Has Wigan North Western ever looked more lovely?

Traveling in winter is rarely straightforward. Extreme weather can throw even the best-laid plans into chaos—flooding from heavy rain, snow shutting down roads, railways, and airports, or fog, wind, and ice making every step uncertain.

The week leading up to our journey had seen the country buried under a thick blanket of snow. As we prepared to catch the train north, we couldn’t help but wonder: would we even make it to Edinburgh? At that point, we weren’t sure we’d even make it to the station! Fortunately, the only real obstacle in Wigan that morning was the pavements—icy and treacherous underfoot. Even in our sturdy walking boots, the short walk to the station was slow and cautious! (how is it children can still run in such conditions? Obviously all in your head!!)

As usual, we arrived early (we’re always early!) and were greeted by a scene straight out of a winter postcard. Wigan North Western Station looked like the gateway to an alpine adventure—snow-dusted platforms, frosty trees, blue skies and a golden winter sun casting a magical glow.

We even witnessed a rare phenomenon as the trains passed through the station, 'arcing' across the overhead cables. Also known as a “flashover,” this occurs when electricity leaps across gaps in icy conditions—a real treat for train lovers!

Though the train windows could’ve used a good clean, the views as we travelled through Lancashire and Cumbria were nothing short of breathtaking. Unfortunately, as always seems to be our luck, our seats were on the wrong side of the carriage for the most dramatic views of the Lake District. We watched enviously as passengers on the other side gasped and snapped photos of the snow-covered peaks and valleys.

You may assume here (as we did!) that heading further north would mean even deeper snow and more wintry scenes. But to our surprise, we arrived in Edinburgh to clear streets and not a single snowflake in sight. No ice either—just a biting cold that made us glad we'd packed our thermals!