ELR Autumn steam gala

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Dates for this event

17th October 2015,
18th October 2015

Say farewell to 2015 with this fantastic steam powered spectacular. The last major steam event of 2015, the Autumn Steam Gala promises to be a true extravaganza, featuring an intensive all Steam timetable made up of home fleet steam locomotives as well as special guests from further afield.

A somewhat western flavour will prevail at this year’s Autumn Steam Gala as a Great Western tank engine and Autocoaches will visit the ELR for the very first time.

Ex-GWR Pannier Tank 6430 will be visiting the line along with Autocoaches 167 and 163 which will create evocative memories for the many who travelled on branch line in Wales or the south west in 50’s and 60’s whilst holidaying.

Ex-GWR Pannier Tank 0-6-0 No. 6430 was built at Swindon in 1937 for predominate use on branch lines in South Wales before moving to Plymouth in 1962. 6430 was then sold for scrap before being rescued for preservation in 1966. Eventually the locomotive returned to steam for use on the Llangollen railway in North Wales. 6430 was also fitted for Autotrain working which was the precursor to the introduction to the extremely popular Diesel Multiple Units.

The Gala will also see the return of 34092, otherwise known as City of Wells, for the dedicated steam weekend. A great opportunity to see the loco if you missed it over the summer season.

The visiting engines will be a welcome addition to our line up which so far includes:

BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 Tank No. 80080
LMS Hughes Fowler Crab 2-6-0 No. 13065
Ex-L&Y A Class 0-6-0 No. 12322
WD Austerity 0-6-0ST No. 132 ‘Sapper’
WD Austerity 0-6-0ST No. 75008 ‘Swiftsure’
Hudswell Clark 0-6-0 No. 32 ‘Gothenburg’

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For the gala we will also be playing host to a visiting Autocoach which will be coupled to 6430 during the event. Autotrains will run exclusively between Bury and Heywood operating an intense service to connect with a bus service to Castleton and trains from Bury to Rawtenstall. Travel in these will be included in the standard gala admission ticket.
“The GWR Autocoach (or auto-trailer) is a type of coach that was used by the Great Western Railway for push-pull trains powered by a steam locomotive. The distinguishing design feature of an autocoach is the driving cab at one end, allowing the driver to control the train without needing to be located in the cab of the steam locomotive. This eliminates the need to run the engine round to the other end of the coach at the end of each journey.”
Saturday & Sunday

At around 9:00am the first train will leave for Rawtenstall which heralds the commencement of the main event. Throughout the day an intense passenger service will connect Bury with Rawtenstall, with the Bury to Heywood section being for the exclusive use of the visiting Autotrains. You will be able to swap and change trains with your unlimited rover travel tickets, so don’t worry, you will be able to catch a ride behind every steam engine if you wish.

A freight train will also be out on the line between Bury and Ramsbottom with various engines taking their turns on this throughout the event, furthermore we will also be making sure our engines get around the railway so some will combine forces to double head and even bank some trains!

During your visit why not take time out to watch the goings on in around Bury as loco motive swaps take place as well as seeing ‘May’ up close and personal in the museum yard. Bury Transport Museum will become a mini-festival of steam in its own right as a miniature railway, traction engines and other steam aged vehicles will be on display throughout the weekend.

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There will be a FREE heritage bus service to and from Bury Bolton Street Station and Burrs Country Park throughout the weekend. The shuttle service will also run to Ramsbottom Town Centre at selected times.