From the Burnley Express Archive: Have you ridden on 'Puffing Billy'?

This image was first published exactly 50 years ago, on August 28th, 1970, but many of you will have noticed that the image was not taken in Burnley and some might want to know what the Burnley connection might be.

First the image, which is of a steam locomotive which was affectionately known as “Puffing Billy”. It wasn’t the real “Puffing Billy”, of course, but this picture was taken at Helmshore railway station, in Rossendale, as part of an exhibition by the East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society, which, in its early days, was located there.

They had a plan to re-open the Haslingden (Grane Road) to Stubbins Junction line as a railway catering for steam engine enthusiasts. Unfortunately, a year after the image was taken, the rails through Helmshore were removed and the group transferred its attention to Bury, where it is now based, at Bolton Street Station.

So, what is the Burnley connection? You railway enthusiasts will know that the small 0-4-0 saddle tank, which was the first engine to be owned by the Society, had formerly worked in Burnley at the Oswald Street Gas Works. There is a clue on the locomotive, the letters NWGB, the North West Gas Board. A branch line from the main line, north east of Burnley Central Station, led the short distance to the gas works.

This little engine plied the track regularly and I think that the Briercliffe Society has an image of the locomotive at work on the track a number of years ago.

I have to say that, though interested in railways, I have not been a member of the East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society, though I have been fortunate to have ridden on the track which now runs from Bury to Rawtenstall.

Once, as Mayor of Burnley, I was invited, along with other Mayors – the “Chain Gang” as we were called – by the Mayor of Rossendale, to spend a day learning about his very interesting Borough. Some of the time was spent on the preserved line where we had a meal.

The other occasion was a very happy one. My late brother, Timothy, called down from the Western Lakes, where he lived, telling me that he had booked dinner for us. I was still working then, but when he told me that dinner was arranged on a train operated by the East Lancashire Railway, I put down all the work I had still to do and set off with him.

Tim would not let me pay what I thought was my share and both of us enjoyed the event immeasurably, meeting other members of the Society (Tim was already enrolled) and those who had booked tables on the day. When I think of the East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society, I think of Tim and the wonderful day we had together.