East Lancs Steam Gala, Legends of Steam. Saturday 16th, Sunday 17th March 2024.
Local ground again this weekend, and the East Lancashire railway`s winter steam gala. I did intend doing the Friday also, as this was a 3-day event, but the power steering pump had gone in my car, so it would have been a bit difficult really, for what I wanted to do, without a car, and the weather wasn’t really great on the Friday anyway.
Having picked up the car Friday evening, Saturday morning saw me up early and driving up the M66 bound for Ramsbottom sidings, while I waited for 70000 “Britannia”, double heading with 60007 “Sir Nigel Gresley” carrying the BR standard blue livery.
I spent most of the morning in Ramsbottom sidings, the weather was unusually good, with blue skies and plenty of sunshine, I later drove down to Burrs and the Bank, but the weather had changed considerably, becoming event colder with light rain at times. My final move of the day, was to the viewing area in the museum yard, to capture Lancashire and Yorkshire 0-6-0 ST and later 70000 “Britannia”, before driving home.
Sunday morning saw me in the gym for 08.00, followed by a late Wetherspoons breakfast, and then a drive up the M66, to Ramsbottom railway station this time. I arrived on the platforms just after 11.00 and in time to see the Lancashire and Yorkshire saddle tank arriving and later making its way across to Ramsbottom sidings. The next arrival was “Sir Nigel Gresley,” heading south tender first, and the next northbound was “Leander.”
I later drove up to Rawtenstall and caught up with “Leander,” as she was running around her train. I then positioned myself on the crossing and waited for “Britannia” to arrive across the river Irwell bridge. My final move was to drive to Rawtenstall railway station and wait for “Sir Nigel Gresley” to arrive and run round her train, to finish my weekend off. A really big well done to all the staff and organisers at the East Lancs Railway, for another stunning event, lovely to catch up with a few friends, both old and new.
Locomotives operating
BR Standard, Class 7, 70000 “Britannia” Built in Crewe Works for British Railways in 1951, this engine was the first British Railways standard locomotive to be built and the first of 55 locomotives of the Britannia class.
LNER, A4, 60007 “Sir Nigel Gresley” This engine came out of Doncaster Works of the London and North Eastern Railway in early 1936 and bears the distinction of being the 100th locomotive built to the designs of the LNER’s Chief Mechanical Engineer, Sir Nigel Gresley.
LMS, Jubilee Class, 45690 “Leander” Built the same year as 60007 at Crewe, Leander was named for a Navy Ship which was in turn named after a hero of ancient Greek mythology. It originally started life under the number 5690, but was renumbered 45690 when the railways were nationalised.
752 Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway 23, 0-6-0 St ex 11456. One of the oldest steam engines still in great working order, 752 is a stunning example of a 19th century shunting locomotive. This class of engine was once a very common sight on the original Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway.
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