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Celebrate and educate, 200 glorious years of rail in the United Kingdom.
Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 September 2025
The East Lancashire Railway has always worked towards one simple goal, to keep the past alive.
We have always believed that preserving our heritage, whether it be steam and diesel locomotives, rolling stock, stations, signalboxes and all of our unique infrastructure, every aspect is vital to educate generations to come…
To celebrate this story, we’ll be running several steam and diesel passenger trains which have heavily influenced the ELR’s story through its working life, right through to preservation, including one hauled by Furness Railway No.20, the oldest working steam locomotive in the country, secured for this event with the support of the ELR Preservation Society. This service will be hauling vintage carriages so you can travel in true Victorian style.
We’ll also be allowing visitors onto the cab of certain locos, view demonstrations, speak with crews and interact with characters from railway history. Everything finishes with an original theatrical performance at Bury Transport Museum!
Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 September
Heritage Locomotives
Several Steam and Diesel locomotives will be running regular services throughout the day.
Board our Victorian Steam Service with Furness Railway No.20, the oldest working steam locomotive in the country.
Celebrate the era of the London Midland and Scottish Railway, one LMS locomotive, 11456, will be running steam services. 75s was built by Beyer Peacock in 1881 as a 0-6-0 tender engine designed for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway by Barton Wright. In 1896 it was rebuilt at Horwich as a 0-6-0 saddle tank to an Aspinall design as there was a need for shunting locomotives.
Moving on to British Rail in the 50s and 60s, the transition from steam to diesel will be represented by 34092 “City of Wells” running in the morning before switching to Diesel Class 24, D5054.
Finally, we commemorate the BR Blue era of the 1970s with diesel services hauled by locomotive No. 832 Onslaught on Saturday. Built at Swindon Works in 1961, 832 is a diesel-hydraulic locomotive fitted with two turbocharged Maybach V12 MD650 engines, together producing 2,270 horsepower. Part of the class nicknamed “Warships” — owing to their tradition of being named after Royal Navy vessels — Onslaught holds a special place in history as the very last Warship to be withdrawn, on 16 December 1972.
Following withdrawal, the locomotive was transferred to Derby Technical Centre before being secured for preservation. It went on to become one of the first preserved diesels to join the railway during its formative years at Castlecroft, prior to Trevor T. Jones securing Baron Street Works as the railway’s permanent base.
Class 56006 joins the lineup on Sunday 14th September representing the 1980’s and beyond. These powerful freight locos are still in use on the modern railway today hauling freight across the country. 56006 is joined by the even more modern Class 70008 from Freightliner on Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Trailer
Meet the Locos
Hands On History
Climb into the cab of one of our most popular steam locomotives, the “City of Wells”, which will be on stationary display on platform 2, 14:15 – 15:45. Gain a new perspective on these incredible machines and speak with the crew of the engine.
The Standard 4 Group will also be stationed on the platform selling railway memorabilia.
Class 52 D1041 ‘Western Prince’ will be on display at Bury Bolton Street Station, where you’ll have the chance to step inside for cab visits. This is a fantastic opportunity to see the restoration progress as it gets closer to being an operational loco again, and get a feel for the driver’s eye view.
There will also be a large working model of Stephenson’s Rocket, produced by Hornby in 1980 to mark 150 years of the Liverpool and Manchester line. You can find this in the space behind the stairway leading down to Platform 1 and 2.
Finally there will be a model railway display as well as a replica of Richard Trevithick’s “Catch Me Who Can” viewable all day at Bury Transport Museum. “Catch Me Who Can” was the fourth and final such engine created by the celebrated inventor and mining engineer.
A Class Act
With many thanks to our friends at Freightliner who are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year, we are very pleased to announce that they’re providing the ELR with a Class 70, expected to be Class 70008 in its fresh anniversary livery (subject to availability).
Saturday 13 September – The Loco will be on display at Rawtenstall Station from approx. 10am – 4:30pm with the Freightliner team offering cab visits and a close up-look around the loco.
Sunday 14 September – We are offering the very rare chance to ride behind a mainline Class 70! Replacing 832 ‘Onslaught’ on the Sunday will be Class 56006, which allows us to attach the 70 to the front of passenger trains, pairing two iconic mainline freight locos. An opportunity not to be missed!
Talk to the Past
Meet and interact with the inventor of the world’s first high pressure steam engine, Richard Trevithick, on board the train. You will also listen to an argument between “Flying Scotsman” driver Bill Sparshott and Moses Truro, Driver of “City of Truro” on the Platform later in the day. Which one do you think broke the speed record first?
L&Y/LMS “Pug” 11243 Demonstrations
Get up close to a locomotive in action. This small steam engine was designed to facilitate the expansion of the Southampton Docks during a period of increasing trade. The crew of Pug 19 will be on site to discuss the locomotive and explain some of the tools they work with.
BTM – Pug shunting demonstrations:
Both Days
11:00
12:45
Sunday 14 September – 200 Years of Rail Theatrical Performance
Bury Transport Museum will play host to a theatrical performance; RAIL 200! A comical, educational and entertaining look back at our railways for the past 200 years! Along the way you will meet famous historical figures, relive milestone events and learn about the many twists and turns of the past two centuries of rail.
First Performance: 11:30
Second Perfomance: 14:30
Seating provided on first come first served basis, all welcome. Included with travel ticket.
Vintage Fish and Chips
NOW SOLD OUT
Nothing says “Britain” quite like a meal of fish and chips, but we’ve taken it a step further. Enjoy your chippy tea on board our Victorian service hauled by Furness Railway No. 20. Running on Saturday 13 September, the train leaves from Bury Station at 18:20.
Tickets cost £12.50, must be booked in advance and do not include travel on any other services at ELR or access to any of the Rail 200 related events or activities.
200 Years of Rail!
What’s On
| Days | Station / Area | Overview | Cost / Booking | |
| L&Y Saloon | Both days | Board at any station | First Class travel | Travel included in ticket first come, first served. |
| Great Eastern | Both days | Board at Bury | First Class travel, Cream tea, tea & coffee | £12.50 per head, payable on the day |
| City of wells cab visits | Both days | Bury -Station – Platform 4 | Between 14:15 -16:15 | Included in ticket |
| Pug shunting demonstrations | Both days | Bury Transport Museum | 11:00 & 12:45 | Included in ticket |
| Rail 200 Rocket model display | Both days | Bury Station – Undercroft | Throughout the day | Included in ticket |
| Vintage fish and chips | Saturday 13th September | Board at Bury | Tickets cost £12.50, must be booked in advance and does not include travel on any other services at ELR or access to any of the Rail 200 related events or activities. To book email pubs@eastlancsrailway.co.uk, or call 0161 764 6461. | |
| 200 Years of Rail Theatrical Performance | Sunday 14 September | Bury Transport Museum | 11:30 & 14:30 | Included in ticket first come, first served. |
| 70008 Static Display | Saturday 13 September | Rawtenstall Station | 10:00 – 16:30 | Freightliner team offering cab visits and a close-up look around the loco. |
| 70008 on Track | Sunday 14 September | Board at Bury | A rare chance to ride behind a mainline Class 70! Will be paired with Class 56006. |
