East Lancashire Railway

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Introduction

This railway was opened between Clifton (Manchester) and Rawtenstall. The company went on to expand greatly. In 1859 the company was absorbed by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. The southern portion of the original line between Clifton (Manchester) and Radcliffe North Junction (both excluded) is closed. North of Bury the line is preserved, following closure by British Railways in 1980, and re-opening in 1987 as the East Lancashire Railway.






Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.




Clifton Junction [Manchester]

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See also
Manchester, Bolton and Bury Railway
3-car 150001 passes Clifton on a Rochdale to Clitheroe service on 19th July 2021. Around twelve trains an hour pass through this Ghost station ...
Mark Bartlett 19/07/2021
769458, working Southport to Stalybridge, runs through deserted Clifton on 19th July 2019. The new flex units run on diesel power from ...
Mark Bartlett 19/07/2021
The cobbled approach road at Clifton (Junction) used to lead to a ticket office in the 'V' of a junction between the L&YR line from Bolton and the ELR ...
Mark Bartlett 19/07/2021
3 of 3 images.





Clifton Junction [Station] [Manchester]

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Clifton Viaduct

This is a disused thirteen arch double track viaduct north of Clifton Junction [Station] [Manchester] which crosses the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal and the River Irwell.
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Molyneux Junction

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Molyneux Brow

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Ringley Road

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Fifty seven years after the last train passed along the Clifton Junction to Bury (and Accrington) route, this milepost still stands in the cutting ...
Mark Bartlett 04/01/2023
The Clifton Junction to Radcliffe and Bury line passed through a coal mining area and this three-arch over bridge at Ringley Road station suffered ...
Mark Bartlett 04/01/2023
Ringley Road, on the Clifton Junction to Radcliffe (and Accrington) line, closed in 1953 but Accrington to Manchester trains continued to travel this ...
Mark Bartlett 04/01/2023
3 of 3 images.





Radcliffe Bridge

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Radcliffe Goods

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Radcliffe North Junction

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See also
Manchester Victoria to Bury Line (Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway)
1:25,000 series map extract showing the pre-closure railway system around Radcliffe. Running bottom left to top right is the original East Lancashire ...
National Library of Scotland //1950
1 of 1 images.





Withins Lane

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Metrolink 3113 runs alongside a section of the old Manchester, Bury and Bolton Canal, heading for Piccadilly from Bury, on 4th January 2023. This ...
Mark Bartlett 04/01/2023
1 of 1 images.





Bury Loco Junction

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Buckley Wells

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Bury South Junction

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Bury South signal box looking south in the early 1970s. Bury Bolton Street station is behind the photographer with the Manchester line going straight ...
John Clark //1970
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Bury Bolton Street

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A 60s scene recreated at the ELR as D1501 prepares to depart from Bury Bolton St with a train to Rawtenstall at the Winter Diesel in January 2013. ...
John McIntyre 05/01/2013
Amongst all the classic traction at the 2022 ELR diesel gala was this modern interloper, TPE liveried 68031 'Felix'. Seen at Bolton Street, in between ...
Don Chattwood 02/07/2022
GWR 0-6-2T 5643, a visitor to the East Lancashire Railway, reversing out of the tunnel into the platform at Bury Bolton Street on 22nd September 2021. ...
Veronica Clibbery 22/09/2021
Twin Sulzers at the ELR 2022 Summer Diesel Gala. Visiting 26007 is paired with resident 25279, ready to depart from Bury for Rawtenstall on 2nd July ...
Don Chattwood 02/07/2022
4 of 64 images. more





Bury North Tunnel

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Tottington Junction

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See also
Bury and Tottington District Railway
Tottington Junction was the point where the Holcombe Brook branch left the Bury to Ramsbottom line and there was a signal box situated by the ...
Mark Bartlett 01/01/2011
1 of 1 images.





Burrs Country Park

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The sun sets on 'Wells'. On its last day in service before being withdrawn for a ten year overhaul, 34092 'City of Wells' heads the 15:25 Heywood to ...
Stephen Willetts 02/01/2023
East Lancashire Railway Autumn Steam Gala 2023. Visiting Jubilee 45690 'Leander' heads the 09:00 Bury - Ramsbottom demonstration goods train passing ...
Stephen Willetts 14/10/2023
D5054 departs from Burrs Country Park on the ELR during day 1 of the Autumn Diesel Gala. The loco is the tail loco with 25279 on the front of the 1300 ...
John McIntyre 16/09/2022
The Swiss Gentleman's Train (With apologies to The Railway Children!) Visiting LNWR Coal Tank 1054 heads the 14:00 Heywood - Rawtenstall footplate ...
Stephen Willetts 14/07/2022
4 of 4 images.





Summerseat

This is a single platform station on the East Lancashire Railway [Preserved].
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Peak 45108 slows to call at Summerseat, on its way to Rawtenstall, during the ELR 2021 Summer Diesel Gala. This loco is on long term loan at the ELR, ...
Mark Bartlett 03/07/2021
Former DRS EE Type 1 20305 was a visitor to the East Lancs for their 2023 summer diesel gala. Seen here departing from Summerseat towards Bury after a ...
Mark Bartlett 29/06/2023
832 'Onslaught' passes Summerseat, with a parcels/brakevan service from Bury to Ramsbottom, during the East Lancs 2023 summer diesel gala on 29th ...
Mark Bartlett 29/06/2023
D1501 (47402) brings up the rear of a Rawtenstall bound service at Summerseat on 3rd July 2021. The two tone green of this immaculate Brush Type 4 ...
Mark Bartlett 03/07/2021
4 of 41 images. more





