Lanky tank stars in East Lancashire spectacular

The East Lancashire Railway’s March 6-8 steam gala had a Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway theme, starring three locomotives from the pre-grouping company, including recently returned No. 752, hauling its first passenger trains since 1982, writes Brian Sharp

The East Lancashire Railway’s March 6-8 steam gala had a Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway theme, starring three locomotives from the pregrouping company, including

No. 752, hauling its first passenger trains since 1982, writes Brian Sharpe.

The eagerly-awaited East Lancashire Railway (ELR) spring steam gala was notable for the return to service of Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Class 23 Barton Wright 0-6-0ST No. 752, which hauled its first fare paying passenger trains since 1982.

The 1881-built locomotive had been purchased in 1968 from the National Coal Board still carrying its LMS number 11456 and had never worked for BR. It was returned to steam in time to take part in the Rocket 150 cavalcade at Rainhill in 1980 and hauled the occasional passenger train on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) over the next two years, before being withdrawn for what turned out to be an even longer restoration project.

As reported in issue 265, No. 752, one of three engines owned by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Trust, was returned to steam on the ELR last October, and was relaunched in February carrying the number 51456, which it would have carried if it had been in BR service.

Also in action over the weekend was resident Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway A class 0-6-0 No. 52322, which was renumbered 52345 for the occasion. The opportunity was taken to double-head the two L&Y engines.

Hunslet 0-6-0 No. 2890 Douglas, which has been converted from an Austerity 0-6-0ST to a tender engine, was in action, carrying the number 52322, while Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T No. 32 Gothenburg ran in Thomas blue livery.

Also in steam were resident BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80097 and Ian Riley’s LMS

‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 44871. However, SR West Country Pacific No. 34092 City of Wells was unable to take part. Its place was taken by a last-minute visitor – the South Devon Railway’s GWR 0-6-0PT No. 6412.

Another Lancashire & Yorkshire classic was on static display, in the form of 0-4-0ST ‘Pug’ No. 19, which is also owned by the trust and which was borrowed from the Ribble Steam Railway, and stood in the bay platform at Bury (Bolton Street).

With a mixture of motive power and an intensive timetable, the event proved popular with packed trains during the afternoons and no operating problems reported. The line’s GWR observation car was attached to the rear of a service train every day, further generating much needed income.

A railway spokesman said that the trains were well patronised, especially on the Sunday, possibly because visitors from further afield had also come to visit the KWVR gala (see pages 86-89) at the same time.

In the days following the gala, ELR directors took the decision to close the line until further notice, in line with the Government’s instructions during the coronavirus pandemic to avoid both unnecessary travel and attending major events where large numbers of people will be present. The fate of the July 2-4 big diesel gala therefore remained unclear.

ELR general manager Tracey Parkinson said: “Day ticket sales for the gala were good and overall the event was well supported. The ELR is keen to celebrate the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway as we approach 2022, when the 100th anniversary of the amalgamation will be commemorated.”

Additional reporting: Robin Jones.

L&Y DUO: L&Y Class 23 0-6-0ST No. 51456 and Class 27 0-6-0 No. 52322, masquerading as Bolton shed’s erstwhile No. 52345, power past Burrs at the head of the 1.30pm Bury–rawtenstall service on March 6 during the ELR Spring Steam Gala. GRAHAM NUTTALL

L&Y saddletanks side-by-side at night on March 5: Pug No. 19 is seen temporarily masquerading as No. 54241 in BR livery to be in line with No. 752, which has been repainted as No. 51456. Both locomotives are owned by the L&Y Railway Trust. Plans are afoot for a professional examination and report on No. 19’s boiler, which could result in it being returned to steam. JOHN SAGAR/ELR

L&Y delight: Nos. 52345 and 51456 are seen at Rawtenstall. BRIAN SHARPE

L&Y Class 27 0-6-0 No. 52322 running as No. 52345 and BR 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80097 are seen passing Burrs at the head of the 3.30pm from Bury Bolton Street Rawtenstall service during the ELR Spring Gala on March 6. KEVIN WHITEHURST

Left: A night photography session was held at Buckley Wells on March 5, organised by the Elrbased 3P20 Parcels Group. Pictured here are L&Y Class 23 0-6-0ST No. 51456, BR 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80097 and L&Y Class 27 0-6-0 No. 52322, masquerading as No. 52345. JOHN SAGAR/ELR

Banked by Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T No. 32 Gothenburg, L&Y Class 23 0-6-0ST No. 51456 is seen with the 4.10pm train from Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall on March 6. KEVIN WHITEHURST

Visiting from the South Devon Railway, GWR 0-6-0PT No. 6412 approaches Irwell Vale during the East Lancs Railway’s Spring Gala on March 8. ROBERT FALCONER

This vantage point at Lumb, just south of Irwell Vale station, has become available again after an absence of several years thanks to recent tree clearance. The bank to the left is the embankment for the old East Lancashire Railway, which ran from the junction at Stubbins to Accrington – which closed to traffic in 1966. More recently, restoration of Lumb Viaduct, which is just to the left of this shot by Railway Paths Ltd was completed in 2015, with Sustrans extending the path to link with the existing cycle route. Ian Riley’s LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 44871 can be seen working away from Irwell Vale on March 8, with the 2.10pm Rawtenstall to Heywood service. PHIL JONES

On shed after dark: BR 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80097 and L&Y Barton Wright Class 23 0-6-0ST No. 51456 are seen during the photography session held at Buckley Wells depot on March 5. JOHN SAGAR/ELR