Accrington, Burnley and Colne Branch (East Lancashire Railway)






Dates

01/06/1846Accrington, Burnley and Colne Branch (East Lancashire Railway)
Blackburn station opened.
  /  /1888Accrington, Burnley and Colne Branch (East Lancashire Railway)
Blackburn station rebuilt on grand scale with large trainshed.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

67008 runs east through platform 4 at Blackburn on 18 August 2014 during a run-round move of some empty stock out of sight to the right. On the left ...
John McIntyre 18/08/2014
Northern 195112 on a Blackpool to York service arrives at Platform 2, Blackburn on 17 August 2022. On the right in the west end bay platform is WCRC ...
John McIntyre 17/08/2022
150137 and 150136 depart eastwards from Blackburn at the start of their circuitous route to Kirkby via Todmorden, Manchester Victoria and Wigan ...
John McIntyre 14/12/2021
Bulleid Battle of Britain pacific 34067 'Tangmere' arrives at Blackburn with a Northern Belle charter from Carlisle on 17 August 2022. The train was ...
John McIntyre 17/08/2022
4 of 57 images. more


As the two lines diverge at Daisyfield Junction they both cross over Fort Street. The East Lancashire line bridge is a steel structure carrying two ...
Mark Bartlett 13/09/2023
This bridge carries the East Lancashire line, immediately to the east of Daisyfield Junction in Blackburn. This view looks west along Fort Street but ...
Mark Bartlett 13/09/2023
70806 heads east at Daisyfield Junction with empty bitumen tanks from Preston Dock to Haverton Hill on 13th September 2023. The train is passing ...
Mark Bartlett 13/09/2023
Taken from the road bridge over the eastern portal of Blackburn Tunnel this picture shows Pacer 142002, cautiously approaching the tunnel, and also ...
Mark Bartlett 17/11/2009
4 of 4 images.


195122, heading towards Rishton and Accrington in September 2023, has just passed the old Great Harwood Junction and is now approaching the site of ...
Mark Bartlett 13/09/2023
150224 and 150139 have just left Blackburn heading for Rainford via Copy Pit and Manchester Victoria on 13th September 2023. The train is passing the ...
Mark Bartlett 13/09/2023
2 of 2 images.


150224 leads a Blackburn to Kirkby service through Rishton on 18th May 2022. Like other East Lancashire line stations, the old shelters here 43757 ...
Mark Bartlett 18/05/2022
150135, on a Preston to Colne stopping service, approaches the western portal of the short Rishton Tunnel, a few hundred yards to the west of the ...
Mark Bartlett 13/09/2023
Rishton Tunnel is really more of a long bridge, carrying the road to Blackburn over the line at a shallow angle. 156455 and 150149 are approaching the ...
Mark Bartlett 13/09/2023
The wide footbridge at Rishton was once more than twice the surviving length as it also spanned the station goods yard, which looped behind the ...
Mark Bartlett 18/05/2022
4 of 14 images. more


150120, on a Colne to Preston stopper, accelerates away from Church and Oswaldtwistle and crosses the Leeds and Liverpool Canal near the site of Aspen ...
Mark Bartlett 05/09/2022
A pair of 150 Sprinters run non-stop through Church & Oswaldtwistle on a Blackburn to Kirkby (via Copy Pit) service on 18th May 2022. The waiting ...
Mark Bartlett 18/05/2022
195106, from York to Blackpool on 5th September 2022, crosses the Leeds and Liverpool Canal for the second time after passing through nearby Church ...
Mark Bartlett 05/09/2022
Northern 158908 approaching Church and Oswaldtwistle non-stop on 13 June 2015 with a York to Blackpool service. The platforms have been reduced in ...
John McIntyre 13/06/2015
4 of 8 images. more




Contrary to appearances this railway bridge is still in use, with the Accrington to Blackburn tracks just behind the trees on the right. This path and ...
Mark Bartlett 18/05/2022
1909 6 inch OS map extract of the stretch of line between Accrington and Church & Oswaldtwistle stations. The motive power depot 31115 dominates ...
National Library of Scotland //1909
Shed scene at Accrington (24A) on 25 September 1960 looking east with Charter Street on the right. The shed was located on the East Lancs between the ...
K A Gray 25/09/1960
3 of 3 images.


This bridge carries the foot and cycle path between Church and Accrington stations and also the operational line (behind the trees). This May 2022 ...
Mark Bartlett 18/05/2022
1 of 1 images.


