The East Lancashire Railway – a day behind the scenes and on the line

When: 15 August 2026, 09:30 - 17:00

Where: Baron St locomotive works, Bury, BL9 0TY

Speakers: John Tate, Private Charter visits Manager

The East Lancashire Railway is a 12 mile long heritage railway between Heywood, Bury and Rawtenstall. It originally formed part of a network extending to Bacup and Accrington, and towards Manchester at Clifton Junction . The last remaining part of the route, to Rawtenstall, was finally closed to freight traffic in 1980, but local authorities and preservationists used the then Derelict Land Grant to re-open the first section between Bury and Ramsbottom in 1987, withe subsequent extensions to Rawtenstall and Heywood.

The railway has featured extensively in the media with its dining trains and special events. It was visited last year by the Rail 2000 exhibition train.

The event is designed to show what is involved in running a heritage railway professionally, and especially the engineering back up needed. There will also be a look back at transport history.

There is a full morning tour of the Baron St locomotive works, the Carriage and Wagon works, Bury South signal box, and the Standard 4 Group Works. We then visit Bury Transport Museum before a 1 hour lunch break which is followed by a full line train trip from Bury to Rawtenstall through the scenic upper Irwell valley , and then to Heywood before returning to Bury about 5pm.

Booking for Members & Non-Members -£25.00

Note: If you are not a current Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, please be aware our membership team may be in touch with you using your email address provided regards membership opportunities. If you do not wish to be contacted please email and let us know at [email protected]

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