Tracks Through Time – By Diane Muldowney.
At The Whitaker Art Gallery and Museum.
Diane is a photographer and visual storyteller. Through her work, she captures the grit, dedication, and skill of heritage railway workers, whose hands are marked by coal and history. Her images preserve a moment in time. “Photography is more than just seeing; it’s about feeling passionate about a subject and sharing the story”.
Tracks Through Time is a record of social history on the East Lancashire Railway in the 200th year of Railway transport.
In 2025, the nationwide Railway 200 event marks a significant milestone with a year-long nationwide celebration of the bicentenary of the modern railway.
The East Lancashire Railway was built in 1844 to serve the cotton mills in the Irwell Valley. Now a major tourist attraction, the heritage railway stretches 12 miles through the wonderfully varied countryside, where a legacy of industrial architecture is set amongst busy towns, quiet woodlands, and moorland fells. It connects Rawtenstall to Heywood along the Irwell Valley, boasting 7 stations along the route.
The East Lancashire Railway offers a window into the past, with the smell of steam and the rhythmic heartbeat of the engines. There’s something deeply nostalgic about a steam train journey that evokes a bygone era when travel was slower and more elegant, bringing history to life in a way that few other experiences can. Steam Locomotives are masterpieces of mechanical engineering; they represent a time when craftsmanship and engineering were intertwined, and their continued operation is a testament to human ingenuity.
The contrast of steam against the sky to the rugged textures of iron, steel, and brass offer endless opportunities for striking images. The workers’ expressions, the power of the locomotives, and the busy stations make for compelling storytelling through photography.
The locomotive engineers, mechanics, railway staff, and volunteers who keep the railway alive are dedicated to preserving a vital part of history. Their hard work, knowledge, and passion ensure that these machines, which once drove the industrial revolution, remain alive for future generations.
Diane returned to academia in 2020-22 to pursue a master’s degree in fine art at U.C.L.A.N. Her studies were based on her family’s railway history, which dates to the 1880s, with her great-grandfather, a locomotive driver at Carlisle. Her grandfather worked at Hellifield station in North Yorkshire & her father was a steam raiser at Rosegrove M.P.D. until the end of steam power in 1968. Diane’s M.A. show earned her a distinction.
Her love for heritage railways was reignited by 60163 Tornado steaming over Ribblehead viaduct in February 2017. “The engine echoed all around Blea Moor on the cold winter’s morning. The sight and sound were breathtaking; snow covered the mountain tops, disappearing into steam clouds. Many photographers had gathered to capture the moment”
Photography Influences, Colin T Gifford, Bill Brandt, and Ian Krause.
Interviews
History & Ownership of Black 5 45337
Nigel Beeson.
How did you come to own this Black 5?
The 26B Railway Company Limited (26B) purchased 45337 from Woodhams scrapyard in Barry in South Wales in 1983. She was transferred to the East Lancashire Railway for restoration. I joined the East Lancashire Railway in the early 1990s as a volunteer in the locomotive department. I was deployed to the “Black 5 group “. A few years later I was offered the opportunity to purchase some shares in the company. I did so. Several years later upon the death of one of the directors, I was invited to take his place.
What’s the history of this locomotive?
The locomotive was built in 1937 at the Scotswood Works of Armstrong Wentworth and Company in Newcastle upon Tyne. She was part of an order of 228 identical locomotives. She entered traffic in April 1937 with the number 5337. Upon nationalisation in 1948 the prefix 4 was added to this number. She was withdrawn from service in 1965 and dispatched to the scrapyard in South Wales.
Do you know any interesting stories about its working days?
As is often the case with a Black 5 she had a rather mundane existence, just “getting on with the job”. No world records or nasty accidents!
Has it always been based locally, or has it travelled around?
45337 has always been based in the Northwest of England. She spent the majority of her working life at Agecroft (26B) in Salford with spells at other sheds until finally ending up at Carlisle Kingmoor.
Maintenance & Restoration
What are the biggest challenges in keeping a Black 5 running?
