Vintage diesel on its way to Rochdale

Date article online: 15/05/2008

Rail enthusiasts will be able to experience a piece of locomotive history when a British Railways diesel trains comes out of retirement to for special journeys through Rochdale next month.

As the glorious age of steam began to die out, a number of diesels started to appear on the railways and eventually replaced steam traction in 1968.

After 20 years, many of these diesel models were also taken out of service, but nostalgia buffs are in for a treat when one of these old trains returns to the tracks on Saturday, June 14.

The model making the journey is one of the old BR classification English Electric Type 4s, later British Rail Class 40s, one of two which were brought by the Class 40 Preservation Society and are kept by the East Lancashire Railway.

The locomotives, numbers 40145 and 40135, regularly work the line and have a cult following of 500 enthusiastic members.

On June 14, the 40145 will be hauling an enthusiast special from Manchester Victoria to Blackburn and over the Pennines to Huddersfield, Todmorden back to Victoria.

It will then embark on a second leg of the tour from Manchester Victoria around the Oldham loop, via Hollinwood and Oldham Mumps to Rochdale, and back to Manchester Victoria via Castleton.

Martin Poulter, membership secretary for the Class 40 Preservation Society, said: “This is nostalgic in the sense that these locomotives where regulars on the Oldham loop line.

“They used to transport mail from Manchester Victoria to Oldham and Rochdale in the 1970s and early 1980s on most evenings during the working week.”

Anyone who would like to reserve their place can book a seat on the train by contacting Past Time Railtours on 01543-411971 or by visiting:

www.past-timerail.co.uk

Details of the rail tour, which is known as the Cotton Mill Express, can be found on the society’s website, along with the history of the society and the locomotives, at:

www.cfps.co.uk