Last year, the East Lancashire Railway called on the tens of thousands of visitors who enjoy riding on its trains all year round to show how much they care via an online appeal to maintain the heritage stretch of Higher Woodhill Viaduct Now, the East Lancashire Railway has been awarded more than £1.3m in grants to carry out repair work to the Higher Woodhill Viaduct, which was last carried out in 1932, allowing work to start in the spring.
The funding has come from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Community Ownership Fund (£1m), with local authorities from Bury, Rochdale and Rossendale putting in £276,000. Members of the public, supporters of the railway, and local businesses added a further few thousand pounds.
Mike Kelly, Chairman of East Lancashire Railway, said last year: “As well as our trains, the track, the signals, the tunnels and bridges are all part of the immaculately preserved history that our visitors love so much. It is right that the trains get most of the attention, but in truth they’re only part of the overall picture.
“The viaduct is one section of the line that people remember fondly from their visits to the Railway. At this vital time, we need as many people as possible to show us their support. We have an online fundraiser where every single pound donated will make a difference. Added to that, every visitor comment about the beauty, history and authenticity of the Railway will also support the case for this restoration project.”
The East Lancashire Railway provides experiences all year round, perfect for families and those wanting to learn about the rich history of the area. Stretching 20km from Heywood to Rawtenstall, the ELR hosts famous heritage steam trains including the Flying Scotsman and the Pendennis Castle, plus seasonal experiences for Halloween and Christmas, and even appearances from Thomas the Tank Engine every now and then, so its maintenance is in the interest of plenty of people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
As mentioned, the preservation work on Higher Woodhill Viaduct is expected to start in spring 2025, on the edge of Burrs Country Park, so expect some disruption to usual goings on on the East Lancashire Railway.