Moving on to Burrs Country Park

Well we headed north, in very wet weather, up the M6 toll road, then the M6 and into Bury.  When we got to Burrs Country Park CC site part of it was closed off for construction work. Completely new hardstandings were being created.  We were not able to use our usual pitch as it was fenced off. We picked a pitch opposite it and went in, using the mover,  nose first so that we had a good view of the railway.
The East Lancs Railway, www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk  were holding their three day Spring Steam Gala, so the line running past the caravan site was going to be busy.

After we arrived on the site we went up to have dinner with Kathy, Robert and the boys. It was good to see them as we had not met up since Christmas.  Dennis the dog is now almost fully grown, and after inital excitment soon calmed down.

Thursday was a shopping day, restocking the cravan, and giving it a good clean.

Train movments started early on Friday morning, and during the day we were able to watch trains passing regularly. On steam gala days, these heritage railways are far more busy than they ever were when they were operated by British Rail. We were able to sit out in the sun and watch the trains passing.

This train is unusual as the locomotive is facing the opposite way to all of the others.

On the Saturday Robert and I went up to the railway, to spend the day riding on the various trains.  Robert had studied the timetable and by getting on and off at intermediate stations we were able to travel on all of the different trains that were running.
Each time as went past the caravan site Lizzie was able to wave to us.

Now follows a collection of photos showing the various engines that were running,

Bury station looking rather busy.

Tank engine in branch line mode with just a couple of coaches

The site with Lizzie stood outside of the caravan as we pass.

Possibly my favourite train of the day. A branch line goods train.

This was the City of Wells, dressed as the Golden Arrow at Ramsbottom. The Golden Arrow was the boat train that ran from London Victoria to Dover.   When I was a little boy I used to see the Golden Arrow steam through Gillingham station.  It ceased being steam hauled in 1961, and finally ceased running altogether in September 1972.

The steam gala was not as busy as normal, probably because there were no visiting Locomotives, as The Duchess of Sutherland that had been expected to visit was suddenly cancelled five days before the event, citing lack of locomotive crew as the reason.


Sunday was another good day so we travelled a few miles along the line to Sumerseat to see the site where the pub that spanned the river  had been washed away in the Christmas floods.  We then adjourned to Kathy and Roberts for an excellent Sunday Dinner.

On the Monday we drove over the outskirts of Warrington where we met my cousin Tony and his wife. It made a change to meet up socially rather than at a funeral!  We had lunch together, having a thoroughly good time. Hopefully we will meet up again when we are next in Bury.

We cleared up on the Tuesday morning and left for home, having a good run on the motorways.

Nights spent in the caravan this year totals 20.