The fabric of the historic locomotive works will live on at the ELR
4160 original bricks from the Horwich Loco Works will journey to Bury to be used in a planned restoration of the ELR’s Buckley Wells locomotive and carriage works site.
The bricks were salvaged during the dismantling of the Loco Works’ Erecting and Repair Sheds, with local Horwich firm J&M Demolition and Recycled Aggregates carrying out the works.
Bluemantle arranged the donation as part of its pledge to preserve key artefacts and maintain the heritage and history of Horwich Loco Works.
The Loco Works bricks will be used for massive refurbishment plans for the ELR site, if approval is given.
The links between the loco works and the East Lancashire Railway are already strong as the railway still runs the iconic ‘Crab’ locomotive, built for the former Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway at Horwich in 1927.
East Lancashire Railway will be reopening its lines to passengers for the first time after the third national lockdown this coming May Bank Holiday weekend.
To find out more about the regular diesel and steam services the heritage railway organisation runs visit: http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk
Pictured: L-R Tracey Parkinson (GM East Lancashire Railway), Roy Chapman (East Lancashire Railway) Keith Whitmore (Vice President of East Lancashire Railway), John Webb (J&M Demolition), Michael Webb (J&M Demolition)