Steam Railways near Manchester & the NorthWest

Steam Railways
Day Trips out from Manchester

Bolton Street Station, Bolton Street, Bury BL9 0EY.
Tel: 0161-764 7790 (weekends). and 0161-705 5111 (weekdays).

To quote ELR's own literature "a trip on the East Lancashire Railway is a journey back in time". If the age of steam is to your taste then a trip on a steam train through the beautiful Rossendale Valley could be just the ticket.

The original rail line was opened in 1846 to link the Manchester to Bolton line with Radcliffe, and continued along the Irwell Valley to Rawtenstall. But the Rawtenstall-Bury line failed to maintain viable goods and passenger traffic so that it would have been closed down and dismantled, had it not been for the East Lancs Preservation Society. With some help from Bury and Rossendale Councils, the line was reopened in 1987.

Nowadays, you can travel the line on original steam (and occasionally diesel) rolling stock, through several picturesque station halts which have retained all the charm and nostalgia of the bygone age which they represent. The line runs a regular weekend steam passenger service from January to November, and a round trip return ticket is well worth purchasing.

Trains operate on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, with many specialist events and enthusiasts weekends. Weekday services also operate on weekdays in August. Phone to check on times.

The full one-way trip includes stops at Bury, Summerseat, Ramsbottom, Irwell Vale, and Rawtenstall, and a full return ticket costs about £7.00 (at time of going to press - please check - prices may have changed), with concessionary reductions for senior citizens and children. Children under 5 go free. Day rover tickets also available.

Trains are available for private charter. Contact the Passenger Manager (Tel: 0161-764 7790).

For a nostalgic evening of wine food and steam, telephone 0161-764 7790 for details.

Operate in December. Booking forms are available at ELR stations from August, or by post on receipt of SAE.

Join the East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society to become involved with volunteers in the running and operational aspects of ELR. Members benefits include good concessions on fares, and access to the many events that take place during the year. Subscription rates currently about £9.00 for one year's full membership, lower for junior members and senior members, and a life membership is around £180.00.
Contact : The Membership Secretary, East Lancs. Railway Preservation Society, Bolton Street Station, Bury, Lancashire BL9 0EY. Telephone: 0161-764 7790 weekends or 0161-705 5111 weekdays.

Brookside Miniature Railway

Brookside Garden Centre, Poynton, Cheshire.
Telephone: 01625-872919. Fax: 01625-859119.
Open April-September : Wednesdays and Sundays. July, August : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday. October-March : Sundays only. 11.30am-5.00pm (all days weather permitting). A pleasant train ride through a beautiful garden centre, with 5 engines, a complete station filled with a permanent exhibition of artefacts and memorabilia, as well as books and models. Authentic west country waiting room with roaring open fire. Built run and maintained by railway enthusiasts. Free admission to the station. Train rides at 60p per person.

UPDATE
The rail track has now been considerably extended to encompass the entire Garden Centre - prices and times may have changed - please check.

The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

Ravenglass, Cumbria CA18 1SW.
Telephone: 01229-717171.
The "La'al Ratty", as the railway is known locally, was originally opened in 1975 to bring iron ore from nearby mines to the Furness Railway on the coast. Soon after it began carrying fare-paying passengers, but the line had a checkered history, particularly when iron ore deposits ran out. For a time it carried granite from local quarries.
By 1913 the line had closed, but was soon reopened by a local enthusiast who converted it to a very narrow 15 inch gauge. The tiny trains continued carrying goods and passengers until 1953 when it closed, and it was only thanks to a group of enthusiastic financial backers that it could reopen in its present form in, when it was purchased by auction in 1960.
The new company has gradually rebuilt and restored the hitherto derelict line to make it one of the Lake District's chief tourist attractions.
Timetable & Routes
A full timetable is operated and may be obtained on request. Briefly, trains run every day in summer time from about 7.25am to 6.30pm, with special weekend trains during winter. The 7 mile trip takes about 40 minutes, with station halts at Muncaster Castle, Irton Road (River Esk), The Green, Fisherground, Beckfoot and Dalegarth, making the line an ideal method of touring this part of the Lake District.
Prices
Round trip tickets available at around £6.50 per adult, £3.50 per child, with Family special tickets at reduced prices (Current prices may change - phone for update details). Disabled facilities and wheelchair access available on prior notice. Dogs allowed.
The Ratty Arms
The old Furness Railway Station has been converted into "The Ratty Arms" a warm friendly inn where bar meals and suppers are served all year round with a choice of real ales.
The Railway Museum
The Railway Museum at Ravenglass houses an exhibition of Railway memorabilia and local history with photographic collection, relics and models accompanied by audio-visual presentation.
How to Get There
Ravenglass is on the A595 coast road between Whitehaven and Barrow-in-Furness. Coach tours run from Chorlton Street Bus Station in Manchester, as well as other north-western bus companies, and British Rail mainline trains on the Lancaster-Barrow-Carlisle line connect with Eskdale Trains at Ravenglass. By car follow signs from the M6 motorway to Barrow, Whitehaven and Southern Lakes.

Wyvale Garden Centre
Otterspool, Marple, Stockport. Tel: 0161-427 7211.
Miniature train which costs 50p per ride, runs at weekends and Bank Holidays from 11.00am-4.00pm.

Haigh Hall
Wigan. Tel: 01942-832895.
In its large woodlands, Haigh Hall offers a miniature steam railway which runs every day from June to September from 1.00pm to 4.00pm and costs around 75p a ride.

Other miniature railways at:

• Mossbank Park, Bolton. Tel: 01204-334121.
• Springfield Park, Bolton Road, Rochdale. Tel: 01706-867306.
• Walton Road Park, Chester Road, Brooklands, Sale.