My Leighton – Manchester advance was advising a plus 6 connection at the Keynes! Obviously this cannot be risked so i was down at Leighton for the preceeding 0656 for a safer plus 15. This train was 12 down so it was a bit of a nervy run to the Keynes. Still my Pendo was late anyway and after a long check South of Rugby due some wires down farce, saw us eventually 30 plus late into Piccadilly.
832 1010 Rawtenstall – Heywood – phot
4992, 4928, 35455, 4895, 5031, 4933
56006 1039 Heywood – Rawtenstall BU-RM
4866, 1833, 14019, 4917, 499, 5040
47765 1112 Rawtenstall – Hopwood GF RM-HO
4232, 1837, 35070, 4350, 4937
25279 1232 Hopwood GF – Rawtenstall HO-RW
7076 1418 Rawtenstall – Heywood RW-RM
58023 1341 Heywood – Rawtenstall RM-RW
37610 1510 Rawtenstall – Heywood RW-HE
best thrash of the day, Bury – Heywood…loud!
58023 1629 Heywood – Bury HE-BU
20303 1705 Bury – Rawtenstall BU-RM
7076 1700 Rawtenstall – Bury RM-BU
Not the best of starts but i was well pleased to see 832 arrive at Bury on a busy up service whilst 56006 was joined on the 1039 ex Heywood for that distinctive throb and whine North to Ramsbottom. 47765 back to Hopwood Ground Frame the only train of the day to venture beyond Heywood, then the main event for me 25279 returned us North. This was only a load 5 rake and became a nasty wedge North of Bury, such is the rarity of operational preserved “rats” these days.
7076 was opened up with loads of black clag stormed South for the ever dull 58 back to Rawtenstall. 37610 ( the former 37181) then did the business with superb thrash on the climb up to Heywood on load 6 and a dead 58 on the back. The 58 to Bury for 20303 last sampled as 20127 on the Derby – Crewes in Aug 89 to Ramsbottom for 7076 back to Bury to end an enjoyable day. A good turn-out, enthusiastic drivers and more , the East Lancs doing themselves proud .
Less can be said of Avanti who’s services hadn’t recovered from the long cleared wires down incident, we left 30 late got stuck behind a 323 from Stockport to Macclesfield and was 40 plus late back at the Keynes where hundreds of returning Silverstone “neds” piled on.
Looking good 832 “Onslaught” arrives at Bury with the 1010 Rawtenstall – Heywood
56006 looking and sounding good at Ramsbottom with the 1038 Heywood – Rawtenstall
47765 arrives at Ramsbottom with the 1112 Rawtenstall – Hopwood GF (rare track!)
25279 tailing the 1112 Rawtenstall – Hopwood non stop through Heywood
25279 rests at Rawtenstall after a good run with the 1232 ex Hopwood, my first rat of the year.
7076 looking good at Rawtenstall with the 1418 to Heywood, a claggy run!
As 58023 arrives at Ramsbottom 25279 gleams in the afternoon sun on the rear of the 1418 Rawtenstall – Heywood
Duties over for the day 58023 heads for the depot at Bury
Prior to a loud thrash to Heywood for some miles, 37610 awaits departure time
20303 (former 20127) at Ramsbottom with the 1705 Bury – Rawtenstall curreyex
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