A Wonderful Journey Back in Time! We had a fantastic day travelling on the East Lancashire Railway aboard one of their beautifully restored steam trains. From the moment the locomotive pulled into the station, the sight, sound, and unmistakable aroma of a working steam engine created a truly nostalgic experience. The stations are wonderfully preserved with authentic period features, vintage luggage displays, traditional clocks, and beautifully maintained platforms, making you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. The historic carriages were comfortable and full of character, adding to the charm of the journey. The staff were welcoming, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about preserving this important part of railway heritage. The locomotive itself was immaculate and a real credit to everyone involved in its operation. The journey through the countryside was relaxing and scenic, making it an enjoyable experience for railway enthusiasts, families, and anyone looking for a unique day out. There was plenty of opportunity to explore both stations, take photographs, and appreciate the heritage atmosphere. A memorable experience from start to finish. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to experience the magic of steam travel. We’ll certainly be returning for another trip!

As my local Heritage Railway it is a normal place to visit when they have steam & diesel events on throughout the year. Like their: Summer Diesel Gala Autumn Steam Gala DMU Weekend The day I visited Flying Scotsman was visiting the railway for the weekend as well as some of the railways own trains running as well. This is a very enjoyable place to visit! A 12 mile line running along the Irwell Vale Countryside from Heywood to Rawtenstall all ran by Volunteers!

We did the Red Rose Dining train. Really good evening - the steam train oozes atmosphere and potters gently up and down the railway while you are served a four course dinner. Food was really nice and there were plenty of attentive staff to provide drinks and so on. At around £70 for the food and the train ride it is pretty good value. Recommended.

Had a great day on the railway. Super friendly staff/volunteers - our toddler loved it and was welcomed into the cab of two steam trains! Nice little cafe at Rawtenstall with well priced gifts - pub there too

Just been on the festive Christmas Dinner train experience… it went above and beyond expectations 🎄🚂 This was a birthday present for my mum and my partner, arrived at the station early and that ended up being part of the fun. We tried the buttered bread beer beforehand bit more beer tasting, wandered around, got up close to the engine room making the wait exciting rather than boring 🍺 Boarding was quick, easy and really well organised, with starters already prepared. From the moment we sat down, the staff were absolutely brilliant. The service was friendly, relaxed and attentive, and the food was exceptional. I have dietary requirements, which were handled perfectly. I had the turkey (instead of steak) which was delicious, and they even brought me extra vegetables as they had some left. Every course was spot on and you genuinely couldn’t fault the food at all. The mince pie cheesecake at the end 😍 absolutely topped it all off. The train itself was warm and comfortable, the service was quick without ever feeling rushed, and everything ran so smoothly from start to finish. We felt really well looked after the whole time. The only small gripe was during the booking process, as there wasn’t much clarity around seating choice, but honestly this was minor compared to how brilliant the actual experience was. And also we arrived back at the station fairly late in comparison to what the tickets had said so everyone was rushing to get off as they were done with the experience. I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking for something festive, fun and genuinely special. We loved every minute and would 100% do it again✨