The East Lancashire Railway is a well-established and popular 12-mile preserved line running from Heywood to Rawtenstall via Bury and Ramsbottom. After British Rail closed the line, the East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society decided to reopen it and, under the auspices of the East Lancashire Railway Trust, the line reopened to passenger trains in 1987 between Bury and Ramsbottom, and then to Rawtenstall in 1991.
In East Lancashire Railway in the 1990s author, Doug Birmingham, reveals a superb selection of previously unpublished images which were taken during the 1990s and feature the popular heritage railway. It was around 1989 that he started photographing the line, and in doing so created a pictorial record which documented the change from using small industrial locomotives, to the operation of ex-British Railways steam locomotives to convey the passenger trains up and down the line.
The photographs in this book depict the railway during all four seasons of the year, mainly featuring the many ex-BR steam locomotives in operation, though various ex-BR diesel locomotives are also pictured. This book shows how the railway progressed, thanks to the enthusiasm and efforts of the members and volunteers, to become one of the premier preserved railway lines in the country for both steam and diesel enthusiasts, as well as a popular tourist attraction.
An introduction to the line is followed by over 170 colour photographs, displayed mainly in two-per-page format and accompanied by informative captions. 96 pages.