Just a stone’s throw away from Bolton , you can find a train that takes you back in time. Step on to the East Lancashire Railway and you can take a trip on heritage diesel and steam engines between Rawtenstall, Bury, and Heywood. Getting on to the train – painted in customary British Rail livery – you’ll be greeted by classic passenger compartments, perfect for travelling in privacy with the family.
Grab a pint from the station’s pub – named The Trackside – while you wait and bring it on board if you fancy a treat, and sit back to ‘ let the train take the strain’ – with no British Rail sandwiches in sight. Get off in Ramsbottom where you can visit pubs such as Casked, which offers quality pints, as recognised in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2024, alongside some tasty food . On the train, ticket inspector Michael Moore, who lives in Bolton, told The Bolton News why people should get on board.
Ticket inspector Michael Moore (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest) He said: “The East Lancashire Railway is a unique type of entertainment , it’s a unique way of transporting yourself across the Irwell valley for 12 miles, from Heywood through Bury up to Rawtenstall. “There are lots of nice walks alongside the railway, alongside the river – and nice parks and shops to visit in Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall.” Sign up to our newsletters to get the latest stories sent straight to your inbox.
A volunteer, Michael retired from his job as a maths teacher in 2007 following a.