This Day in History: 1981-09-26

26 September 1981

The Society celebrated their 21st Anniversary with a "Coming of Age" event featuring a cavalcade of 15 locomotives. The field behind the loco shed was used as a grandstand, marquees were erected, Keith Davies scripted and did the commentary, there were LNER Society Excursions from London, and car parks were arranged in various fields.

The cavalcade consisted of 1) Shelagh of Eskdale with mixed passenger train; 2) River Irt and Eaton Railway open coach and brake van. A special guest on this train was F. Wilde, son of Heywood's engineer; 3) Little Giant; 4) Princess Elizabeth; 5) Synolda and Bassett-Lowke 4 w coach and 1923 4 w coach; 6) River Esk; 7) Count Louis; 8) Hurricane; 9) Quarryman and two 1923 Granite wagons - guest on this loco was Mr. I. Fraser, donor of Bonnie Dundee; 10) Passenger Tractor and ICL 2; 11) Lady Wakefield with tank wagon and two 4w vans; 12) River Mite; 13) Sian; 14) Northern Rock and two covered coaches - a guest on this train was Lord Wakefield, chairman of the Railway Company; 15) Silver Jubilee.