Steam locomotives require regular care and maintenance. The boiler is the biggest challenge. It is a pressure vessel and is subject to lots of regulations. This is to ensure safety. Boilers have to be fully overhauled every 10 years, and this can be very costly. We have thus far ensured that the locomotive earns enough money during its operational periods to pay for its overhauls. We can always do with an extra pair of hands or a few pounds in the bank.
Are there any original parts left, or have most been replaced over time?
The number of the locomotive stays with the frames. Our frames, wheels and cylinders are original. In the “good old days” locomotive boilers needing overhaul were simply swapped with one that was in a stock of spares. Our boiler was originally fitted to 44932.
How do you source replacement parts for a locomotive like this?
There is a small stock of spare parts in existence. Parts from other LMS locomotives will fit a Black 5. Otherwise, they must be specially made which can be expensive.
What’s the most difficult part of maintaining a steam engine?
The most difficult part of maintaining a steam locomotive is dealing with the unexpected. You can’t just nip into Halfords etc. and get a part off of the shelf. Boilers often get little leaks and these need to be repaired. You have to be constantly vigilant.
How long will it take to complete the major overhaul?
Whilst, if one has the resources, a full overhaul can be completed in a few months, they generally take several years. This is because the demand for specialist services exceeds the supply of the same. We have had several issues that have been beyond our control or anticipation (COVID being just one). We hope to be operational in 12 to 18 months.
Engineering & Operations
What makes the Black 5 such a well-regarded locomotive?
In the early 1930s, the LMS was desperate for a locomotive that could haul any train anywhere on the network. It had to have sufficient power and not be too heavy. Sir William Stanier, the chief mechanical engineer, and his team derived their design from existing locomotives on other railways, taking the best points from all and combining them. During their service life, from 1934 until the end of steam in 1968, they proved to be reliable and efficient performers. Today, they are still very capable performers for every task that is asked of them. They have a simplicity of design that makes them relatively easy to maintain.
How does it compare to other steam engines in terms of performance and reliability?
A Black 5 is neither the fastest normal most powerful locomotive ever built. However, they have sufficient power to standing start all but the heaviest trains and a turn of speed that is sufficient for express services. They can move a 12-coach passenger train and have been known to haul 600-ton freight trains. The fastest officially recorded speed was 96 mph.
How much coal and water does it typically use on a run?
There are many factors that can affect coal and water consumption. On average, I would expect a ton of coal to be sufficient for 50 miles. The coal capacity of the tender is 9 tons. I would expect water consumption to be about 50 gallons per mile (not MPG!). The water capacity of the tender is 4000 gallons.
Are there any modifications or upgrades planned to improve efficiency?
The original Black 5s had a 21-element superheater with a 24- element being used for the majority. Our boiler has a 28-element superheater. It has been tweaked as far as we can reasonably go.
Personal Connection & Future Plans
What does it feel like to see it in steam and running?
Very happy, with an element of pride in what we have achieved.
If someone wanted to get involved in steam locomotive preservation, what advice would you give them?
I would advise them to join their local railway preservation society (eg. ELRPS) and become a volunteer in the steam locomotive department.
Background and Role John Hopton
My wife and I had visited the ELR on several occasions since it opened in 1987 especially when our children were young. During 2002 to 2021 when my late wife was being treated for ovarian cancer, I alternately looked forward to her recovering and thought about how I might live if she should die. She died on 11th July 2021, a few weeks later I contacted the ELR about volunteering, had an initial meeting with the station master at Bury Bolton Street and began volunteering on the weekend of the 2021 Autumn Steam Gala at the end of October
I am currently Station Master at Rawtenstall and also work with the Permanent Way Gang, mainly on Tuesdays when we do not have weekday running and I am spending a lot of time on station duties.
The most rewarding parts of my job are talking to customers about the history of our railway and its historical origins and working with the PWay gang
The most challenging part of the job is when customers ask you to help them plan their day (in case I make a misjudgement about what the timetables will allow them to do)
I have been interested in railways as long as I can remember but I can’t remember where my interest began. Possibly it was from going with my mum to meet my dad from work as a toddler as he was an immigration officer at Dover where the immigration office was then based at Dover Marine Station. Possibly it was as until I was 6 the family did not have a car, and we went on holiday or for days out by train. Possibly it was from staying at my grandmother’s house in Plymouth for our annual holiday where I would sleep in a bedroom with a window that was about 12 inches off the floor, and they would leave the blinds up so I could watch trains until I fell asleep
Knowledge and Skills
There are not any significant specialist skills needed for my railway role as station work is primarily customer service and PWay work just simple manual labour
If there is a skill which is often overlooked it’s probably getting the balance right between giving customers useful information and boring them to death by talking too much about aspects of railways that you personally find interesting.
