A trip to Rawtenstall to visit the East Lancs Heritage Railway on a Saturday. The ex-GWR Castle Class loco 4079 Pendennis Castle was visiting and would soon return to Didcot. Also running was 45108 a class 45 diesel of the ‘Peak’ class. The first 10 being named after hills such as Helvellyn which was a Class 44 numbered D2.
It wasn’t planned as a long stay at Rawtenstall as a trip to Helmshore Mill was also planned.
The station at Rawtenstall is a pleasant place with a clock, a bar and a carriage that is used as a cafe and railwayana shop. It’s on a curve in the track and has gas lamps, probably not using gas now, and beyond the station is an old mill with an interesting chimney. Behind is a flat topped hill which appears to be in the Manchester direction but isn’t.
Next to the station is a car park used by the station, a pub, a gym and other businesses. Across the track is a retail centre with a large M&S Food, a Costa and other home stores as well as a large car park. There’s also a Tesco towards Rawtenstall which is quite a nice little town centre with a new bus station.
