1 week Ago
As someone who grew up in Bury and still lives in the area, I am no stranger to the East Lancashire Railway (ELR). I’m sure that most Bury Times readers will agree that we are incredibly lucky to have the 12-mile heritage line on our doorsteps and the novelty of hearing steam trains never really wears off. As a child, I spent many a weekend riding in carriages from Heywood to Rawtenstall with my dad and sibling and many nights in the Trackside as a late teen.
I’ve attended some of the vintage weekend and Christmas events and even spent my 33rd birthday on The Flying Scotsman. I can tell the difference between a steam loco and a diesel train but wouldn’t say that I am particularly knowledgeable when it comes to the finer details. This month, I joined thousands of rail enthusiasts to attend the ELR "Legends of Steam" event.
It took place from March 14 to 16 and showcased a handful of locomotive legends to mark the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. Bury Times reporter Lisa Valentine at ELR (Image: Newsquest) My dad came along for the ride and we grabbed a coffee and snacks from the trackside cart to enjoy on the train later on. I was shocked at how busy the platform was at 9.
30am, with plenty of people holding professional cameras and jostling for prime viewing positions. We boarded the 34081 "92 Squadron" at Rawtenstall station as excited passengers (including me by this point) scrambled to get the best possible picture. The carriage was almost full and two gentlemen asked to join our table.
We got chatting and I asked them what their favourite locos were. It turned out that Peter Norris, 57, was a volunteer at the Heywood ELR station and was there with his father, David Norris, 81. Peter said: "It [the event]showcases the very best of British steam and is good for enthusiasts and families.
“My favourite loco here is the 'City of Wells' and my favourite one in general has to be the 'Flying Scotsman'." David added: "I think I agree with that! My favourite today is the 'City of Wells' but overall it has to be the 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley." READ NEXT: Regional retailer takes over site of Bury’s biggest car dealership READ NEXT: ‘Amazing’ women of Bury honoured at awards ceremony We said our goodbyes and I got off at Ramsbottom to explore the shops and antique centre before boarding the 61306 "Mayflower" to Bury .
The view from the station bridge was certainly worth stopping for as the famous steam loco arrived in all its glory. I overheard someone discussing the 61306 "Mayflower", which replaced the previously advertised headliner 60163 "Tornado", saying that they were “disappointed but glad to see it all the same”. As the day went on and the crowds intensified, I began to understand the attraction.
There is a certain whimsy around the railway that is hard to find elsewhere. The steam and the rhythmic chugging and enjoying a brew and cake while waving at strangers on the banks. I actively scoured the timetable to make sure that we could get a glimpse of the popular 34092 "City of Wells" loco before we left.
There were a handful of stalls selling memorabilia at Bury Bolton Street Station . As my dad rummaged in boxes of model carriages, I picked up a postcard dated 1947 as a token from the day, in which a visitor from Essex had recalled the "surprisingly sunny" Greater Manchester weather to a friend. We went across the road to Bury Transport Museum for a wander, which I feel often gets a little overlooked by visitors but is well worth a nosey and usually offers free entry to ELR ticket holders.
(Image: Newsquest) To continue our impromptu shopping trip , we headed down to a shop tucked away in an old stationary carriage at the bottom end of Platform 2, just past the Trackside pub . It’s managed by volunteer group Bury Standard 4 Group and sells a plethora of new and used train-related goodies. I found out that my dad is a regular visitor and is friendly with the volunteers who were holding the fort that afternoon.
They nattered about why leaves on the track bring modern trains to a halt and how their huge loco restoration project is progressing in the engine shed. The BS4G group was founded in 1984 by a small group of enthusiasts and is supported by donations. Through the shared passion and sense of authentic community spirit from the volunteers, I realised how important is to preserve the history and locos which otherwise would have been turned into scrap metal.
Having a solid community of like-minded people in a "third space" feels like a luxury in a world of online friendships, full-time work and domestic responsibilities. In an unexpected twist, I found myself wanting to join in and I went home feeling part of something meaningful for the first time in a while..