Notwithstanding what I said above the railway does have 3 paid Permanent Way employees who have good knowledge and extensive experience of PWay work and they sometimes have engineering students from a local college on placement with them
Memorable Experiences
Although I don’t have any particular interest or fascination with Flying Scotsman, the turns I worked on running days and static display days during its 2023 visit are probably my most memorable. Partly because of the joy that the loco brings to so many people (many of who have little other interest in railways) and partly because of the International Women’s Day event during that visit. I’ll attach photos of my memento of the Women’s Day event. One of the photos I think might be yours from an internet source. The other was by Brandon Grant aka The Traveling (sic) Gandy Dancer (a North American railway photographer who was visiting during that time and who a few of us volunteers got to know
I can’t recall any stand-out funny moments, but we do have a lot of laughing and joking on the railway, especially among the PWay Gang
In terms of having to think quickly, this is most obviously during station work when you notice a potential safety issue and you attempt to stop a train and don’t seem to have caught the guard’s attention, and you have to think quickly about how you might do that. I usually do that by repeatedly shouting the word stop while keeping both hands raised. I’ve seen others use a whistle, but I have always taken the view that shouting will be quicker and will mean that I can keep both hands continuously raised
Changes and The Future
As I am replying in April 2025 and only started volunteering in October 2021 there haven’t been many significant changes. However, there is a constant turnover and change of roles on the railway. For example, both the station master at Heywood and I have moved directly on from being duty station masters at Bolton Street and have a slightly different outlook from our predecessors. In my case, I have progressed through station staff, dispatcher and duty station master to station master in a relatively short time.
The other difference is the reduction in the frequency of trains running during weekdays in the school holidays
I think preserving the history of the railway is extremely important but at the same time, I think it is important to realise that if we are going to survive we cannot be too purist and have to accept that family-themed entertainment events and pubs owned by the railway may often make us more money than striving for absolute authenticity in replicating a 20th century functional railway at all times. Thus, they enable us to keep running as a proper heritage railway on other days. Likewise, we have to accept that while we are operating as a ‘normal’ heritage railway, we cannot be too precious about only running locomotives that operate in this part of the country. This is not an abstract debate either. For example, I’ve heard volunteers express the view that we shouldn’t be running wizard trains etc, museum-based family events etc because they are not part of railway heritage and/or that we should not be running Bulleid Light Pacific’s because they only ever ran on BR Southern region
The future of heritage railways is uncertain. Heritage locomotives are costly to maintain, the fuels they run on are costly, and when a loco develops a problem, it can take months or years to correct it. Furthermore, when I asked one of our diesel owners how he goes on for spares he told me it was largely a question of having a network of associates who can help out. Rightly or wrongly, I inferred from this that sources of spares might be finite and that manufacturing new ones might be too expensive to be practicable. In addition to that, pressure from environmentalist groups to end dependence on fossil fuels might lead to the demise of heritage railways in the not-too-distant future. Apart from the fuel issue, there are similar issues with rolling stock not least because any passenger vehicles which are built after the era of BR Mk I coaches cannot be rebuilt or repaired in the same way
Personal Connection and Passion
I am now retired as well as widowed and have two hobbies: the railway and dancing. Railway things fill my days and dancing fills my evenings. In both cases they fully meet the five ways of well-being, a tool used in mental health promotion (My professional background is mental health nursing). These are: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Give and Do something new/Keep learning. In terms of connection, I have many railway friendships including with people younger than my 22-year-old grandson; Being active speaks for itself. Take notice because railways are potentially dangerous places and you need to be alert; Give doesn’t have to be in a material sense so volunteering fits here; and there is always something new to try or new things to learn around the railway
I don’t have favourite locomotive as such but if pressed would say that my favourites among the ELR’s roster are the two Bulleid Pacifics and the diesel-hydraulic Warship Class largely because of childhood memories (I lived in Slough from age 6 to 18 where Warships were a common site, and I remember the Bulleids from my earlier years in Dover). More generally I prefer steam engines to diesels and tank engines to tender engines as the former come in a greater variety of shapes and sizes. My absolute favourites are pannier tanks (probably because of early childhood holidays in Plymouth) and the USATC tank engines and tender engines preserved in the UK
The one thing I would tell the world of heritage railways is that they provide a unique and interesting way to explore new places
Aadil Majumder
Personal Background & Role
How did you get involved with the railway?
