Set NH135

These formations have been noted:

Formation Sources
1: Eddie Knorn

27th May 1972

The tilted cap and beaming smile means that Alf Davenport is at the controls of the Cravens power-twin DMU (set NH135, thought to be M50815 + M50782) pulling into Summerseat after a 70mph run up from Bury Bolton St on 27 May 1972. Alf was one of five drivers in the Bury diesel link at the end of the Rawtenstall passenger services along with Paddy Delaney, Freddie Thomas, Tommy Unsworth and Harry Lofthouse and relief driver Gorton Joe Walker. There had been six but Arthur (Mad Mac) McCormack transferred to the Bury Leccie Link before the line closed and the other five drivers followed on 5th June 1972. These diesel drivers made the local teenage enthusiasts very welcome on the trains and I shall always be grateful to them for encouraging our hobby. Image courtesy of Mark Bartlett. WA Camwell Collection.

27th May 1972

A Cravens DMU (set NH135, thought to be M50815 + M50782) has just arrived in Ramsbottom from Rawtenstall on 27 May 1972, one week before closure. The Diesel Link drivers at Bury all remembered the days when the East Lancashire lines had an intensive freight and passenger service, including through trains to London. It must have been demoralising for them to shuttle back and forth to Rawtenstall through semi-derelict stations thinking of what had gone before. Ramsbottom had two footbridges, one either side of the crossing, but when it lost its buildings the bridge linking the platforms was demolished too. That bridge has now been restored by the ELR but the one from which this picture was taken, looking south, has gone. Image courtesy of Mark Bartlett. WA Camwell Collection.

27th May 1972

A Cravens DMU pulls into Ewood Bridge on 27 May 1972, one week before closure, on a Bury Bolton Street service with Alf Davenport in the driving seat. When the line between Bury and Rawtenstall was singled three signal boxes remained to control level crossings but the distant signals for these became fixed and Alf was not impressed. "If a man needs a fixed distant he shouldn't be on the railway" he would say. Fair point Alf - proud of his craft to the end, even on this very run down shadow of a former main line. DMBS M50782 is closest, the DMCL is thought to be M50815 labelled NH135. Image courtesy of Mark Bartlett. WA Camwell Collection.

3rd June 1972

Class 105 set NH135, believed to be DMCL M50815 closest, with DMBS M50782, taken at Bury Bolton St on the last day of services on the Rossendale line before it closed - 3/6/1972. This set had been a regular on the line during the final week. Robert Chilton.

3rd June 1972

Set NH135 led by M50782 with M50815 at Rawtenstall is on the 12:05 Rawtenstall to Bury, on the last day of services on the Rossendale line before it closed - 3/6/1972. Robert Chilton.

Do you have any images of the set you can add?