Flying Scotsman on the ELR

[Ryewolf]

The Flying Scotsman will be in steam on the East Lancs Railway this weekend - Sat may 12th - Sun May 13th 2018

Normally, every man and his dog turn up to view the Flying Scotsman, so the major stations are usually packed with people.... It's also running non-stop from Bury to Rawtenstall and back, so journey times each way are around 35 minutes. The timetable for Sat and Sun is here:

Timetable

If, like previous years, the Scotsman arrives tender first from Bury to Rawtenstall, then the best places to view are when it leaves Rawtenstall for it's return journey back to Bury. There are other steam trains running that day so rough times are as follows, and the only place to pass is at Ramsbottom:

Bury to Summerseat 10 minutes
Summerseat to Ramsbottom: 5 minutes
Ramsbottom to Irwell Vale: 7 minutes
Irwell Vale to Rawtenstall: 7 minutes

There's usually a 10 minute turnaround at Rawtenstall as the trains swap ends of the carriages.

I've listed a few places that I know and have visited:

Rawtenstall

Map: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.6969454,-2.2940991,239m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Spot A - good for watching the train swap ends at Rawtenstall - limited space
Spot B - usually busy and has a stone wall - limited space
Spot C - best spot at the crossing around the signal box as the further along the footpath you go towards Rawtenstall it drops below the level of the line

Parking: There's plenty of parking spaces near the station

Townsend Fold

Map: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.6923043,-2.3020502,546a,35y,270h/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Spot A - Classic spot for getting the signal box and train together leaving Rawtenstall
Spot B - Footpath crossing (white line is the route of a public footpath that starts near the entrance for K Steels)

Parking: Limited parking on the industrial estate, roadside parking on Bury Road.

Irwell Vale

Map: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.6760663,-2.3169606,924a,35y,270h/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Spot A - Follow the Irwell Trail Sign just before the underpass under the railway
Spot B - Irwell Vale station - it's better here if the train comes engine first from Bury (ie from left of the image to right)
Spot C - Follow the road through Meadow Park to a bridge and the follow the footpath, there a limited vantage point to watch the trains leaving Irwell Vale
Spot D & E - Go under the railway at C, there's an obvious footpath that takes you up the hillside to spot D and E

Parking: Extremely limited, you'll probably need to park at the end of Irwell Vale Rd and walk down to the village

Ramsbottom

Map: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.6495102,-2.3150036,786a,35y,270h/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Spot A - is a road crossing - I've not been here so not so what the view is like
Spot B - Footpath on the other side of the station/signal box, good for watching trains arriving or leaving Ramsbottom

Parking: Limited parking near the station, but parking available in various point in Ramsbottom town centre...

Summerseat

Map: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.6292418,-2.3134373,947a,35y,270h/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Spot A - Footpath to watch trains entering or leaving tunnel
Spot B - Road side of trains crossing a bridge over the Irwell River
Spot C - Summerseat railway station
Spot D - Foot crossing, good for watching trains coming from Bury or Summerseat

Parking: Very limited at the station (6-10 cars max), limited roadside parking in Summerseat Railway Rd

Alas, I'm not familiar with the area between Summerseat and Bury, although Burrs Country Park is said to be a good spot to watch the trains.

[Clicker]

Jeez I wish I was a bit closer... That's a comprehensive  list  of very helpful  info Rye  Thanks  for that ...

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Clicker, I actually did this page for John who asked about places to see the Flying Scotsman on the ELR. As I visit the ELR on a regular basis I've had the chance to go to most of these places, so I know what you'll likely to see and how easy or hard it is to park there. In fact the only thing I missed was showing an image from the various places.

[Clicker]

I'll save this  for another time .... it's sons birthday this weekend and a bbq has been planned otherwise I would  have  made a weekend of it up there .... 

[Ryewolf]

There are other Scotsman in Steam Weekends later in the year in Aug and Sept. Maybe we aught to start using the forum Calendar a bit more to highlight events like this and others.

[Clicker]

Good idea ....

[Kobione]

Bit too far away for me, but I do hope you get some nice pictures Rye, then I can see it again!

[johntwo]

That's a lot of work Rye.  Thanks for that.  I am not  a fan of popular spots mainly because of the conflicts that break out.  I've seen people coming to blows, usually over bad mannered behaviour.  Do you know when Scotsman is due to arrive and from where?  If it is being supported from Carnforth, it might be passing through this part of the world.

[Ryewolf]

2 hours ago, John2 said:

due to arrive and from where?

I'm not sure where it's going to come from. I'm guessing, but as it's due to pull it's first passengers tomorrow at 9am it might already be at Bury.

[Ryewolf]

Just found out that the Flying Scotsman will be travelling from Edinburgh to Preston via the Settle & Carlisle Railway and Ribblehead Viaduct on Tuesday 22nd May see http://www.steamdreams.co.uk for details

[johntwo]

Thanks Rye.  Clocked that.  Tuesday is my bowling day and so it depends on timings.  Sensibly, when I think about it, it will be supported by the Riley Bros workshop while it's on the ELR.  They did much of the recent re build.

Edited May 11, 2018 by johntwo