On the 24th & 25th January 2026 we will be throwing the shed doors open, and showcasing our 1856-built Locomotive Works.

You’ll be able to see both the operational locomotive fleet as well as projects that are under restoration, giving you the opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes at our running shed and engineering facilities on a unique shed tour!

Alongside the locomotive works tour, we will also have a service train operating between Bury and Ramsbottom throughout the day, this will be steam hauled to Ramsbottom and Diesel hauled on the return to Bury, any ticket for the event allows unlimited travel on this service.

Book Open House Weekend Tickets

Shed Tour

We can’t wait to welcome you for a guided tour around our locomotive works. Beginning at Bury, you will board our ‘Bubble’ Diesel Multiple Unit. This will take you into our Carriage and Wagon Shed where you will alight and walk to the locomotive works.

Our tour guides will give you behind the scenes access to our ongoing restorations, including Class 15 D8233 on our locomotive jacks. Outside in the yard we will have both Steam and Diesel locomotives on display. You will then board the return train to Bury. Boarding a passenger train from the Loco Works to travel to Bury is incredibly rare, and we will be utilising our Brake Vans which will be top and tailed by two steam locomotives: ‘Pug’ 11243 and 1969 ‘J N Derbyshire’

Tour Timings: 9am , 9.45am, 10.30am, 11.15am, 12.00pm, 12.45pm, 1.30pm, 2.15pm, 3pm.

The tours last approximately 1 hour, for further T&C’s, please click on ‘Book Open House Weekend Plus Shed Tour Tickets’

Taster Footplate Experiences with 32 ‘Gothenburg’

As part of our Open House Event, we are delighted to announce you will have the chance to drive MSC No. 32 ‘Gothenburg’! For just £75 per person you get to take to the controls with our crew on ‘Gothenburg’ and drive from Bury Bolton Street to Burrs Country Park and back. Each session must be booked on the day, on a first come first served basis, these Footplate Experiences will depart from Platform 2 (T&C’s Apply and you must be 18 or over to participate).

Sessions for each day:

Saturday 24th January: 10.20am, 11.05am, 12.05pm, 1.05pm, 2.05pm, 3.05pm

Sunday 25th January: 10.20am, 11.05am, 12.05pm

Great Victorian Railway Quiz

Be educated and entertained with “Off the Rails”! This gameshow features folk from the golden age of steam travel going head to head to show off their knowledge of rail. This live show features Victorian station clerk Branwell Brontë taking on the iconic Isambard Kingdom Brunel! We wonder who will win…

Show times and locations:

Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 January
11:00am Bury Platform
12:30pm Bury Transport Museum
2:00pm Bury Platform
3:00pm Bury Transport Museum

Loco Roster

Steam

L&Y ‘A Class’ 52322 (Service Trains Saturday and Sunday AM)

32 ‘Gothenburg’ (Footplate Experiences on Saturday and Sunday AM, then Service Trains Sunday PM)

LMS ‘Pug’ 11243 (Shed Tour Brake Van Rides)

Barclay 1969 ‘J N Derbyshire’ (Shed Tour Brake Van Rides)

Diesel

Class 14 D9531 (Service Trains Saturday and Sunday)

Class 122 ‘Bubble’ DMU (Shed Tour Shuttle)

Other Highlights

75 Ton Breakdown Crane on Display in the Bay Platform

Trade Stands with various stalls selling railway merchandise and models on Platform ¾ and Footbridge

Trackside Pub on Platform 2

(Saturday Only) RAIL 200 Inspiration Train in Platform 4, separate free ticket must be purchased to access.

East Lancashire Railway Logo
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