67008 is seen on 18 August 2014 passing Accrington with empty stock from a football special heading to Blackburn. The train had been chartered by ...
John McIntyre 18/08/2014
156425 leaves Accrington heading towards Burnley and the Copy Pit route, with a Blackburn to Rainford service, on 22nd August 2023. These former ...
Mark Bartlett 22/08/2023
The 1821 hrs Blackpool North to York service (1B40) on 21 May 2019 has just departed from Accrington and is about to cross the viaduct at the east end ...
John McIntyre 21/05/2019
Sprinter 150224 comes off the speed restricted Accrington viaduct and begins to accelerate through the reverse curves heading for the next station at ...
Mark Bartlett 15/11/2018
4 of 17 images. more


195129 speeds westwards through Huncoat with the 0922 York to Blackpool North service on 22nd August 2023. On the Down line, 150225 is just pulling ...
Mark Bartlett 22/08/2023
WCRC's 'Scarborough Spa Express' heads east at Huncoat with 40145 making a special appearance on the tour on 17 August 2017. Nice to see a Class 40 on ...
John McIntyre 17/08/2017
Sprinter 150201, working from Kirkby to Blackburn via Manchester and Todmorden, almost made an unscheduled stop at Huncoat station on 16th October ...
Mark Bartlett 16/10/2017
From 1972 onwards the tall L&YR box at Huncoat only covered the level crossing. Pacer 142042 slows to call at the station with a service for Colne on ...
Mark Bartlett 01/06/2009
4 of 10 images. more




No.2 (W G Bagnall 2989/1951), a Fireless 0-4-0F, lies out of use beside the tippler building at Huncoat Power Station in May 1975, leaving work in the ...
Mark Bartlett 22/05/1975
Fireless 0-6-0 Huncoat No 3 draws coal wagons from the tippler at Huncoat Power Station between Blackburn and Burnley. Not the best quality picture ...
Mark Bartlett 22/05/1975
Hawthorn Fireless 0-6-0F Huncoat No.3 propels loaded 16T coal wagons into one of the tipplers in the Huncoat Power Station exchange sidings in 1975, a ...
Mark Bartlett 22/05/1975
0-6-0F Huncoat No.3 (Hawthorn 3746/1929) shunts 16T coal wagons into the tippler at Huncoat Power Station. The power station, visible on the left ...
Mark Bartlett 22/05/1975
4 of 4 images.


195112 passing Hapton with a Blackpool York service on 18th May 2022. The M65 runs very close to the line at this point, and passes through the site ...
Mark Bartlett 18/05/2022
A Blackpool North to York service hurries toward the small station at Hapton on 18th May 2022. The M65 curves away from the line at this point to ...
Mark Bartlett 18/05/2022
156412 slows but does not quite stop at Hapton, a request stop, while heading for Colne on 22nd August 2023. This view from the footbridge that spans ...
Mark Bartlett 22/08/2023
156455 pulls away from the Hapton request stop while working from Colne to Preston on 10th October 2019. ...
Mark Bartlett 10/10/2019
4 of 9 images. more


A grab shot of the point where the west end extension of the lengthy goods loop, that runs west from Gannow Junction to beyond Rose Grove station, ...
David Pesterfield 04/07/2023
73069+73134 stand at Rose Grove West with the MRTS/SVRS 'North West Tour' on 20 April 1968 see image 29203. ...
K A Gray 20/04/1968
2 of 2 images.


An unidentified Stanier 2-8-0 standing on the withdrawn line at Rose Grove in July 1968. ...
K A Gray /07/1968
Looking refreshed after a shower of rain, Johnson 3F 0-6-0 43734 and Jinty 0-6-0T 47660 stand alongside Rose Grove shed, thought to be in early ...
K A Gray 29//1963
Fowler 3F 0-6-0T 47333 in the sidings alongside Rose Grove shed in June 1963. ...
K A Gray 29/06/1963
Stanier 8F 2-8-0 no 48723 standing in the shed yard at Rose Grove in the summer of 1968. ...
K A Gray //1968
4 of 22 images. more


Colas 70805 takes the bitumen tank empties from Preston Dock through Rose Grove on 22nd November 2023. The train is heading for Gannow Junction and ...
Mark Bartlett 22/11/2023
A Colne to Preston service with 158909 calls at Rose Grove on 7 March 2022. Access to and from the island platform is via the steps and the road ...
John McIntyre 07/03/2022
A view east towards Gannow Junction from the steps down to the platform off Rosegrove Lane road bridge at Rose Grove. Passing platform 1 on 7 March ...
John McIntyre 07/03/2022
With the main line towards Gannow Junction cleared for a passenger train, a line of trees in the Rose Grove Down Loop is held at a red signal. ...
Mark Bartlett 22/11/2023
4 of 14 images. more


Gannow Junction is where the Colne branch diverges from the Copy Pit line. Immediately below the junction is the western portal of Gannow Tunnel (559 ...
Mark Bartlett 02/03/2013
1 of 1 images.


