ELR - Bury to Nuttall

East Lancashire Railway 

First sighting of the day of 71000, the 'Duke of Gloucester', passing Springside Farm.

80080 approaching Summerseat enroute to Bury.

The 'Duke' leaving Summerseat towards Ramsbottom.

Passing by Springside Farm, engine 44871 pulls its coaches whilst in the distance NCB 65 assists.

NCB 65 crossing the bridge at the tail end of 44871's coaches.

Between tunnels at Nuttall, the southbound 'Lord Nelson' hurries along towards Summerseat.

In the distance at Bury South junction, 'The Sherwood Forester', 45231, can be seen raising steam before pulling onto platform 4.

After switching tracks, 45231 waits patiently for 'May' to manoeuvre a rake of coal wagons at Bury South junction.

And finally with the signal raised, the 'Duke of Gloucester' begins to depart Bury Bolton Street station.

BR - Holywell Water Works to Horsted Keynes

Bluebell Railway

From a photographic viewpoint at the Holywell Water Works the 13:00 from Sheffield Park approaches, pulled by engine 80151.

After passing with the signal still raised, she disappears under the bridge and into the distance.

Shortly afterwards the 13:21 from Horsted Keynes, engine 1638, thunders trough the bridge towards Sheffield Park.

The 15:21 prepares to depart at Horsted Keynes.

In semi-restoration condition, engine 92240 resides peacefully at Horsted Keynes.

Engine 75027 also resides in semi-restoration condition at Horsted Keynes.

Looking south out of Horsted Keynes, the station is once again silent.

Copyright: Ordnance Survey

WCR - Glenfinnan to Mallaig

West Coast Railways

Although not a typical 'heritage line', a special steam service between Fort William and Mallaig operates each year during the summer months. This service is known as 'The Jacobite'.

West Coast Railways, operators of 'The Jacobite', provided the steam engine and carriages for the "Hogwarts Express" as seen in the 'Harry Potter' films. 

Engine 45231, 'The Sherwood Forester', is seen here pulling into Glenfinnan Station.

 Glenfinnan Signal Box, situated at the end of the platform.

The 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct, a location recently made more familiar in the'Harry Potter' films.

This structure measures 1248 feet in length and 100 feet high. Each arch spans 50 feet and is made wholly of concrete. The aggregate used was crushed rock quarried from the approach cuttings at each end of the viaduct.

Passengers waiting for the next train at Lochailort Station.

'The Sherwood Forester' pulling out of Mallaig Station.

End of the line and Mallaig Station.

Dr. Richard Beechings axe did hover over this line but thanks to support from local communities, the line was spared from closure during the infamous 1960's and 1970's railways culling.

Today the line survives with the upsurge of summer visitors, steam excursions and the awareness of the line brought about by the 'Harry Potter' films..

ELR - Burrs Country Park to Brooksbottoms

East Lancashire Railway

Looking north from the bridge at Springside Farm, a southbound goods train (49395) approaches.

Pulling out of Summerseat, slowly the Southern 850, 'Lord Nelson', departs towards Bury.

Quickly the non-stop 45231 'The Sherwood Forester' passes northbound through Summerseat.

Gently chugging over Brooksbottoms viaduct, 49395 pulls a passenger train towards Ramsbottom.

In the distance 45231 'The Sherwood Forester' can be seen through the trees and bellowing smoke en-route to Summerseat.

Consist 80080 and 49395 pulling a passenger train southbound.

Southern 850, 'Lord Nelson', looking good as she gets up to speed after passing  Burrs Country Park.

Rainbow warrior 44871 cuts a dash northbound just outside Burrs Country Park.

After just leaving Bury, 45407 dashes over the viaduct at the entrance of Burrs Country Park.

Copyright: Ordnance Survey

CVR - Rudyard Lake to Rushton Spencer

Churnet Valley Railway

From the car park at the northern end of Rudyard Lake, immediately in front of you, you have the trackbed of the old North Staffordshire Railway.

Travelling north you soon approach Beat Lane and the first road bridge of this section.

Continuing north and after approximately one mile from the car park, you arrive at the old station house of Rushton Spencer.

Still visible upon approaching the station, on the left hand side is the platform.









Rushton Spencer station, complete with its tall chimney stacks and raised signal, this photograph paints a perfect winter scene.

End of the line.

Just over a mile from Rushton Spencer, the trackbed continues but the adopted Staffordshire Way departs the line to the east and west.

From the end of the line now looking south towards Rushton Spencer.

Copyright: Ordnance Survey