My journey as a volunteer begins all the way back when I started as member of the ‘East Lancashire Railway Youth Group’. Once a month a band of keen juvenile enthusiasts were given the opportunity to clean a locomotive. We did so under the supervision of three established volunteers, Connor Jones a member of the ELR steam department, Keith Simpson now a fully qualified signalman (my secondary school chemistry teacher) and Nigel Barnes whose role I shall leave a mystery for now…
The day I joined; the group just so happened to be tasked with cleaning none other than the world-famous Flying Scotsman! Suffice to say the expression “like a child in a sweet shop” couldn’t have been more apt! That day, however, was the 14th of March 2020… We all know what happened that fateful year!
Three national lockdowns, not doing my GCSEs and starting A-Levels later my dad and I found ourselves in the loop, trying to resume my volunteering at the railway. This was latter end of 2021. The pandemic had taken its toll on the railway, many volunteers had left or moved on and the youth group had sadly been disbanded. It was the usual hassle of calls, emails and struggling to get anywhere. One fateful November afternoon we accidently called the sales department! It was my dad’s turn on the phone, and I remember the conversation going something along the lines of:
“Has your son got an ELRPS membership?” Asked the sales member.
“Yes, he does.” My dad replied.
“Well best thing to do, is just speak to someone at Bury Station” Advised the sales member.
That weekend dad and I rocked up to Bolton Street Station and bumped into a volunteer’s champion, who very kindly introduced us to the buffet supervisor Julie Sindrey. Contacts were exchanged and, on the 20th of November 2021, I did my first turn as buffet assistant!
During my first two turns in the buffet, I spoke to a fellow called Cameron Abercrombie regarding the demand for carriage stewards during the upcoming Santa Specials. Contacts were exchanged, I spoke to the events manager Lorna Kelly, I was added to the roster and on the 4th of December 2021 I did my first turn as a carriage steward. I found customer service quite challenging but thankfully I didn’t need to sing, or dance dressed up as an elf! Nonetheless, it provided me the opportunity to get to know more volunteers from various departments, S&T, TTI and Civil Engineering to name a few. And it was through speaking to a member of the civil engineer’s team, Michael Moore, I was I able to take my next step as a volunteer.
Following the Santa Specials I joined the ‘Midweek Civil Engineer’s Team’. A jolly group of volunteers that did many of the ‘odd jobs’, that no one wanted to do, liked to do but very much needed to be done! Tasks ranging from, but not limited to, painting platform lines, cleaning the station and (what I partook in on my first day) taking down the decorations after the Santas. During my few turns with the midweek team I met Ian Oldfield, who also volunteered with ‘The Bury Standard 4 Group. He told me about the work they undertook towards the restoration of Ivatt 2MT 46428, maintenance of 80097 and the upkeep of several wagons. As an aspiring engineer it sounded right up my alley!
On the 15th of February 2022 I was introduced to one of the head engineers of the group, Nigel Barnes. The same Nigel Barnes who supervised the youth group! Nigel very kindly showed me around The Standard 4 Shed, once again, the expression “like a child in a sweet shop” couldn’t have been more apt!
At the end of the tour, we headed back up towards the bay platform. Before parting ways Nigel asked me a very straightforward question, but one that has stuck with me profoundly:
He asked: “Can you start next week?”
Half lost for breath I replied: “YES!”
The rest, as they say, is history…
What does the role involve?
Angle griding, drilling, cleaning/servicing components, scrap ‘n’ salvage to name a few. In laymen’s terms; making a lot of noise and mess!
