It’s the last large scale steam event of the year, so make sure to mark it in your calendar, 16 – 18 October!
Climb aboard for a weekend of steam powered glory with the East Lancashire Railway’s popular Autumn Steam Gala from 16 – 18 October. This is your chance to ride up and down the line behind the railway’s incredible home fleet, as well as potential special guests.
We are deligted to announce our first guest locomotive! Urie S15 No. 30506 will be joining us at the ELR for the first time since 1993!
We can also now announce our second guest locomotive. GWR Pannier Tank No. 7714 is making very visit to the ELR. A massive thank you to the wonderful Severn Valley Railway and the SVR Pannier Tank Fund for making this possiblem, we always enjoy taking our engines to the SVR so it will be brilliant to host them here this time around.
Our third Guest locomotive has also been announced! SECR O1 No. 65 is venturing further North than it has ever done before, starring at our event! A massive thank you to our friends at the Bluebell Railway for the loan of such a well-looked after locomotive, it’s always shining and we can’t wait to see it at the ELR!
They will be operating on an intensive timetable throughout the three day gala, starring alongside our home fleet locomotives:
- West Country 34092 “City of Wells”
- Standard 4MT 80097
- LYR “A Class” 52322
- LYR 11456/752
- “Pug” 11243 (Friday Only)
The weekend will see an intensive, all steam timetable and all the usual bells and whistles of an ELR gala.
BOOK NOW
Discounted Resident’s Permit, ATOC and ELRPS tickets will be available to book on the day the appropriate pass is produced.
Timetable
Timetable available nearer the event.
Brake Van Rides
Experience the Autumn Steam Gala from the best seats in the house!
Brake van rides are available for all three days of the event, offering a chance to travel on the veranda of a brake van for a return trip between Bury and Ramsbottom.
You must board the freight train for your brake van ride at Bury Bolton Street Station, and all trips are return to Ramsbottom lasting approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Irwell Valley Fryer: Fish & Chips Special
Observation Saloon Cream Tea
Footplate Rides
Experience the East Lancashire Railway from the footplate!
See first hand the work needed by our footplate crew to keep our intensive gala service moving.
Footplate rides commence at Bury Bolton Street Station, with locomotive and journey detailed below. Tickets are limited to one person per time slot, giving you a truly unique experience. Remember you MUST also purchase an Autumn Steam Gala Rover ticket valid for the date of your Footplate Ride.
| BR 4MT | 80097 | 1115 | Full line journey from Bury |
| BR 4MT | 80097 | 1515 | Full line journey from Bury |
| SR Pacific | City of Wells | 1115 | Full line journey from Bury |
| SR Pacific | City of Wells | 1620 | Bury to Rawtenstall return |
Autumn Steam Gala Night Goods Train
Soak in the unique atmosphere of an evening/night-time goods service.
Experience the railway from the veranda of a brake van as the sun sets over the Irwell Valley.
The Night Goods Train commences at Bury Bolton Street Station, and travels the whole line over the course of the evening. Passengers can hop on and off the goods train throughout the evening, and the ticket is valid on all services below. Tickets are very limited, and guarantee a space on all journeys. Remember you MUST also purchase an Autumn Steam Gala Rover ticket valid for Saturday 17th October
| SE&CR 01 | No. 65 | 1715 | Bury to Rawtenstall bay platform |
| SR S15 | 30506 | 1840 | Rawtenstall to Heywood |
| SR S15 | 30506 | 1943 | Heywood to Ramsbottom |
| SR S15 | 30506 | 2020 | Ramsbottom to Bury |
