East Lancashire Railway - Heywood Station
WHERE
Heywood
What it’s like
Hop on a heritage steam or diesel train from Heywood and rattle out through countryside to villages along the line.
This is the Heywood end of the East Lancashire Railway, and it's the sort of station where you climb aboard an actual steam locomotive rather than just look at one behind a rope. The trains run out through countryside, past fields and villages, and the views are the sort that make a train journey feel like the day out rather than just the way of getting somewhere. Bury Transport Museum is part of the trip too, if your kids want to poke around old engines once they've got off.
There's no set age range given, but anyone who can sit still for a train ride and gets excited by a whistle and a puff of smoke will be in their element. It's a slower, gentler sort of day than a theme park, more about the journey than the doing, which suits toddlers who love vehicles and older kids who want to spot every carriage type.
Food is sorted on board with buffets on most trains, and there are platform cafés at some stations, including a heritage carriage café at Rawtenstall, plus pubs at Bury and Rawtenstall if the grown-ups want a proper stop. Parking at Heywood is free and there's a large car park right off the A6046, which takes one thing off the list before you've even bought a ticket.
One thing to flag: Heywood station isn't staffed every day, and on those days the toilets are only available on Steam services, with tickets bought on the train itself. Wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walking frames and pushchairs can't go inside the main carriages, though wheelchair spaces are available on standard services if you contact them ahead of time. It's a fair bit of planning for wheelchair users, but the ramps are provided by staff once you've arranged it.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Large free car park. Entry from A6046 (Manchester Street/Manchester Road)
- Food
- On-board buffets on most trains, platform cafés at stations including converted heritage carriage café at Rawtenstall, pubs at Bury
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair spaces available on standard service trains (excluding Dining With Distinction carriages)
- Dogs
- Guide dogs can be accommodated
- Buy your ticket on the train itself if the station is unstaffed that day
- Pullman-style carriages offer a smarter dining option if you fancy something more sit-down
- Wheelchair users should get in touch ahead of the visit to sort ramps and spacing
- The ramps used for wheelchair access have a 250kg weight limit
Plan your visit
Is there parking at Heywood station?
Yes, a large free car park with entry off Manchester Street/Manchester Road (A6046).
Can we bring a pushchair on board?
Pushchairs can't be accommodated inside the main train carriages, so you'd need to fold it or leave it.
What if we're in a wheelchair?
Standard service trains have wheelchair spaces and staff bring ramps, but it's best to contact them in advance to arrange it. Full wheelchairs can't go inside the main carriages, and on-board toilets are too small for wheelchairs.
Are toilets available at the station?
Heywood isn't staffed every day, and on unstaffed days toilets are only available on Steam services.
What's there to eat?
Most trains have on-board buffets, there's a heritage carriage café at Rawtenstall, and pubs at Bury and Rawtenstall for a proper sit-down.
Can we bring the dog?
Guide dogs can be accommodated, but you'll need to mention it when booking.
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