ELR October Steam Gala

A further option is train to Bolton and the 471 bus from the Bus Station. This stops on Bolton Street in Bury just outside the ELR station.

 

Agreed. Bolton Bus station is immediately adjacent to the Railway Station, trains from Manchester take 15 mins (several per hour for various destinations Kirkby/Southport/Blackpool/Barrow). Bus 471 runs (shows as Rochdale destination) every 10 minutes or so and on a good day it's around 20 minutes by bus.

 

Are you turning out for this then Alan?

 

Yes, I think so John.
Saturday is going to be the drier of the two days, so may lineside then, and have a ride on the Sunday.

 

Thats my plan too. Irwell Vale area AM and around Burrs PM...maybe see you around Be good to catch-up.

 

I'll probably be at the north end of the line, Rawtenstall / Townsend Fold and Irwell Vale.
Will keep a lookout for you.

 

My video from the shed shoot last night...

 

Just got back from the Gala.
Lot of steam action, albeit a bit behind on the timetable, but well done ELR, to bring together such a large mix of motive power.

 

A bit behind, try over an hour towards then end, what happened? Morning first run of 60007 passed us going north at Townsend Fold 20 mins late, however, it just didn't re-appear returning south until 11.15 about 50 mins down. Everything ran 50/60 mins late thereafter, the first parcels run didn't turn up, presume cancelled.
Dull day, almost no exhaust anywhere, A4's just ambling along shut off where normally loco's work, hope it's better tomorrow, but rain forecast mid-afternoon onwards.

 

According to the station staff there was a problem first thing at Rawtenstall.
Regardless of the late running I still managed to travel behind the locomotives I wanted too.
Lot of line side photographers - do the guys in hi vis vests pay a fee towards the railway?, they seemed to collect in bunches, so look organised to some extent. just curious.

 

My conscious is clear, paid up ELR member, caught first train out from Bury to Rawtenstall, walked to Irwell Vale and back picking off shots, train back to Bury end of day. Don't assume all linesiders are free-loading. I shall be doing the same again tomorrow.
Same trick two weeks ago on the WSR gala, train/hike/photographs/train back (cakes are Stogumber are still great!)

 

Full Flickr set including 3P20 pre gala night shoot available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/45407and44871/sets/72157648445608008/

Great gala, well done to all involved in organising, something for everyone with a colourful mix of liveries!

 

RGB at the East Lancs gala 18 October 2014

The red Crab was joined by a green and a blue A4 to provide a full-colour group of headliners at the East Lancashire Railway Autumn gala, with a strong supporting cast of black engines. Large crowds had come to see the crimson Crab for the first time, as well as to enjoy perhaps the last multiple appearance of A4s in the past two years of celebration.

They were joined by John Cameron's other loco, The Great Marquess, beginning another long winter visit, the resident Standard tank and Jinty, and the 1896 L&Y Aspinall 0-6-0 which would make a poignant double header with the Crab at the end of my visit.

29 photos are at http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/p1060267347

Peter, on a grey Sunday morning in Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com

 

Just want to pass on my thanks for yesterday (delays and all) - I was chasing two cop locos Union of South Africa and the Crab and I managed to get them both.

I heard all sorts of stories about the root cause of the delays, some contradictory so I won't comment on that except to say it was unfortunate but given the delays I still enjoyed the visit. I don't think I was the only as there seemed to be a very good turnout of visitors - the queues for the Chippy in Rammy were out onto the pavement!

I've been chasing Union of South Africa for some time and it's always good to see a Lanky & Yorky loco on the ELR but star turn for me was the Crab. Seems like Patience is rewarded in the end! She looked wonderful and she's a credit to those who restored her to running order.

 

Awesome day on Saturday. Ambitious timetable (well done to those who wrote the diagrams), which provided a spectacular display of steam power to passengers and photters alike. To those (at the lineside) who were moaning about trains running late and double-headers after dark.....get a flippin life!

A handful of barely adequate shots here;

http://johnleyland.smugmug.com/CD/Heritage-Railways/18814037_v8JNgX#!i=3624927867&k=pVrvjFR

 

Not being funny, what did you really expect from a pacific on a pres line in 2014?

 

Some shots from saturday now on my website.

Dave


http://dtphotography.smugmug.com/Railways/East-Lancashire-Railway/East-Lancs-Railway/

 

A set of colour and monochrome photos from the Saturday of this gala are now online at my Zenfolio website at:- http://mickrogers.zenfolio.com/p814857694



Thanks to all who made it happen - a very enjoyable time despite the early problems and their consequences on time-keeping.
Cheers,

 

I hasten to add my hiking on both days was on public footpaths paralleling the railway, I was not using the track as a right of way from one location to the next.
I also would add that whilst waiting to photograph off the Summerseat side of the tunnels (public place) Sunday with several other enthusiasts, we were surprised to see a hiker without orange jacket appear from the station direction, he walked right across the viaduct and stood in front of us all a few feet from the tracks. When challenged by myself, he said he was not an enthusiast and was using the line as a quick route to Ramsbottom! The conversation developed about the dangers of being on the railway, especially without hi-vis protection, then he asked if the tunnels were long as this was his intended route, but he had a torch! The gentleman in question (late 60's) eventually reversed his direction and walked back towards Summerseat over the viaducts.
Not all people on the railway are enthusiasts after a "better" position for a shot.