East Lancashire Railway - EWS Classic Traction Event, 10th-12th September 1999

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After eight months of planning and preparation, the perfect performance event of 1999 occurred on the East Lancashire Railway on 10th - 12th September!

The event was supported by English Welsh & Scottish Railways [EWS as they were better known] who provided the visiting locomotives and "Traction" magazine who provided publicity. All the visiting locomotives were alleged to be working for the last time, however, as events proved all these locos so endeared themselves to the enthusiast community that they appeared at several other events over the next year or so. Amazingly all but two of them survive to this day.

The visiting EWS locos were:

31110/D5528 - This loco had been working railtours earlier in the year and was painted in BR lined green with small yellow ends. It was scrapped in April 2007.
33202 - This loco had been stored at Immingham and was restored to service for the event. It is now owned by West Coast Railway Company.
37351/37002 - This loco was in service based at Toton and appeared wearing "Transrail" livery as well as its previous number, 37002, on one side. It was scrapped in November 2007.
37906 - Known to all as "Slug 6", this member of the experimentally refurbished 37/9 subclass was one of two fitted with a Ruston RK270T engine. The 37/9s were intended for freight operation and were famous for their poor acceleration, which earned them the nickname "Slugs". Slug 6 was the most popular loco at the event because of the quality and quantity of flames in its exhaust, perhaps it inherited something during its time in the land of the Red Dragon at Cardiff Canton....! This locomotive is currently preserved on the Battlefield Line [Shackerstone].
47306 "The Sapper" - This former Tinsley based loco had been stored and was returned to service for the event, carrying Railfreight Distribution two-tone grey livery. "The Sapper" was very popular because the engine suffered from extreme turbo-lag. It is now preserved at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway.
56006 - This Romanian built "Grid" was also in store at Immingham and received a full repaint at Old Oak Common prior to this event, in to original BR blue with full yellow ends. It is now preserved at the East Lancashire Railway.
73129 "City of Winchester" - Although owned by EWS this loco carried Network SouthEast Blue/White/Red livery. It is now preserved by Cambrian Heritage Railways at Oswestry, as E6036.
73133 "The Bluebell Railway" - This loco appeared carrying "Mainline" livery. It is owned by Transmart Trains and is currently based at Eastleigh Arlington Works.

Locos also working at the event were:
33117, ELR resident loco
D7076, ELR resident loco
37029, ELR resident loco at the time
D345, ELR resident loco

10th September 1999:
56006 on the evening train from Bury to Rawtenstall, seen between Burrs [flaming item thrown at train] Summerseat tunnel.

11th September 1999:
47306 leaving Irwell Vale station with a good plume of exhaust, followed by further exhaust displays at Rawtenstall while running round the train.
47306 is passed by 37906 at Ramsbottom station.
56006 passes 37351 & 33202 at Ramsbottom.
56006 is seen running round the train at Rawtenstall
33202 leaves Bury, with a good run to Rawtenstall.
33117 & 33202 are passed at Ramsbottom by 56006.
37906, 33117 & 33202 move around at Bury.
37906 amazing everyone with its flaming exhaust between Bury & Rawtenstall.
37906 at Rawtenstall, with the driver revving the loco in Engine Only. It wouldn't make flames despite his best effort!

12th September 1999:
33202 & 33117 leave Bury and climb from Summerseat through the tunnels.
33202 & 3317 run round the train at Rawtenstall.
73133 & 73129 leave Bury with a top and tail train to Ramsbottom.
73133 & 73129 leave Bury in tandem with a train to Rawtenstall.
73133 & 73129 run round the train at Rawtenstall.
73133 & 73129 leave Bury with another top and tail train to Ramsbottom.
33110 & 37351 [37002] pass D7076 at Bury.
D7076 propels 33202 from Bury to Rawtenstall in old school BHG style. "You won't get any amps!"
47306 passing Burrs, slowing for photographers and making a good display of exhaust.
37906 passes Burrs with a train tailed by 37351 & 37029.
33202 & 33177 passes Burrs.

00:00 56006
01:07 47306
04:03 37906 & 47306 at Ramsbottom
04:41 56006, 37351 & 33202 at Ramsbottom
05:20 56006 at Rawtenstall
05:52 33202 leaving Bury
10:07 33202 leaving Ramsbottom
13:03 33202 at Rawtenstall
15:19 33117 & 33202 at Ramsbottom
16:05 33117 & 33202 at Summerseat tunnels.
17:31 37906, 33117 & 33202 at Bury
18:55 37906 flaming well!!
25:24 37906 at Rawtenstall
27:02 33202 & 33117 leaving Bury
30:06 33202 & 33117 at Rawtenstall
32:14 73133 & 73129 leaving Bury top and tail
33:07 73133 & 73129 leaving Bury in tandem
33:38 73133 & 73129 at Rawtenstall
36:01 73133 & 73129 at Bury
36:32 31110 & 37351 [37002] at Bury
36:50 D7076 Bury - Rawtenstall
45:15 33202 & D7076 at Rawtenstall
47:27 47306 at Burrs
49:02 37906, 37351 & 37029 at Burrs
50:44 33202 & 33117