It dawned on me at about 05:35 as I was walking to the station that I ought to go to bed earlier on Friday nights these days! Another early start, and another gala to visit as the curious summer of few interesting tours continues. This time it's the turn of the East Lancashire Railway. I'd visited briefly before, but had only enjoyed a ride behind a steam loco. Also, as the previous visit occurred on a weekday, I didn't get to complete the trip as far as Heywood. So the plan was to head for Bristol, catch the direct train to Manchester and then the tram to Bury for a few trips during the weekend of the ELR's 9 day Diesel Gala marathon. As it still seemed like a good idea, despite being so early - pressed on for the station. The journey up went surprisingly smoothly. After breakfast in Bristol, onto the 07:30 and settled in for the ride up to Manchester. Noted 'Tangmere' at Barton Hill ready for tomorrow's first Torbay Express trip, and also surprised to note the two Colas Rail 47s lurking in the sidings at Bristol Parkway. Otherwise, quite a quiet run up to Piccadilly, with only the noise of one of the hired-in HST sets heading for the south west at Birmingham to wake me up.
Straight onto the tram, and a fiddle for change which I should have anticipated. Had I done so, could have managed a slightly different set of turns on the ELR. Finally got a Bury tram and noted the improved ride quality on the former heavy rail tracks once out of the city centre. Arrived at the impressively preserved Bolton Street station and parted with a painfully large sum in time for a quick wander around, some shots of 50015 and then soon after, 45041 down to Heywood. This was the important bit, as it meant new track too. The weather was strange - fairly bright but with the threat of a downpour ever present. This occurred on our arrival back at Bury, with a damp dash out to get a shot of D1023 which arrived on the next platform heading the way we'd just arrived from.
At Bury there was a brief break for a loco swap as 45041 returned to the depot and 47402 'Gateshead' joined the train. I've always rather liked this loco, but it's remained elusive - hiding behind it's own sales stand at Crewe Works in 2005, and remaining resolutely on-shed during my last ELR visit. Sounding impressive, 47402 took us North into improving conditions and eventually to the terminus at Rawtenstall, passing 31108 on the way - a loco I'd very much have like to get a ride behind. Time for pictures on the run-around, and to grab another coffee before boarding for the run back down to Bury. Noted 20087 lurking too, having worked a short trip to Ramsbottom. We too waited there, as 37901 and 906 - stars of the recent Merehead gala - were a little late in arriving at the passing point. A brief delay meant an explosive start though - and once the train passed us, we shot away at what I'm sure was far more than the permitted speed. A spirited and very claggy run down to Bury.
Here it was time to leave - albeit very reluctantly as I'd like to have stayed for a few more runs. Perhaps next time I'll arrange to stay locally and enjoy a couple of days of entertainment on this fine railway. Today though, a swift walk to the Tram Interchange and back to Manchester to buy provisions and board the 16:24 back to Bristol. Another simple and pleasant journey into darkening skies, before a change in Bristol and an arrival home to a rain-lashed Highbridge and deciding not to go out again tonight. A cracking day out despite the weather, with some fine old engines.
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
