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East Lancashire Railway

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Coordinates: 53°35′36″N 2°17′59″W / 53.5934°N 2.2997°W / 53.5934; -2.2997
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Zincubus (talk | contribs) at 14:07, 3 July 2009 (**BR Co-Co Class 37 no. 37418 "Pectinidae" (Undergoing repaint and repairs.) - this work has now been completed and it is now operational.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the heritage East Lancashire Railway. For the 19th-century company see East Lancashire Railway 1844–1859
East Lancashire Railway
LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 45407 approaching Summerseat station
LocaleLancashire/Greater Manchester, England
TerminusRawtenstall and Heywood
ConnectionsNetwork Rail (west of Heywood)
Manchester Metrolink (south of Bury)
Commercial operations
NameEast Lancashire Railway
Built byEast Lancashire Railway 1844–1859
Original gaugeStandard
Preserved operations
Operated byEast Lancashire Railway Company
Stations6
Length12 miles (19 km)
Preserved gaugeStandard
Commercial history
Opened1846
Closed17 March 1980
Preservation history
25 July 1987Service opened
1991Extended to Rawtenstall
2003Extended to Heywood
East Lancashire Railway
Legend
Rawtenstall to Bacup Line
 Rawtenstall
Ewood Bridge and Edenfield
Irwell Vale
Stubbins
Rossendale lines to Accrington
 Ramsbottom
Nuttall Tunnel (
115 yd
105 m
)
Brooksbottom Tunnel (
423 yd
387 m
)
Brooksbottom Viaduct
 Summerseat
Burrs Country Park
Bury–Holcombe Brook line
Bury North Tunnel (
80 yd
73 m
)
 Bury Bolton Street
Bury South Junction
Buckley Wells
 Bury Knowsley Street
Bury Interchange
Manchester Metrolink
Roch Viaduct
Viaduct over M66
 Broadfield
Heywood
to Calder Valley line (NR)
Class 40 40145 "East Lancashire Railway" standing at Rawtenstall
LMS Class 3F 'Jinty' 0-6-0T No. 47324 at Bury Bolton Street station
Class 35 'Hymek' no D7076 departs Bury Bolton Street station with a service for Heywood

The East Lancashire Railway is a heritage railway in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.

Overview

The line opened on 25 July 1987 operating a service from Bury to Ramsbottom via Summerseat. In 1991 the service was extended via Irwell Vale to Rawtenstall,[1] and in September 2003 an eastbound extension from Bury to Heywood was opened. To reach Heywood, the line climbs a gradient of 1 in 36, and falling at a gradient of 1 in 41, to cross over the Manchester Metrolink line into Bury. The heritage line is now just over 12 miles (19 km) long, and has a mainline connection with the national railway network at Castleton, beyond Heywood. There are plans to extend the running line further to Castleton in the future.[2] A rail connection with the Metrolink line also exists, just south of Bury, at Buckley Wells.

The railway is open every weekend of the year and holds a number of themed events and galas throughout the year which include steam and diesel events amongst others, and also offers driver experience courses. The Day out with Thomas events had to be withdrawn in 2008 due to copyright issues with Hit Entertainment. These have been replaced with a similar event featuring engines with faces, known as "Jimmy the Jinty" days. It is run by volunteer members from the East Lancashire Preservation Society (ELRPS). Today over 60 individual steam and diesel locomotives reside on the railway. This is accompanied by over 140 carriages, wagons and utility vehicles.

In 2001 the railway was featured in the finale of ITV's comedy series The Grimleys, named The Grimley Curse, and then the finale of BBC One's award-winning drama series Life on Mars in 2007.

Railway stations

Steam locomotives

The ELR has an extensive collection of large and powerful designs, many of which are main-line certified.

Operational

  • Steam Locomotives Under Overhaul
    • LMS 4-6-0 Class 5MT "Black Five" no. 44871. (Undergoing extensive restoration. New 'throat' plate has arrived; 'stay' renewal progressing well.)
    • LMS 4-6-0 Class 5MT "Black Five" no. 45337. (Undergoing a ten yearly overhaul with boiler away at the Llangollen Railway for repair. Completion expected in first half of 2009.)
    • LMS 2-6-0 Class 5MT "Crab" no. 42765. (Boiler at LNWR Crewe for overhaul. Tender tank lifted off frames, 13/11/07.)
  • Steam Locomotives Under Restoration
    • BR 2-6-4T Class 4MT no. 80097. (Progress slow but steady. Completion likely to be 2010.)
    • GWR 2-8-0 2884 Class no. 3855. (Restoration just started, to be painted in BR black when complete, completion expected 2016.)

