A meeting of three mainline heavyweights would take place on the East Lancashire Railway, as their ‘Legends of Steam’ event would see 45690 “Leander”, 60007 “Sir Nigel Gresley”, and 70000 “Britannia” all share the rails over the weekend of March 15th-17th.
‘Jubilee’ Class - 45690 “Leander”, owned by the Beet family, is a regular performer for West Coast Railways from their base at Carnforth. The locomotive was withdrawn from mainline service in 2023, taking up residency on the ELR and for use on heritage lines for the remainder of its boiler ticket, due to expire later in 2024. This month marks the 88th birthday for “Leander”, emerging from LMS’ Crewe works in March 1936.
Built in the same year as “Leander”, “Sir Nigel Gresley” emerged from the LNER’s Doncaster works as the 100th locomotive built to the designs of its namesake. The A4 is being readied for another year of mainline service with Locomotive Services Group.
The first locomotive to be built by British Railways to their own design, and therefore the pioneer of the BR Standards, 70000 "Britannia" would make a welcome return to the rails following significant repair work to the valve gear and motion, after a broken crosshead sidelined the pacific in August 2023. This marks a major milestone in returning “Britannia” to full mainline service, also with Locomotive Services Group.
Joining the three stars as they worked services between Heywood and Rawtenstall, would be L&Y tank - 11305. The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway veteran would be working a shuttle service between Bury and Ramsbottom during the event.
Locomotives:
Ex-LNER A4 Class - 60007 “Sir Nigel Gresley”
BR Standard Class 'Britannia' 7MT - 70000 "Britannia"
Ex-LMS 'Jubilee' Class - 45690 "Leander"
Ex-L&YR Class 23 - 11305
00:00 - 60007 & 70000 Burrs Country Park
01:43 - 45690 Brooksbottom Viaduct
02:48 - 45690 Ewood Bridge
04:17 - 70000 Ewood Bridge
05:43 - 60007 Ewood Bridge
07:08 - 45690 Brooksbottom Tunnel
08:09 - 11305 Brooksbottom Viaduct
08:44 - 70000 Brooksbottom Viaduct
09:43 - 11305 Burrs Country Park
11:20 - 60007 Burrs Country Park
12:55 - 45690 Burrs Country Park
14:36 - 70000 Burrs Country Park
All footage filmed on Friday the 15th of March 2024.