The East Lancashire Railway say that they have been hit by a serious act of vandalism.
On the 12th and 13th April 2025, vandals hit the Baron Street site in Bury where more than 21 coach windows were smashed as well as evidence of attempted arson.
Three carriages were broken into and severely damaged. Windows have been smashed, and fixtures were ripped apart.
It has been anticipated that the damage will cost more than £5000.
Mike Kelly, Chairman of the ELR said: “Like many heritage organisations, we continue to face rising costs for fuel, insurance, maintenance, and security. We remain committed to operating for the benefit of local families, tourism, and the preservation of historical transport — but incidents like this place an even greater strain on our limited resources.”
“We are calling on the support of our community during this difficult time. We won’t allow this act of mindless destruction to derail the important work we do — but we cannot do it alone.”
Responses
Until we stop describing this sort of incident as ‘sad’, nothing will change. People do this sort of thing because they know it is unlikely that they will be caught, and if they are, the punishment, if any, will not be severe enough to act as a deterrent. If the culprits are identified, they or their parents, should be made to pay the £5000 or face a prison sentence. If the authorities don’t get tough with these criminals, vandalism will simply continue.
Well said, Geoff, and all the others who have posted comments so far. I would actually say you’re being too generous. The perpetrators should be fined double, plus court costs, with the extra going as a donation to the ELR. In return for this donation, they could be invited to a guided tour of the railway so they could learn at first hand just how hard the volunteers have worked to create such a fantastic asset. Maybe this will deter them and their friends from perpetrating such mindless acts in future.
It’s heartbreaking to see such woeful destruction. So many hours of hard work go into giving visitors the pleasure of seeing what some of us once knew and for others what they missed. Let’s hope the local community and the police can come together and identify those responsible. The ELR needs all our supprt.
Better security is needed given that the ELR is in a built up area and not miles out in the countryside, but how secure do you go, as there reaches a point where the cost to repair is lower than the security measures. Where these carriages in use or where they being stored? a simple sheet of wood over the windows secured through the vent would stop windows being smashed. This does sound like bored kids given its school holidays, or it could be the disenfranchised youth who seeing someone has nicer things than they do vent there distain by wrecking what is nice.
So sad to see this. Schools and society tell youngsters to be themselves, but this type of behaviour is so often the result.
A return to teaching respect for others and their property is long overdue.
Typical example of this countries broken moral society. Mindless scum who have no care for historical cultural gems. They are unable to appreciate something of importance so they destroy what they fail to appreciate
Absolutely, just mindless and disrespectful
What was happening to the movement detection CCTV, if installed. Remember the disasterous fire at The Watercress Line with total destruction of the irreplaceable vintage wooden LSWR restaurant carriage, in 2010.
Anyone know about the attempted arson as mentioned in the headline