East Lancashire Railway

‘Caley’ tank for NNR, East Lancs and Swanage lines

by

Sam Hewitt

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13th March 2019

THE Caledonian Railway’s No. 419 played a starring role at the Churnet Valley Railway’s Winter Steam Gala on February 23-24, and the Scottish Railway Preservation Society is capitalising on the 0-4-4T’s presence in England by adding in further visits to heritage lines. First up for the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway-based loco is the East Lancashire Railway’s…
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2018 visitor numbers up as railways report another successful year

by

Sam Hewitt

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26th February 2019

LAST Easter’s opening of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s (Gloucs-Warks) extension to Broadway has seen all passenger records tumble for 2018, witnessing a passenger figure increase of more than 40%. Yet the Gloucs-Warks is not alone in reporting passenger growth, and the majority of the railways that responded to The RM’s enquiries prior to going to…
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Loaded test runs for 80097 after hot ’box troubles

by

Sam Hewitt

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18th February 2019

RIDDLES ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 80097 was back on test at the East Lancashire Railway as 2019 got underway, having been side-lined with axlebox problems in November. The Bury Standard 4 Group loco began running-in trials following its post-restoration appearance at the ELR’s October 19-21 Autumn Steam Gala, but had to be withdrawn on November 14 when…
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Rossendale rail revival puts future of East Lancs Railway under threat

by

Sam Hewitt

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4th February 2019

By Ben Jones TWO proposals to improve public transport links between Rossendale and central Manchester have thrown the future of the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) heritage operation into doubt. Rossendale Borough Council (RBC) is one of three local authorities which own the ELR trackbed and is driving forward plans to introduce regular peak-period commuter trains…
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‘Whistler’ Aureol returns to MR-B after five years

by

Sam Hewitt

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23rd January 2019

CLASS Forty Appeal’s Class 40 No. 40012 (D212) is now back home at the Midland Railway-Butterley after a five-year absence. It is seen at Swanwick Junction on November 25, having arrived from the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) three days earlier. The transfer was made by rail, hauled by sister No. 40145 on 5Z40, the 08.32 Bury-Butterley. No. 40012…
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Falkland’s veteran Simon unveils new ‘Patriot’ crest

by

Sam Hewitt

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3rd December 2018

A NEW crest depicting a First World War ‘Tommy’ standing over the grave of a fallen comrade has been unveiled on the nameplate of new-build ‘Patriot’ No. 5551 The Unknown Warrior by Simon Weston CBE. The unveiling took place during a special Armistice commemoration event at Crewe Heritage Centre on November 10, which also provided a…
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Class 504 restoration project making progress at East Lancs Railway

by

Sam Hewitt

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28th November 2018

CLASS 504 Preservation Society members have been progressing the restoration of EMU trailer car No. M77172 at the East Lancashire Railway (ELR). Work started early in the year outside in the sidings near the carriage and wagon shed at Buckley Wells. Several jobs had been tackled, including making the unit watertight and generally smartening its appearance. It…
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East Lancs ‘Grid’ back in service after repair

by

Sam Hewitt

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28th November 2018

CLASS 56 No. 56006 returned to traffic on the Saturday of East Lancashire Railway’s September 21-23 gala when it moved Class 47 No. 47765, which had failed. The ‘Grid’ then worked its rostered trains the rest of the weekend without any problems. It last ran at the 2017 summer diesel gala, but developed an auxiliary alternator fault,…
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‘Duchess’ makes Swanage Railway gala debut

by

Sam Hewitt

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14th November 2018

No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland was in deepest Dorset making its preservation debut on Swanage Railway metals – just a week prior to the East Lancashire Railway gala. The LMS 4-6-2 was one of three Pacifics in action at the October 12-14 event which, like the Great Central Railway gala, was loosely themed around the…
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Great Western pairing in East Lancashire

by

Sam Hewitt

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14th November 2018

DUCHESS of Sutherland’s seasonal tour of heritage lines concluded with a star turn at the East Lancashire Railway’s October 19-21 gala. The Class 7 Pacific (‘8P’ under BR) was fresh from its appearance at the Swanage Railway gala the previous weekend, and was in traffic each day, as were visiting Churchward ‘28XX’ 2-8-0 No. 2857 and…
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