The East Lancashire Railway (ELR) has awarded two of its volunteers, Ian Riley and Colin Green, with ELR Long Service Awards.

Ian and Colin are stalwarts of heritage railways and have a long association with the Flying Scotsman.

They were due to receive their awards at an awards evening last October, but they could not attend. Ian has served 44 years as an ELR working volunteer and Colin has served the railway for 30 years.

Earlier this month, they received a surprise visit to their workshops from Mike Kelly, Chairman of the East Lancashire Railway, to honour their dedication to the railway.

Mike presented Ian and Colin with their ELR Long Service Awards and a framed print of the Black Horse/Flying Scotsman advert, which features iconic scenes filmed along the ELR.

Mike Kelly said: “It took all of three months to pin them down but I was determined to present their much-deserved plaques in person and to be able to say thank you for their many years of service with the ELR.”

Ian and Colin said: “We look back with pride and fondness on our many years volunteering with this very special heritage railway, and it was a really nice and pleasant surprise to receive these awards to mark the good times we’ve had.”

The story of the East Lancashire Railway’s preservation goes back to 1966 when the last train ran from Manchester Victoria via Bury to Bacup and Accrington, and services to Rawtenstall were dramatically reduced.

In 1970 the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) Preservation Society, (ELRPS) was formed to manage and preserve the line. Passenger trains on the Bury and Rawtenstall line ended in 1972, but in the same year an old Goods Shed becomes available, and the Bury Transport Museum was born, aiming to raise funds to help re-open the ELR line.

Through the 1980s, discussions with local and national authorities led to the formation of the ELR Trust and the remaining track and buildings came under the ELR’s control.

In 1987 the ELR re-opened as a heritage line with a service between Bury and Ramsbottom on four miles of restored track, then in 1991, another four miles of track opened between Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall. A connection to the national network via Heywood was opened in 1993, paving the way for visiting steam engines.

COVID-19 closed the line close in 2020 for the first time since it re-opened in 1987, but it reopened in May 2021.