*TOP NOTCH* East Lancs Railway Summer Diesel Gala 👌

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Fantastic East Lancashire Railway Summer Diesel Gala Event

27th June 2024

Locomotives in todays footage

Guest Locos

Class 20, 20066 – courtesy of HNRC. A much sought-after locomotive by enthusiasts, the veteran ‘Chopper’ last operated a passenger service on the mainline in 1993, and many enthusiasts will have fond memories of this fine locomotive returning on a railtour from Worcester Open Day, heading up the steeply-graded Lickey Bank, paired with a fellow classmate.

Class 26, 26007 – courtesy of KOZZY-RAIL. Recently outshopped in ‘trainload coal’ livery, this popular locomotive returns to ELR as it appeared when working specially over the Settle-Carlisle line back in February 1990.

Class 37, 37425 – courtesy of HNRC. A popular locomotive with English Electric Enthusiasts.

Class 47, D1645 / 47830 – courtesy of Freightliner.

Class 70, 70014 – courtesy of Freightliner

Home fleet

D9531 arrived at the ELR in 1987 to help with shunting during preparation for expanding the line to Heywood. In 1997 it was removed for extensive maintenance and restoration. During that time, D9531 earned the nickname “Ernest’. In 2012, Ernest made a triumphant return to the ELR in stunning green livery with black and yellow wasp stripes.

There were once 151 diesel engines in the Class 24, but now only four preserved examples remain… and D5054 is one of the best! To honour the memory of one of the early members of the ELR, a pioneer who helped re-open the Bury to Rawtenstall line, D5054 was renamed Phil Southern in 2007.

One of the last 20 Class 25 engines remaining (out of a fleet of 327), D7629 was one of the final locomotives off the construction line in Manchester in 1960. She’s a real home town locomotive, and dedicated to her job just like any Mancunian. Nowadays you’ll find her travelling up and down the ELR in British Railways Blue livery.

Sometimes referred as a ‘Brush Type 4’, and one of 512 examples produced for British Rail operations, this example entered traffic in December 1964. This historic diesel locomotive carried four different numbers (D1643, 47059, 47631) and could be found regularly at the front of Class 1 Inter-city express trains throughout the 1970s and 1980s, venturing across the majority of the BR network. A welcome home-based locomotive at the ELR, especially as it used to reside at the nearby Crewe Diesel Depot during it’s mainline career

Thanks for Watching 👀👍









































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