News
Barry Sails' 20 year Service award
On Sunday 28 April 2019 Chris Moore (Chair ELRPS Ltd) attended Ramsbottom Station to present Barry Sails with his 20 year Service award.
Barry started his ELR career as part of the Carriage Cleaning Team before becoming part of the Ramsbottom Station Team
Now in his 80’s Barry has decided it is time to hang up his hat and we wish him a long and healthy retirement.
Bury Pride Festival, Rainbow Train
As part of the Bury Pride Festival, on Sunday 14th April, in association with Groundwork Ambition for Ageing and the East Lancashire Railway, they ran the first ever Rainbow Train celebrating equality and diversity together. The train ran from Bury to Rawtenstall and back hauled by Standard 4 80097. The Sunday Boys choir entertained the crowds before they joined the train.
Rawtenstall Station canopy foundations completed
Foundations for the columns to support the restored L&Y canopy have been completed at Rawtenstall Station by the Permanent Way team. The reinforced concrete bases were installed with the help of the Eric Wright Group and donation of fittings and bolts by William Hare of Bury. The canopy will be hoisted into place by the newly re-roped rail crane.
Mayoral visit to promote and celebrate East Lancashire's transport heritage
On Thursday 4th April the railway played host to a number of Mayors and Mayoresses to promote and celebrate the rich transport heritage that the area has and to work with the combined authority, local councils and Marketing Manchester to that end. Everyone had a trip from Bury to Rawtenstall and return.
Pictured from left to right at Rawtenstall Station are:-
Cllr Denise Ward, Mayor of Tameside, Cllr Sue Greensmith, Mayor of Wigan, John Tate (behind), Cllr Mohammed Zaman, Mayor of Rochdale, Audrey French , Bury Mayors office (behind), Maureen Brett, Mayoress of Stockport, Cllr Walter Brett, Mayor of Stockport (behind), Pat Wilson, Mayoress of Salford, Cllr Ronnie Wilson, Ceremonial Mayor of Salford, David Wright (behind), Cllr Jane Black, Mayor of Bury, Chris Moore, (behind), Cllr Ann Kenyon, Mayor of Rossendale, Tracey Parkinson (behind), Keith Whitmore, Cllr June Hitchen, Lord Mayor of Manchester, Mr Haydn Kenyon, Consort of Mayor of Rossendale, Cllr Chis Wills, Trafford Council, Cllr Tom Ross, Mayor of Trafford, Cllr Javid Iqbal, Mayor of Oldham.
Society funds re-roping of the Diesel Crane
Following a funding request from the East Lancashire Light Railway Company the ELRPS was pleased to provide £10K to pay for the re-roping of the 76 Ton diesel crane.
The crane was originally steam powered and was built in 1961 by Cowan Sheldon of Carlisle, initially being allocated to the British Rail, Bristol Bath Road Depot as Crane 141.
In 1976 it moved to Derby Works for conversion to diesel hydraulic, subsequently being moved to Eastleigh Works where it remained until 1997 when it was purchased from EWS by Roger Johnstone and moved to the ELR for preservation.
The ELR acquired ownership of the crane in 2010 since when it has been used to support engineering projects including the fitting of the canopy to Bolton Street platform 2.
It is believed that the crane was last re-roped in 1976 when the conversion from steam to diesel took place. Ropes are changed on condition and not age, therefore with careful management the main hoist rope should last another 30 years.
Heritage Operations Processing Systems installed
The Heritage Operations Processing Systems (HOPS) has now been installed at the ELR. Margaret and David Wilson from Central Records were the first users to go live and use the system.
HOPS is an accessible solution for preserved and heritage railways to manage their operations, including timetabling, competence assessment and management, rostering, control logging, fault management, etc. Virtually all aspects of railway data processing and recording and ancillary administration relevant to the heritage sector are within the ultimate scope of this system.
Spring Steam Gala. 8th, 9th and 10th March
Join the East Lancashire Railway for an all steam spectacular as guest engines and home fleet locomotives run intensive all steam passenger services all weekend.
Starring locomotives are: 78018, appearing courtesy of the Great Central Railway, Darlington Railway Preservation Society (owner) and Loughborough Standard Locomotives Group (custodian), Caledonian Railway 419, appearing courtesy of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, BR Standard 4 Tank 80097 (official launch into service), BR Standard 4 Tank 80080, courtesy of PRCLT, first return to traffic following overhaul, 4270, 34092, 52322, 2890 and 32 Gothenburg. All locos are subject to availability.