Hyperbole aside, one of the first tasks I did with the group was to help restore a World War II Tank Carrier wagon! I remember climbing under the deck, removing several nuts and bolts, then removing (often hacking away) the old beams so new decking to be installed and repainting the buffer beams.
One of my favourite experiences was helping Nigel and Dave hot rivet the inner ring of the Ivatt’s new smokebox. Nigel and I were inside the upturned smokebox, while Dave was outside with the compressed airgun. Nigel heated the rivets with the Acetylene Torch, placed the hot rivets in the reamed holes using tongs, I manned the specially designed anchor to secure the rivets from the inside for Dave to ‘pummel’ the heads on the outside. Dare I suggest it was quite a … riveting experience!
Recently I’ve found myself working with some of our younger members. Every so often I work with an ‘apprentice’, if you will, and teach them the skills I’ve learnt as cleaner at the North Tyneside Steam Railway (where I’ve been volunteering while away at university). It’s a challenging but gratifying endeavour. Learning how lead and advise has been key thus far!
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Without a doubt it’s the feeling of satisfaction one experiences knowing that you play a part, however small, in this incredible orchestra that keep heritage railways alive!
What’s the most challenging aspect of working on the railway?
Health and safety regulations are always hanging over one’s neck, now more then ever. I have to constantly remind myself that one’s actions can have consequences and not just on oneself. It’s not just the person committing the offence that comes into question, but the entire ‘chain of authority’. This concept is known as “Duty of Care”, and I’m sure many can agree, is an imperative principle.
Have you always been interested in railways?
My enthusiasm for railways and locomotives is courtesy of our favourite little engine. My interest stagnated somewhat in my early teens, but after a trip to the East Lancs in 2017, I found myself getting back into the hobby.
But my passion for railway preservation was truly discovered thanks to my endeavours as a volunteer. I’m not being hyperbolic when I say I could spend hours talking about the sheer volume of work that goes into restoring, operating and maintaining railway assets. I have been deeply inspired by all the people who dedicate so much time to keeping our railway heritage alive.
Skills & Knowledge
What specialist skills are needed for your job?
Learning how to use high power machinery safely is one of the most important skills to have/develop. It’s hard not to name a task that doesn’t require an angle grinder, lever arm drill or (for the more skilled volunteers) a lathe!
Can you describe a skill that is essential but often overlooked?
Appreciating and working with the older generations. To all my fellow young aspiring railways preservationists, engineers and enthusiast this is probably the greatest advice I can give:
Hold dear to your heart the people who are willing to share their knowledge, experiences and passion with you. It is, in my opinion, an invaluable skill! To hear it all from a person who has experienced it for themselves is something truly special. It’s a sad truth but these people may not be with us for much longer, so learn from them while you can!
What’s the most difficult skill you’ve had to learn?
The work undertaken can be physically demanding, stamina more so than brute strength is needed but a challenge that I’ve faced is swallowing my pride and knowing my limits. Knowing when to push yourself and when to take a break. It may sound trivial but in practice it can prevent serious harm and maybe even save someone’s life!
Are these skills being passed on to the next generation? If so, how?
From day one health and safety has been imperative throughout my work. All the volunteers look out for each other and encourage new volunteers to think before they act. As much as we want people want to get stuck in, the thought process behind our work is a priority! It’s what enables us to gradually pass on or teach more specialist and ‘higher risk’ skills onto new volunteers.
Memorable Experiences
Do you have a standout memory from working on the railway?
Every so often, between working with the standard 4 group, I would join the midweek civil engineers’ team. Earlier in the year (2022) I discovered a wooden replica “The Thames-Clyde Express Headboard” in their shed. On each occasion I did a day with the team, I would ask who it belonged to? Noone, I asked had a clue and several people said I could have it! So mid-September, I took it under my wing as it were, restored it and 80097 wore it on my last day of volunteering before I left for university.
What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened while working on the railway?
It was my 2nd/3rd weekend with The Standard 4 Group. One of the volunteers brought his dog in. A collie sheepdog called Alex. Alex sat outside soaking the sun while the volunteers cracked on inside the workshop.