Diesel

  • Operational Diesel Locomotives and DMUs
    • Motorail Simplex 4WDM no. 9009
    • BR 0-4-0 Class 01 no. D2956 (Castlecroft Shed Pilot)
    • BR 0-6-0 Class 03 no. 2062 (Castlecroft Shed Pilot)
    • BR 0-6-0 Class 08 no. D3232 (Buckley Wells Pilot)
    • BR 0-6-0 Class 08 no. 08479 (Baron Street Works Pilot)
    • BR Class 101 unit 51192+54352 (101659 & 101693)
    • BR Class 207 unit 1305 (207202 - formed of 60130+70549+60904)
  • Diesel Locomotives and DMUs Undergoing Light Work, Overhaul or Restoration
    • F. C. Hibberd 'Planet' 4WDM no. 3438 (Undergoing restoration to working order. Power unit started May 2007 - Currently inside castlecroft shed having much needed bodywork attention. Will take up the role as Wagon Works shunter.)
    • BR 0-6-0 Class 08 no. 08944 (Stopped after a big end failure over the August "Thomas" weekend.)
    • BR 0-6-0 Class 08 no. D3867 (Stored pending remedial work on a traction motor and cooler group.)
    • BR 0-6-0 Class 14 no. D9531 (Near completion. Side frames, bodyside doors and battery boxes now fitted. Two reconditioned exhausters fitted November 2007. Power unit to be fitted in late 2008. Following successful testing, Summer 2009 return hoped.)
    • BR Bo-Bo Class 15 no. D8233 (Restoration in progress. Currently located outside Baron Street Works. Cooler group room almost complete. Fan and fan drive gearbox returned after overhaul. Equipment room undergoing renovation. Generator set split from old power unit.)
    • BR Co-Bo Class 28 no. D5705 (Next in line for restoration. Cabs currently being worked on. With D8233 outside Baron Street Loco Works.)
    • BR Bo-Bo Class 33 no. 6536 (Under overhaul in Buckley Wells carriage shed. No. 1 end cab largely renewed with new metal work. Overhauled turbo returned, awaits refitting.)
    • BR B-B Class 35 no. D7076 (Undergoing repairs.)
    • BR 1Co-Co1 Class 45 no. 45135 "3rd Carabinier" (Undergoing major work. Replacement of main engine bearings ongoing. Top-end of five cylinders have been stripped. Five cylinder heads and corresponding pistons have been removed. Four liners removed on 29/09/07.)
    • BR C-C Class 52 no. 1041 "Western Prince" (B-End transmission in the workshop having bearings replaced. Replacement of wasted metal on bodyside grills also underway.)
    • BR Class 105 unit 51485+56121 (Under restoration in Buckley Wells carriage sheds.)
    • BR Class 108 unit 50627/977853 (Under restoration at Castlecroft shed.)
    • BR Class 122 unit 55001 (Under restoration at Castlecroft shed.)
    • BR Class 121 unit 54289
  • Stored Diesel Locomotives
    • MSC Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 no. 4002 (Drained and stored for the winter period. Can be used but requires work on power unit.)
    • BR A1A-A1A Class 31 no. 31556 (Stored at Baron Street. Purchased by HNRC, awaiting disposal.)
    • NIR Class 80 No. 8099 (Stored on section of 5'3" track at Castlecroft - bought as spares for 207202).

Electric

  • Electric Multiple Units

References

  1. ^ A History of the East Lancashire Railway, east-lancs-rly.co.uk, retrieved 2009-04-05
  2. ^ Shannon, Laura (2007-12-07), Back on track for connection, rochdaleobserver.co.uk, retrieved 2009-04-05
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53°35′36″N 2°17′59″W / 53.5934°N 2.2997°W / 53.5934; -2.2997

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