I’m sure that most Bury Times readers will agree that we are incredibly lucky to have the 12-mile heritage line on our doorsteps and the novelty of hearing steam trains never really wears off. As a child, I spent many a weekend riding in carriages from Heywood to Rawtenstall with my dad and sibling and many nights in the Trackside as a late teen. I’ve attended some of the vintage weekend and Christmas events and even spent my 33rd birthday on The Flying Scotsman.
I can tell the difference between a steam loco and a diesel train but wouldn’t say that I am particularly knowledgeable when it comes to the finer details. This month, I joined thousands of rail enthusiasts to attend the ELR "Legends of Steam" event. It took place from March 14 to 16 and showcased a handful of locomotive legends to mark the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
Bury Times reporter Lisa Valentine at ELR (Image: Newsquest) My dad came along for the ride and we grabbed a coffee and snacks from the trackside cart to enjoy on the train later on. I was shocked at how busy the platform was at 9.30am, with plenty of people holding professional cameras and jostling for prime viewing positions.
We boarded the 34081 "92 Squadron" at Rawtenstall station as excited passengers (including me by this point) scrambled to get the best possible picture. The carriage was almost full and two gentlemen asked to join our table. We got chatting and I asked them what their favourite locos were.
It turned out that Pe.