Trackside Prints

The East Lancashire Railway, Heywood to Rawtenstall.

The East Lancashire Railway is a 12-mile heritage line from Heywood through Bury and Ramsbottom to Rawtenstall. It closed to passengers in 1972 and reopened in stages from 1987. This guide covers the stations, the story and how to get there.

Seven stations, twelve miles

The railway describes itself as the 12-mile heritage railway line running from Heywood to Rawtenstall (East Lancashire Railway, read 21 October 2026). Its stations page lists Heywood, Bury, Burrs Country Park, Summerseat, Ramsbottom, Irwell Vale and Rawtenstall (stations).

Bury Bolton Street is where the railway’s Santa specials leave from in December (Santa specials), and Ramsbottom, in the photograph at the top of this page, has the long canopy over both platforms.

An elevated view along several tracks at Bury, a red and maroon diesel and coaches on the left and the station buildings in the distance
Looking along the line at Bury. Photo: John Slater, CC BY-SA 2.0
Ramsbottom station on the East Lancashire Railway: two platforms under a cream and red canopy, a steam engine in the distance.
Photo: Carroll Pierce, CC BY-SA 2.0

From 1841 to the 2003 reopening

The railway’s own timeline starts with the very first section of what is now the ELR line opening in Heywood in 1841. Passenger trains on the Bury to Rawtenstall line made their final journeys when the service ended on 5th June 1972, and the last coal trains passed through in 1980. The preservation society had already formed in 1970 (our history).

The first regular passenger service ran between Bury and Ramsbottom on four miles of restored track on 25th July 1987. Another four miles opened between Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall in 1991, and in 2003 a new station was built at Heywood and passenger trains finally began running again. In June 2026 the line hosted Flying Scotsman for static display and passenger rides (National Railway Museum).

Planning the day

A full line return was listed at £24.00 on the day or £18.50 booked in advance, with a booking fee charged once per order (fares, read 21 October 2026). Its 2026 calendar also listed an Autumn Steam Gala and Halloween Ghost Trains (home page). From Manchester, the railway says the best way to get here is via the Metrolink, and warns that parking is limited at Bury because of its town centre position, with charges (Bury station page).

The yellow nose of a diesel high speed train power car numbered 43159 at a platform in Bury, trees behind
43159 at Bury Bolton Street. Photo: Sunflowerthomas, CC BY 4.0

Photographing the line

The railway publishes its own guide to photographic locations on its website, which is the place to start. At Bury there is detail worth a close look too: the cast-iron railings at the west end of Bolton Street and down to the railway are listed Grade II, described as very heavy cast-iron railings, about 6ft tall. Stay off the track and off private land next to it.

Diesels and steam both run here, which makes it a good line for a pair of prints side by side. Send us yours and we will print them as taken or in matching studio styles.

Sources: ELR photographic locations guide; list entry for the Bolton Street railings (read 21 October 2026).

Written by Craig Fearn, Trackside Prints. Last updated .

Questions, answered

How long is the East Lancashire Railway?
Twelve miles, from Heywood to Rawtenstall, calling at Bury, Burrs Country Park, Summerseat, Ramsbottom and Irwell Vale.
When did the East Lancashire Railway reopen?
Bury to Ramsbottom reopened on 25th July 1987, Ramsbottom to Rawtenstall in 1991, and passenger trains returned to Heywood in 2003.
How do you get to the East Lancashire Railway from Manchester?
The railway says the best way is the Metrolink to Bury, and that parking at Bury is limited and charged.
Where does the East Lancashire Railway start?
It runs between Heywood and Rawtenstall, and most visitors start at Bury Bolton Street in the middle of the line.
A steep wooded valley in Wales with a plume of white steam rising from a small train climbing along the hillside.Read nextAberystwyth to Devil’s BridgePhoto: John Lucas, CC BY-SA 2.0