Summer at East Lancashire Railway

Travel to Wonderland

15 June, 8 August 2024

Follow the White Rabbit through the looking glass and into a whimsical world with Alice and her delightfully mad friends. This topsy-turvy day will see you dive into the Mad Hatter’s mind and help the Mad March Hare learn to sing, just keep an eye out for the Queen of Hearts and be careful not to lose your head. You will also get to spend time with the Cheshire-Cat and even play a spot of croquet!

The Dino Adventure

20 July 2025

Get ready to roar into adventure at the Dino Academy. Join eccentric palaeontologists as they take you on a Jurassic journey on board a heritage train, packed with thrilling discoveries. As you dig into the world of dinosaurs you will unearth prehistoric secrets, learn how to train a raptor, discover what dinosaurs ate and even hatch a dino egg.

The Wizard Adventure

27 July 2025

Grab your Wizard Robes and get ready for an epic adventure at Wizard Academy! The wand waving professors will teach you the secrets of real magic as you travel on board one of our trains. You will learn powerful incantations, discover the proper way to greet mystical creatures and take care of a dragon egg. You will also get to meet the Wizard’s cute familiars, like Felix the Phoenix and Reggie the Rat.

Day Out with Thomas

2 – 3 August 2025

Take a trip on Sodor’s number one Tank Engine and meet Sir Topham Hatt on a Day Out with Thomas. To begin, you will get to take a ride with Thomas from Bury to Ramsbottom and back. Once you return the doors of Bury Transport Museum are open to you, here you’ll find loads more Thomas themed activities, including performances from station sweepers Rusty and Dusty, face painting, balloon modelling, fun fair rides and more.

Villain Academy

15 August 2025

Don your darkest cloak, sharpen your wits and prepare for a wickedly fun day where bad is the new good! You will join your favourite villains like The Evil Queen, Captain Hook, Cruella and more and learn the basics of being bad. Master your evil laugh, perfect your dramatic villain entrance, perfect your piracy, test how evil you are and add to your collection of screams.

Peppa Pig

21, 22 August 2025

The East Lancashire Railway is thrilled to welcome back everyone’s favourite cheeky little piggy. Come and meet Peppa Pig in the fantastic Bury Transport Museum at intervals. Just pre book your general admission ticket and pick a meet and greet slot that suits you. The family fun continues with a cracking fun fair, face painters, craft activities and even a petting farm so that you can meet some farmyard friends. Your ticket also includes a ride on any ELR train service on the day of your visit.

Kids Go Free

Celebrate the summer with our free ticket offer for children. Each paying adult is entitled to up to two free Child One Day Rovers or Full Line Returns for 3 – 15 year olds, with additional Child tickets available to purchase. This offer only applies to an adult ticket on non-event dates.

Outdoor Exploration

Take advantage of that Kids Go Free offer and discover every secret of the Irwell Valley at a significant discount. If you’re in need of some inspiration for things to see and to do, this carefully crafted itinerary will take you on a whistlestop tour of some of the region’s most impressive outdoor spaces.

Sculpture Sightseeing

Embrace your inner artist and discover dozens of wonderful sculptures and art installations dotted up and down the East Lancashire Railway on the expansive Irwell Sculpture Rail. The trail features works by local, national and international artists and incorporates decent hiking routes and picturesque picnic spots. The railway makes the perfect stepping-stone between each of the clusters.

Summer Diesel Gala

3 – 6 July 2025

Gleaming diesel locomotives and (hopefully) gorgeous sun-drenched days, our Summer Diesel Gala is shaping up to be one to remember. Guest locomotives include 31108, 37716, 50008 “Thunderer” and 57002 “Winston Churchill”. You will also get to see and ride behind home fleet start like D9531, D7076, 40012 and more.

Red Rose Dining

Selected Dates

The perfect way to relax, whether you want to dine with friends and family or just enjoy an intimate and quiet evening with a loved one. Expect a sparkling welcome drink upon boarding and enjoy a sumptuous four course meal, followed by coffee and after dinner chocolate, as you take an atmospheric steam train trip through the beautiful Irwell Valley.

Lancastrian Lunch

Selected Dates

Looking for something a little less formal and suitable for the whole family, kids included? Our traditional Lancastrian Lunches offer a fresh take on your typical Sunday Lunch, with sensational views of the valley as you travel, fresh local produce and menus that celebrate the best of Lancashire.

Trackside Bar

If you’re planning to go exploring along the line this Summer, then we recommend doing it on a full stomach. Thankfully the railway is host to an incredible bar and restaurant – The Trackside. Located at the heart of all the action on Bury Station Platform, this traditional pub is the perfect pit stop no matter where you are in your journey, whether you’re starting strong or finishing with a feast.

Buffer Stops Bar

Another must see stopping point along the ELR line, the quaint little Buffer Stops is cozily nestled within Rawtenstall Station, and even incorporates part of the traditional waiting room into it’s seating area, as well as the ample outdoor seating available on the platform itself, perfect for whiling away a summer day. The bar offers an ever changing selection of quality ales, ciders and perries.