ELR TIMELINE
DECEMBER 3 1966: Stubbins Junction to Accrington line closed by BR. The Rawtenstall to Bacup section of the line from Bury closes on the same date. DECEMBER 1966: Helmshore and District Railway Preservation Society formed to reopen Stubbins to Accrington line. Lease taken out on Helmshore station from BR.
SUMMER 1968: Helmshore and District Railway Preservation Society disbanded, but East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society is formed to reopen the Stubbins to Haslingden section of the Accrington route as a preserved line. OCTOBER 5 1970: Bolton to Rochdale line closed to passengers. Rochdale to Bury section retained for coal services through to Rawtenstall. SPRING 1972: ELRPS volunteers relocate their collection from Helmshore to their new base at Castlecroft in Bury, with all efforts to reopen part of the former Accrington line abandoned. JUNE 3 1972: The final BR passenger services run from Bury to Rawtenstall. Line is to be retained for weekly coal services to Rawtenstall. DECEMBER 5 1980: Final coal train travels between Heywood and Rawtenstall. FEBRUARY 14 1981: ‘Rossendale Farewell’ railtour operates over Heywood to Rawtenstall line. MARCH 27 1982: Three ‘ELR Phoenix’ trains run between Bury and Rawtenstall to test public interest in reopening the line. SPRING 1986: Bury to Rawtenstall line purchased from BR by Bury and Rossendale councils and leased to ELR. DECEMBER 27 1986: First ELR works trains operate between Bury and Summerseat. JULY 25 1987: Bury to Ramsbottom reopened to passengers by ELR. AUGUST 1989: Standard ‘4MT’ No. 76079 becomes the first BR tender locomotive to operate on the preserved line. APRIL 27 1991: Ramsbottom to Rawtenstall reopened
to passengers.
SPRING 1994: Duke of Gloucester becomes the first locomotive to visit using the newly reopened line from Heywood to Bury and the connection to the national network at Hopwood Junction. SEPTEMBER 2003: The line between Bury and Heywood is reopened to passengers. OCTOBER 2016: Burrs Country Park Halt is formally opened during a visit to the ELR by Flying Scotsman.