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 calls at Stubbins on its way from Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall on 27 May 1972. M50782 is closest, the other car is thought to be M50815 labelled set NH135. These Newton Heath allocated twin power-car Class 105 sets were the mainstay of branch services for many years, sometimes substituted by Derby 108 units. The rails of the closed Accrington line can just be seen beyond the platform. This line climbed steeply alongside the Rawtenstall and Bacup line for some distance before swinging to the North West and away from the Irwell Valley towards Helmshore. View towards Ewood Bridge and Edenfield. Image courtesy of Mark Bartlett. WA Camwell Collection.

27th May 1972

The closure notices are posted and it is the last week of services on the Rawtenstall branch. A Newton Heath Cravens twin power-car DMU (M50782 and likely M50815 labelled set NH135) approaches Ewood Bridge and Edenfield from Rawtenstall on a Bury Bolton Street service on 27 May 1972. The distant signal (fixed) is for Townsend Fold level crossing just south of Rawtenstall. The line had been singled two years previously and the slew from Up to Down line can be seen behind the train. 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.