/p>\n \n Engines were constructed in the nearby ‘loco works’, which were themselves vital in Britain’s burgeoning industrial economy.\n<\/p>\n \n \n Prior to this, Horwich was a hamlet, but grew into its present size due to the jobs and opportunities offered by the manufacturing.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n