Now I’m not the biggest fan of dogs and, truth be told, can feel quite nervous around them. I plucked up courage during a tea break and sat next to Alex. Upon finding he didn’t bark at my presence; I sheepishly gave his back a rub. Suddenly he rolled over! Me half panicking asked: “Is it alright? Why is it doing that?”. One of the volunteers half-laughing replied: “He wants you to rub his belly you idiot!”
Whoops…
Have you ever faced a situation where you had to think quickly to solve a problem?
It was another occasion Nigel, Dave and I were riveting components on the Ivatt’s smokebox. On this occasion it was the “boss” on the face of the smokebox. Nigel was inside the upturned smokebox with Dave and I on top of the face.
Nigel would heat the rivets and position them for me to ‘grab’. He would then use a ‘plunger’ to secure the rivet from inside the box. Once ‘plunged’ I then let go of the rivet and Dave would pummel the rivet with the compressed air gun. All of this had to be completed in a matter of seconds as every unit of wasted heat could compromise the integrity of the rivet!
It was suggested to use a powerful magnet to ‘grab’ the rivets prior to being ‘plunged’. We tested this cold and thought to ourselves: That’ll do! Little had any of us remembered that one of the ways to de-magnetize a material was to heat it… There I was ready to receive the rivet with the magnet only to find out it wasn’t attracting at all! Thankfully a spare set of tongs were nearby!
Suffice to say we all learnt a lesson on de-magnetization that day!
Changes & Future of Heritage Railways
How has the railway changed since you first started?
Health and safety has always been a big focus when working on railways or locomotives. But I’ve noticed ‘Duty of Care’ especially has become an increased concern amongst staff and volunteers.
What are the biggest challenges facing heritage railways today?
Other than the increasing pressures of health and safety and rising costs, I’d say ensuring new volunteers are sustained is the greatest concern that railways face. Objectively speaking there is plenty of interest in the younger generations, but they face the following obstacles:
1) They don’t know how to get started.
2) It can be difficult to nurture new volunteers. There’s so much work to be done and only so many people that can do it. And to then try and find people who can take time out of their work to tutor new volunteers, is extremely difficult.
How important do you think it is to preserve the history of the railway?
Railways have played a monumental role in the development of the modern world. It is absolutely crucial that we preserve this part of our heritage, not just for the sake of learning history. I feel so many people could benefit from volunteering on a heritage railway. As Clive Groome said in his famous documentary ‘The Art of Firing’: “You don’t need strength, you just need strength of Character. And that’s what drivers and fireman developed in full; strength of character”.
But every aspect of railway heritage deserves to be celebrated, as that is what the core of railway preservation is. It is a celebration. A celebration of talent and collaboration and there is so much we can learn from history that can be applied to this modern era
Railway preservation isn’t merely escapism. It is an ever-growing, ever-evolving landscape that allows us to celebrate our heritage and look towards the future.
What do you think the future looks like for heritage railways?
Some may say the future of heritage railways is bleak. Coal is forever becoming difficult to source, the cost of maintaining engines has sky-rocketed and health and safety is constantly at our throats.
But if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that no matter what challenges are thrown at railways across the world, it’s that the people behind them that make the difference. Volunteers, staff and enthusiasts are what keep our railways alive, they are all invaluable.
If we can encourage more people to join our railway community, if we can continue to adapt, innovate and collaborate, if we can remember what is at the core of railway preservation; then I don’t see why we won’t be running steam engines on heritage lines for another century!
Personal Connection & Passion
What keeps you coming back to work here?
No matter how stressful life may be with university, finding work or starting a career, The Bury Standard 4 Group has always been a place where I can find comfort. I find I don’t necessarily escape my worries when I volunteer, but the work I undertake and the advice I receive assure me that; God willing, I’ll be fine.
Do you have a favourite locomotive?
I may dream of firing Scots Guardsman on The Hadrian, or Sir Nigel Gresley on The Edinburgh Flyer but it’s a humble standard 4mt that will always have a special place in my heart. The one that started it all: 80097!
If you could tell the world one thing about heritage railways, what would it be?
My message would be: Get involved! The only regret I have as a volunteer, it not starting sooner!
I appreciate many people don’t have access to volunteering at a railway, but there are many ways to support a heritage railway or organization. Donating online or simply spreading the word!