Summerseat Viaduct

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Diesel preservation pioneer D821 'Greyhound' has been in private hands now for over fifty years, after a main line career of perhaps a quarter of ...
Mark Bartlett 29/06/2023
Looking upstream on the River Irwell as Hymek D7076 crosses the viaduct at Summerseat on its way to Rawtenstall on 29th June 2023. This is one of nine ...
Mark Bartlett 29/06/2023
Enthusiasts enjoy the sound of D345 from the brake van veranda as it crosses the Irwell at Summerseat on its way from Bury to Ramsbottom during the ...
Mark Bartlett 29/06/2023
East Lancashire Railway Autumn Diesel Gala 16th September 2022. Visiting locomotive, courtesy of Trans Pennine Express, 68030 'Black Douglas' double ...
Stephen Willetts 16/09/2022
4 of 19 images. more





Brooksbottom Tunnel

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40013 Andania visited the ELR for the Class 40s at 60 gala. The pristine green machine is seen emerging from Brooksbottom tunnel near ...
Mark Bartlett 14/04/2018
1 of 1 images.





Nuttall Tunnel

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Harry Needle Class 20s 20314 and 20311 run through the cutting between the short Nuttall and longer Brooksbottom tunnels during the ELR 2019 Summer ...
Mark Bartlett 05/07/2019
EE Type 4 50015 Valiant runs south through the cutting between Nuttall and Brooksbottom tunnels hauling a Ramsbottom to Bury shuttle service ...
Mark Bartlett 14/04/2018
DMU driver's eye view of the south portal of Nuttall Tunnel on the East Lancashire Railway. The train is in the short cutting between Nuttall and the ...
Mark Bartlett 01/01/2011
3 of 3 images.





Ramsbottom

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D9531 draws stock out of the siding at Ramsbottom, prior to forming the first southbound service on 29th June 2023, and passes two 'Dogfish' and a ...
Mark Bartlett 29/06/2023
Captured from Nuttall Park, Peak 45108 slows for the Ramsbottom stop having travelled from Bury. There are two rail bridges over the Irwell in the ...
Mark Bartlett 29/06/2023
East Lancashire Railway.
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Stephen Willetts 08/07/2023
26007 and 25279 await departure from Ramsbottom on the 15.30 Heywood to Rawtenstall at the ELR 2022 summer diesel gala. D8096 and D8107, part of the ...
Don Chattwood 02/07/2022
4 of 71 images. more





Stubbins Junction

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See also
Stubbins to Accrington Line (East Lancashire Railway)





Stubbins

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A feature of the ELR 2023 Diesel Gala was the provision of brake van trips on a 'parcels' train. This generally shuttled between Bury and Ramsbottom ...
Mark Bartlett 29/06/2023
This long public subway once afforded access to the north end of Stubbins station. Essentially two bridges, the nearest one carried the Stubbins ...
Mark Bartlett 29/06/2023
View from East Lancashire Railway train approaching the disused Stubbins station, on 5th April 2016. Alder Bottom viaduct, crossing the River Irwell, ...
David Bosher 05/04/2016
East Lancashire Railway train from Rawtenstall to Bury Bolton Street, behind BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T 80080, passing disused Stubbins station, ...
David Bosher 05/04/2016
4 of 12 images. more





Irwell Vale

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East Lancashire Railway Summer Diesel Gala 2022. Visiting locomotive 60046 'William Wilberforce' leaves Irwell Vale with the 12:30 Heywood to ...
Stephen Willetts 30/06/2022
The huge bulk of a Peak Class 1Co-Co1 locomotive is evident in this ground level view at Irwell Vale in July 2021. Long loan 45108 (D120), newly ...
Mark Bartlett 03/07/2021
A popular pairing on the third day of the ELR 2021 summer diesel gala was the two Sulzer Type 2s, D5054 and 25279 (D7629). There was a real contrast ...
Mark Bartlett 03/07/2021
Last 'Wells' trains. East Lancashire Railway
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Stephen Willetts 02/01/2023
4 of 21 images. more





Ewood Bridge and Edenfield

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East Lancashire Railway. Visiting GWR re-created Saint Class 4-6-0 2999 'Lady of Legend' approaching the closed station at Ewood Bridge with the 13:49 ...
Stephen Willetts 11/03/2023
Resident Warship 832 'Onslaught' is on the tail of a Gala Day train to Rawtenstall on 29th June 2023. Having just passed the closed Ewood Bridge ...
Mark Bartlett 29/06/2023
The first train of the three day ELR Summer Diesel Gala was a parcels train hauled by newly repainted 37109. This left Bury at 0740 and ran non-stop ...
Mark Bartlett 29/06/2023
Newly back in service, and with a smart blue paint job, D7076 heads for Rawtenstall during the ELR Diesel Gala on 29th June 2023. With characteristic ...
Mark Bartlett 29/06/2023
4 of 15 images. more





Rawtenstall

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See also
Newchurch Extension (East Lancashire Railway)
ELR 2023 Autumn Diesel Gala. D345 (40145) and 40012 'Aureol' head the 19:35 Rawtenstall to Bury 'Beer Ex', ready to depart from Rawtenstall on 16th ...
Stephen Willetts 16/09/2023
34092 'City of Wells' runs round its train at Rawtenstall on 25th June 2022. After spending most of its preserved life on the Worth Valley it is now ...
Crinan Dunbar 25/06/2022
Rawtenstall is now a terminus but was once a through station on the line to Bacup. All the station buildings have been constructed during the ...
Veronica Clibbery 22/09/2021
Having just arrived at Rawtenstall with a train from Bury, 45108 is seen having drawn forward to the buffers during the run round operation. ...
John McIntyre 16/09/2022
4 of 37 images. more





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