Covid-19 Update – August 2020

UPDATE AUGUST 2020(updated 8th August) – Worth Valley services are to restart on 19th August as the major bridge repairs are complete, use of our compartment carriages is planned for Vintage Trains on Sundays – see our post Expected Use and Worth Valley website here
East Lancashire Railway services did not run on 1st/2nd August due to local changes but are now planned for each weekend in August and Bank Holiday Monday. See our post Expected Use and the ELR website here
UPDATE JULY 2020 – (updated 31st July) the Worth Valley are now preparing to restart passenger services from mid-August after planned completion of the major bridge replacement project which split the line south of Ingrow and had to be abandoned in March. When services resume, it is expected that compartment carriages have to be used to satisfy social distancing, so our carriages have been requested for use in Vintage Trains services.
At East Lancashire Railway, trial services have been announced for the first 2 weekends of August but our active loco 752 is not currently scheduled to operate on them. NOTE – at the last minute the ELR have decided that trains will not run on 1st/2nd August.
There is interest in carrying out work on our locos 752 and 19 at the ELR to provide paid work for the permanent staff, the trustees are in negotiation for this as it may enable restoration to take place earlier than otherwise expected, especially as our funds have not been much affected by the lockdown – unlike most other railway organisations.

UPDATE JUNE 2020 – as many will be aware, restrictions surrounding the outbreak of Covid-19 has caused many railways to close to protect the public, staff and volunteers.
As a result, both the Worth Valley Railway and the East Lancashire Railway have taken the decision to close for the forseeable future. This means that none of our stock is in use or on display, the carriages and Pug 51218 at the Worth Valley Railway and 752 and 19 at the East Lancashire Railway.

FUTURE USE:
Our six-wheelers and the Club Carriage were expected to be in use on the Worth Valley’s six Vintage Train Sundays in June and July. These trains had to be cancelled as well as all other events later in 2020. As and when trains can be operated our website will be updated, you can also refer to the Worth Valley website.

752 (currently as 51456) – most events on the East Lancashire Railway have been cancelled, however it is expected that if the opportunity arises to run short trains, that 752/51456 is likely to be used. Again our website will be updated as necessary, you can also refer to the East Lancs website.


Issue No.34 – Summer 2020

  • 51218 Ship Canal Railtour 14 September 1969
  • Glenn Foxley, Obituary
  • Howard Malham, Obituary 
  • A Saddletank heating boiler 
  • 752/51456 Early trains, February and March
  • Some East Lancashire Railway Locomotives 
  • Letters to the Editor, Loco. and C&W notes 
  • New Springs fitted to 1474
  • Royton Junction, with a Hughes brake/3rd 
  • Who was Ross (of “pop” safety valve fame?)

Front Cover. 51456 on a charter goods train. Photos. Richard Stevens.

Rear Cover. 752  The smartest cab of all ?

Worth Valley Spring Gala 2020 – late news

The Worth Valley has confirmed that the Trusts coaches will be used as part of the vintage train service at the railway’s Spring Steam Gala (06/03/20 – 08/03/20). More details to follow closer to the date.

LATE NEWS – as of 18th February 2020 the Worth Valley have advised that operational issues connected with major engineering works will mean that only our Club Carriage 47 will be in use, but that will be for the full 3 days on a main service train.

The Worth Valley’s website now has a page dedicated to the Gala, this can be viewed here

1474 Updates

Thanks to the excellent response of our members to the appeal for 1474, we have been able to take delivery of 16 new suspension springs for the coach. These have since been painted and work has started to fit a number of springs to the vehicle.

Video 2020 – click here to view

Our 6-wheeler 1507 in use on ‘Elf Express’ (Santa) trains

5th December launch day from Steaming Around Yorkshire – click here

Worth Valley’s services relaunched from 23rd August 2020

The last use of Bogie Brake 1474 on September 26th before moving to the ELR for repairs in this from Train boy 321, the last minute of 3 – click here

17 minutes from Pennysteam (Ken Baker) featuring our 3 carriages at various points – click here

The Southerner 7 minutes featuring our compartment carriages – click here

Chris King Heritage Railway’s 9 minutes featuring our carriages – click here

Our loco 752 running public services on East Lancs Railway 15th/16th August

A video taken from a drone with sound on 16th from LMS Videos – click here

East Lancs Railway Spring Gala with 752 as 51456 and 19 as 51241 6th to 8th March
preservedrailway 51456 and 51241 8 minutes – click here
Phil Clarke 51456 at various points 33 minutes – click here
David Cattell 51456 at various points 12 minutes – click here
Dave’s Transport Videos 51456 at various points 15 minutes – click here

ELR Footplate Experience days 16th and 17th March, none found for passenger stock working on 16th but short one of 3 minutes found for goods stock working on 17th from Richard Harnetty – click here

Worth Valley Spring Gala 6th to 8th March, featuring our Club Carriage:

JamesandPeter at Keighley and south of Haworth 15 minutes on 6/3 – click here

Chris King Heritage Railway’s at various points 16 minutes on 6/3 –click here

Steaming Wales at various points 9 minutes on 6/3 – click here

bobnweaver most at start of video 11 minutes believe on 6/3 – click here

44668Rail at various points on 8/3 – click here

mollsmyre at various points during weekend 16 minutes – click here

Bluebell-Railway Hawks at various during weekend 26 minutes – click here

3P20 Photo Charter with 752 as 51456 on East Lancs Railway on 26/02/2020

SAYFILMPRODUCTIONS 4 minutes – click here
Stuart Chapman 6 minutes – click here

preservedrailway 9 minutes and 11 minutes – click here and click here

atlanticstu 19 minutes – click here

752 as 51456 departing Ramsbottom with the members special on 22/02/20 – click here

752 as 51456 taking a Saloon to Heywood on 30/01/20 by preservedrailway – click here

Two videos of 752 double heading with Hunslet 2890 on 25/01/20 – click here and click here

A short video of 752 (51456) on test by John Norris on 23/01/20 – click here


752 Passes Steam Test

Locomotive No.752 passed its final boiler inspection this afternoon (16/12/19). Having been signed off the locomotive was coupled to a rake of coaches for a brakes test. Work to weigh the locomotive will proceed prior to running in on the East Lancashire Railway.

Issue No.33 – Winter 2019

  • Mode Wheel Railtour
  • The English Game
  • Progress on No.752
  • Colne to Rose Grove Railmotors
  • High Speed Highflyers – A Postscript
  • Scattering of Len Hill’s ashes
  • Loco. & Carriage Notes

Front cover: Front Cover. 752 steams again. Photo. Dr. John Sagar
Rear Cover. 752 derelict at Parsonage Colliery, and in the Rainhill Parade.