East Lancashire Railway – Steel City Snapper photography

I visited Bury in Lancashire a couple of months ago for my, now regular, visit to Bury Arcade Club where myself and a large group of other middle-aged blokes meet up for a curry, and then a full day playing arcade games.

Before I was able to check into my hotel on the first day, I decided to wander around Bury town centre and take a few pictures. I might share some of the others, but I’ve grouped the ones below as they were all taken at Bolton Street Railway Station, which forms part of the East Lancashire Railway heritage line upon which all manner of vintage locomotives and trains operate.

There were no locomotives present when I visited, just a few carriages, but the station itself still offers plenty of nice photographic opportunities. I was stuck with quite harsh light, but things haven’t turned out too badly.

Olympus OM-10, Zuiko Auto-S 35mm f/2.8 & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 9mins @ 20°

Taken on 16 May 2025

Not being a close follower of heritage railways, I wasn’t aware that one passes through Bury. My last visit in 2023 didn’t bring me especially close to the route, but this year I had only been in the town a short while when I heard the distinct sound of a steam locomotive and spotted pillars of smoke puffing into the air not far from my hotel.

It was later in the evening when we all met up at a pub called the Trackside Bar that the railway became properly apparent. There were a lot of people there all dressed up to the nines; tuxedos, ballgowns, tiaras, the works. And outside the bar, which is an old railway station building, was the platform where a large steam locomotive stood, attached to a train of vintage carriages. After a while the poshly-dressed people boarded the train and it exited the station.

The following morning after breakfast, I decided to re-visit the station – a stop on the East Lancashire Railway heritage line – and was able to take the following pictures. I was with someone else from the group visiting Arcade Club, so didn’t take as many pictures as I might have had I been there alone, but the one’s I got are quite nice.