East Lancashire Railway

The East Lancashire Railway is one of the UK’s best kept heritage railways. After passenger services were stopped by British Rail in 1972, it was reopened in 1987 by the East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society. It is open every weekend of the year and some midweek days during the summer.

Services operate from Rawtenstall to Heywood, calling at Irwell Vale, Ramsbottom, Summerseat and Bury. Many of the trains using the line are steam powered.

Visitors using satellite navigation to find the East Lancashire Railway (Bolton Street) should use the postcode BL9 OEY.

Review / Comment / Additional Information

Editor

The East Lancashire Railway is celebrated its 20th birthday yesterday with a re-enactment of the first train journey on the heritage line. A plaque to mark the occasion was unveiled at Bolton Street train station.

Graham Foot

The ELR is one of the north west's biggest tourist attractions and pulls in over 100,000 visitors every year.

Bob

The East Lancashire Railway has some restored Pullman coaches and operates regular Lancastrian Lunches and romantic Red Rose Dinners. It's a very unusual dining experience that's not to be missed.