Wartime Weekend - a steam train back in time

East Lancashire Railway 1940's Wartime Weekend

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The Second World War is a distant memory for some; a mere history lesson for others. But thanks to East Lancs Railway and wartime heros from across the borough, it was a pastime re-visited this bank holiday, at a 1940s wartime weekend special.

Rochdale Online News reporter Kirsty Rigg hopped on an old train at Heywood Railway Station, and was carried straight into the mid-war 1940s, to Bury Bolton Street, where the women were dressed in vintage polka-dots and the men wore traditional uniforms from the British Army and the Royal Air Force.

Forties music was performed live on the station platform as hundreds of intrigued visitors browsed the stalls of genuine war badges, medals, clothing and soldiers books and journals about Nazi Germany.

An attempt to make the day even more realistic was made by a train conductor, who kindly informed passengers that a bomb had gone off, causing delays to the service!

Event organiser, Neil Parkington said: “It is good to see people are still interested in these vital times which are written in our history.

“The war was clearly a bad time for many, but it was also a time when the men held the door open for the ladies, and when strangers would be nice to each other in the street.

“People who lived through these times look back fondly, despite the war which was happening. And I think it shows when they come to events like this”.

East Lancs Railway hosts the Wartime Weekend event every May.

The Wartime Weekend drew to a close at St Paul’s Church, Ramsbottom, where there were performances from Middleton Brass Band and the Forces Sweethearts Duo.

Mr Parkington added: “We will be holding another event in September, which will be announced soon.”