HISTORY will be repeated on Wednesday when VIPs and dignitaries pack a steam train to travel between Bury and Rawtenstall - a carbon copy of an historic journey 150 years ago to the day.

The line is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

And a host of events have been held to mark the milestone.

Before the VIPs depart from Bury Bolton Street station, Towneley High School Band from Burnley will play "Here comes the conquering hero" - just as a band did on September 25 1846.

The East Lancashire Railway will also take delivery of the last locomotive which was used on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. The loco is on long-term loan from the National Railway Museum.

At 1.35pm another engine, a Lancashire and Yorkshire A Class built in Horwich and 100 years old this year, will break through a banner as it comes into the station.

It will then ferry the VIPs to Rawtenstall where the president of the East Lancashire Preservation Society Leslie Ratcliffe will unveil another plaque.

This weekend, members of Rossendale Players are performing a sketch entitled Lady Ramsbottom's jewels as passengers travel between the two stations.

And today, students from Bury College enacted a "murder' on the railway.

Girls from St Trinian's were to be seen on both days and any two passengers similarly dressed will get one free ticket.

To round the celebrations off there will be a Victorian weekend on Saturday 28 and 29.

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