East Lancashire Railway - Rawtenstall Station
WHERE
Rossendale
What it’s like
A proper steam train ride out of Rawtenstall, ending in a cobbled mill town worth a wander.
You climb aboard a steam or heritage diesel train and rattle off through the Rossendale valley, the kind of journey where the smell of coal smoke and hot oil does half the work before you've even left the platform. At the other end there's a proper mill town to explore, cobbled streets and industrial brickwork that make a decent stretch-your-legs stop before the journey back.
Older carriages are lovely to look at but a faff if you've got a pushchair or a wheelchair. Most of the pre-1960s stock simply cannot take them inside, and the platform at Rawtenstall is a bit uneven right where you step up to the train, so it's worth bracing for a bit of lifting and folding. Standard service trains do have wheelchair spaces and a ramp, though it is sensible to ring ahead so they know you're coming and can get the ramp sorted.
Food-wise there's a carriage café doing cakes and sweet treats while you're travelling, and the Buffer Stops Bar back at the station for something stronger, real ales and ciders included. Rawtenstall itself has plenty of places to eat if you fancy making a proper lunch of it once you're off the train.
There's parking at the station itself, with more dotted around Rawtenstall if that fills up. Toilets and baby change are on site, though it's worth knowing the toilets on the trains themselves cannot take a wheelchair, so best to go before you board.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Car park at station, additional parking options in and around Rawtenstall
- Food
- Carriage café serving cakes and sweet treats
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair spaces on standard service trains
- Dogs
- Guide dogs can be accommodated if mentioned during booking
- The platform at Rawtenstall is slightly uneven right where you board, so mind your step with little ones
- Toilets on the trains themselves cannot take a wheelchair, so use the station ones first
- Older carriages don't have space for mobility scooters or collapsible wheelchairs either
Plan your visit
Is there parking?
There's a car park at the station, and more spaces around Rawtenstall if you need them.
Can we bring a pushchair on the train?
Not really, the older carriages weren't built for it and most can't fit one inside. Worth planning for folding it or leaving it if you can.
What about wheelchair access?
Standard service trains have wheelchair spaces and a ramp, but it's best to contact them beforehand so it's ready when you arrive. The ramp takes up to 250kg for a wheelchair, user and pusher, or a small battery chair.
Is there food on board?
A carriage café sells cakes and sweet treats while you travel. Back at the station there's the Buffer Stops Bar for real ales and ciders, and Rawtenstall town has plenty of restaurants nearby.
Can we bring a dog?
Guide dogs can travel if you mention it when booking.
Featured in 1 Huddlepin list
See all Steam Railways & Boat Trips in Preston · Things to do in Preston
MAKE A DAY OF IT
