Thirty’s the long and short of it!
The East Lancashire Railway operated its longest demonstration goods train to date during its Autumn Steam Gala.
HISTORY was made at the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) on Saturday, October 13 when the line operated its longest freight train in the preservation era.
Thirty restored goods vehicles were in action using three locomotives at the line’s recent Autumn Steam Gala.
It followed a mammoth effort by a team of volunteers and staff to organise and prepare resources for the event.
Stanier ‘8F’ 2-8-0 No. 48305, visiting from the Great Central Railway (GCR) hauled Class 24 diesel No. D5054 (24054) Phil Southern to appear like a rescue train – but in the end the steam loco failed and the ‘24’ hauled the train to Ramsbottom. LMS ‘Jinty’ 0-6-0T No. 47298 was attached to the rear as a banker.
The presence of three locos on a freight train proved to be another first for the 12-mile long Bury-based heritage railway.
“To get 30 wagons in operation is a huge achievement for our railway,” enthused volunteer Keith Savory. “We have never run a freight train that long before. While the GCR recently operated a 50 wagon train, we do not have as many restored wagons as the GCR, so we decided to operate the longest we could – bearing in mind the train has to fit in both Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall stations.”
Recent progress has included the completion of two oil tankers – one in ICI blue (No. B32) and one in Regent Petrol silver (No. 69). These wagons were restored last year (RM October 2022) but have now been lettered.
Conflat No. W36280 has been repainted and it now carries A Class container No. A65356, which has been restored from a derelict grounded stores shed.
Three-plank open wagons Nos. M457543, M474048 and M478278 have been rebuilt with all rotten wood replaced.
Other wagons recently restored include two Medfits – Nos. B460675 and B460530 – and another three-plank open wagon No. B471345, plus Borail D wagon No. B945871.
Projects to be undertaken now comprise two oil tankers, as well as a 12 ton box van which is waiting to go inside the shed for a new roof, sides and doors.
The railway has recently bought back a Seacow and Walrus after the vehicles were sold to a third party. The wagons are needed for permanent way duties on the ELR.
The demonstration goods train is next expected to appear at the spring steam gala (see separate story on p63).