The East Lancashire Railway is a twelve-and-a-half-mile (20 km) heritage railway line in North West England which runs between Heywood, Greater Manchester and Rawtenstall in Lancashire. There are intermediate stations at Bury Bolton Street, Burrs Country Park, Summerseat and Ramsbottom, with the line crossing the border into Rossendale serving Irwell Vale and Rawtenstall. Before closure, the line terminated at Bacup.
60103 Flying Scotsman at Blackburn Road bridge, Ewood Bridge, heading towards Rawtenstall
Freight train passing over the "Ski Jump" bridge
Castleton railway station, the terminus of the ELR's extension plans
Heywood, Greater Manchester
Heywood is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England, in the historic county of Lancashire. It had a population of 28,205 at the 2011 Census. The town lies on the south bank of the River Roch, 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Bury, 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Rochdale, and 8 miles (12.9 km) north of Manchester. Middleton lies to the south, whilst to the north is the Cheesden Valley, open moorland, and the Pennines. Heywood's nickname is Monkey Town.
A view of Heywood, towards St Luke's Church
The mill known locally as The Mop Shop. Industrial textile manufacturing was introduced to Heywood in the late 18th century and by 1833, the town had 27 cotton mills
Following the Industrial Revolution, Heywood became a mill town, its landscape dominated by large brick-built cotton mills. This one is part of the Grade II listed Mutual Mills complex.
St Luke's Church is noted in the area for its beautiful proportions and ornate carvings.