150134 pulls away from the request stop at Burnley Barracks heading for Colne on 22nd December 2022. It will drop down over the viaduct to Burnley ...
Mark Bartlett 22/12/2022
The rather low key entrance to Burnley Barracks, accessed from the surviving truncated section of Padiham Road, in December 2019. Originally there was ...
Mark Bartlett 04/12/2019
The platforms at Burnley Barracks used to run out over the Leeds and Liverpool Canal but in recent years the line has been singled and the surviving ...
Mark Bartlett 22/12/2022
156464 pauses at the surviving platform, between the bridges, at Burnley Barracks on 4th December 2019, before departing towards Rose Grove with a ...
Mark Bartlett 04/12/2019
4 of 10 images. more


New Hall Street Bridge (132) on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal gave its name to the adjacent railmotor halt, served by push-pull trains shuttling ...
Mark Bartlett 08/03/2023
Just to the north of Burnley Central, by a small bridge that leads to the site of Burnley Gas Works, was the railmotor halt of New Hall Bridge. At ...
Mark Bartlett 08/03/2023
2 of 2 images.


The 'Ribble Ranger' Branch Line Society Railtour, 1Z36 07:20 Blackpool North to Hellifield, crosses Burnley Viaduct outward bound to Colne with West ...
Stephen Willetts 04/09/2022
The 1964 building at Burnley Central was installed in a much larger two track station, previously known as Bank Top, and now looks out of place on the ...
Mark Bartlett 22/12/2022
A Colne to Blackpool South calls at Burnley Central on 08 July 2013. This station used to have two platforms and a sizeable goods yard however ...
John McIntyre 08/07/2013
Approaching the last remaining platform at Burnley Central through an avenue of trees, 142030 is on a Colne to Blackpool South service in the early ...
John McIntyre 08/07/2013
4 of 7 images. more


Lodge Bridge (134) on the Lancaster Canal is adjacent to the railway line to Colne and the site of Reedley Hallows Halt (1908 to 1956). This view ...
Mark Bartlett 08/03/2023
156429 hurries past the site of Reedley Hallows, a railmotor halt between Burnley and Brierfield that opened in 1906 and closed fifty years later. It ...
Mark Bartlett 08/03/2023
2 of 2 images.


Loco hauled to Colne. 37676 'Loch Rannoch' is on the rear of 'The Ribble Ranger' Branch Line Society Railtour, passing Brierfield on its way ...
Stephen Willetts 04/09/2022
A Colne to Blackpool South service, with Pacer 142016, approaches Brierfield on the afternoon of 09 July 2011. ...
John McIntyre 09/07/2011
156464, working from Preston to Colne pulls away from Brierfield on 4th December 2019, heading for the penultimate station at nearby Nelson. ...
Mark Bartlett 04/12/2019
The L&YR signal box at Brierfield in July 2008. By this date, with the line to Colne singled, the box only had two operational levers to protect the ...
Mark Bartlett 17/07/2008
4 of 10 images. more


Nelson has the last surviving L&YR island platform canopy in present day (post 1974) Lancashire, albeit trains only call at one side on the ...
Mark Bartlett 22/11/2023
Nelson railway station with its surviving canopy, and the adjacent bus interchange, viewed across the turning area on 8th March 2023. ...
Mark Bartlett 08/03/2023
A Colne to Blackpool South service with 142028 arrives at Nelson on a sunny November day in 2007. ...
John McIntyre 09/11/2007
They don't make station canopies like this anymore! The canopy on what had once been an island platform at Nelson, looking south-west towards Burnley ...
John McIntyre 09/11/2007
4 of 4 images.


Bott Lane Halt was one of three rail-level stopping places opened by the L&YR between Burnley and Colne to stave off tramway competition. There ...
Mark Bartlett 22/11/2023
1 of 1 images.


156409 is moments into its journey from Colne to Preston, on a misty 9th October 2023, as it approaches Wackersall Bridge. Sixty years earlier its ...
Mark Bartlett 09/10/2023
View past 150131, awaiting departure for Preston on 8th March 2023, looking over the end of the platform at Colne, the bridge over Primet Hill and the ...
Mark Bartlett 08/03/2023
Northern 142060 waits at the sole remaining platform at Colne on 21 October 2011. Having arrived from Blackpool South, after a few minutes lay-over it ...
John McIntyre 21/10/2011
Northern Pacer 142060 has just departed from Colne (behind the camera) as it heads west to Blackpool South on 21 October 2011. At one time this was a ...
John McIntyre 21/10/2011
4 of 15 images. more