East Lancs Spring Gala 8-10 March

Cynical way?? Could you explain as I can't fathom that one out?

 

I was a bit annoyed with 3855 when I wrote that but I have heard someone say (and I can see where they're coming from) that the ELR has turned into a theme park. I've heard another person call it Thomas Land. I get that the ELR has to make money. I really do. I hope they continue to make money but I just hope they don't become the P&DSR from a few years ago. This gala is a step in the right direction and I really would like to attend, which is all my original comment was meant to say but someone had to get angry and spoil it as usual.

 

The problem with having so many engines is what kind of weird double headers will you get & how much running will the guest engines get?

aim at both railways so I'll wait for the WTT before deciding, but would like to do both

 

Please could you enlighten me? When it's not a Thomas event, what makes the ELR so much more like a theme park when compared to other heritage lines? I'm saying this because I've never visited the line (apart from a very brief visit to Bury Bolton Street station when I was in the area, but had insufficient time tn take a ride).

Before reading your e-mail, I would have put the ELR very much at the top of lines I'd like to travel on but have not done so thus far. This assessment is based on the pictures I have seen in railway periodicals plus my knowledge of the engines in their fleet. 34092 is not geographically appropriate, but it happens to be one of my favourite locos. All in all, although it's over 200 miles from my home, there seemed to be plenty of good reason to pay the line a visit but the tone of your e-mail suggests I may be disappointed. I'm not saying this to provoke anyone. I genuinely would like to know more.

 

I would definitely advise that you DO make a visit the the ELR. It's a decent-length line with decent locos. Bury's a nice station. The scenery's OK, I guess. The only thing that's odd is the shear number of family events they have. One look at their website and your eyes are assaulted be brightly-coloured posters advertising Thomas events, wizard weekends and all sorts of daftness. Scarcely a normal weekend goes by.

 

...and isn't that brilliant! Lots of reasons for parents to take their kids along to the ELR and enjoy themselves There will be some future volunteers among them no doubt!

 

There are 52 weekends in a year, from my reading if you include Santa's as 5 weekends, Thomas as 3, Steam galas as 2, diesel galas as 1 (or 3 if you count theme days this year), 40's event, sci-fi event, Lancashire weekend that leaves about 36 weeks or 70% as ordinary weekends. Hardly 'scarcely a normal weekend goes by'.
Wizards, Halloween and other ' daftness ' tends to take place during the week or at night, whatever they are doing seems to work as all these things seem to sell out..............

 

Thank you for your replies, Gentlemen. My reading of your comments is that if I avoid Thomas or similar, I am likely to have as good a time on the ELR as any other line, so I hope one day, I'll pay a a visit, preferably on a day when "The Volcano" is in action. I guess, however, that coming from "Darn Sarf" (deepest Sussex), I may need a passport!

 

Not at all...just bring your wallet and be prepared to empty it

 

WTT with loco allocations available to download.

http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/2019/3/spring-steam-gala.aspx

 

Most railways try to attract people who would otherwise not visit a heritage railway and I say "Good luck to them. Whatever gets the money rolling in". (That's not to say I would visit on sci-fi weekend or kiddies events, but who's to say visitors to those won't then get the railway bug.)

 

Many thanks for posting. All ready for annual 250 mile 'pilgrimage' to Lancashire from south coast! Well worth battling the M6 if only to see the superb signal gantry at Bolton Street!
Any ideas which way round locos are likely to be facing please? Thanks

 

Nice to see a variety of locos on the freight on Sunday

 

Not sure about the A Class “2890” on the freight, it’s not even a proper engine

 

I rather like 2890. It looks like a real loco and it goes well with the A class.

 

The latest passenger figures once again show the East Lancs surpassed 200k visitors last year and put it amongst the most visited attractions in the Manchester area. It's dining trains are also gaining a very enviable reputation. This is a big turnaround from a few years ago and show that the railway is marketing itself correctly. A railway in a strong financial position is then able to afford attractive steam galas for us enthusiasts, as well as purchasing and restoring locomotives such as 34092. Put simply, enthusiasts alone don't pay the bills - a railway that appeals to a diverse market is much stronger and will survive any troughs in the tourism market.

 

From what I can work out,

Facing Rawtenstall:

78018
4270
34092
2890
52322
Gothenburg

Facing Heywood:

80097

Given 80080 hasn't arrived yet and I haven't seen any snaps of 419 at the ELR I don't know which way they will be facing, but given the timetable shows the two 4MT tanks double heading one might assume they will both face Heywood?

 

That TT Is likely to change. The organiser was told that 80097 was to be turned. That now looks unlikely. So double headed std tanks are off the menu I’m afraid.

 

Many thanks Kieran and Andi,much appreciated - see you there?? Cheers, Andy

 

Quite likely I’ll be there...