Two legendary locomotives with royal connections arrived in town yesterday, Thursday, with rail enthusiasts celebrating their history this weekend.
The Legends of Steam event takes place from today, Friday, to Sunday with two locomotive icons, BR Standard, Class 7, 70000 Britannia and LNER, A4, 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, in Bury for the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) event.
The locomotives, which were caught on camera at Bury Bolton Street Station, have helped transport the late Queen and the then Prince Charles.
The Britannia, completed in 1951, was the first UK standard locomotive to be built and spent 15 years serving the national network. This locomotive is owned by Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust and regularly operates charter trains on the national network run by Locomotive Services Limited based in Crewe.
LNER, A4, 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley was built in 1937 and operated for 29 years before being purchased by the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust Ltd to rescue the locomotive from the cutter's torch.
The locomotive recently returned to service in 2022 following an extensive overhaul. It also operates regular mainline charter trains operated by Locomotive Services.
In 1956 she had the honour of hauling the Royal Train from King’s Cross to York while the Queen was onboard.
Sir Nigel Gresley is the only A4 class locomotive to be owned by a charitable trust, and it can be seen regularly running on mainline and heritage railways up and down the UK.
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Ahead of the event, Mark Hill, commercial manager of the ELR, said: “Over the years we have welcomed a great many iconic locomotives to the ELR and we are very proud and excited to make these locomotives available to the many thousands of enthusiasts to see, hear and ride behind them.
“I’d like to thank the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust Ltd, Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust, Locomotive Services and the Jubilee Locomotive Co for allowing these icons to operate on our railway.”
Tickets have been available to buy on the ELR's website.
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