CROWDS billowed on to East Lancashire Railway platforms where two newly refurbished steam machines were wheeled out for all to see.
The 1936 locomotive Leander was renovated following a £100,000 donation from the Heritage Lottery Fund and was on track to provide a shuttle service to the railway's Baron Street locomotive yard.
More than a thousand visitors to the railway also witnessed the first main line journey of a revamped Tangmere, which visited stops between Bury's Bolton Street Station and Rawtenstall.
There were displays of the 19th century pulling and pushing techniques from other locomotives, while stalls selling railway memorabilia were open at Bolton Street.
It's hats off to steam engine buff Eric Allen, of Lowton Street, Radcliffe, who is pictured with Leander in the background.
Railway chairman Mr Peter Duncan said: "It was a very successful and well-attended event. A lot of people turned up and there was a lot of interest, especially in Tangmere's first journey on the main line."
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