Bury

Loads of legendary retro steam trains will be travelling through Greater Manchester this weekend

You can get your tickets booked now.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 7th April 2026

History will be rolling through Greater Manchester this weekend, as loads of legendary steam trains will be showcased.

East Lancashire Railway‘s (ELR) Legends of Steam event is back again for its third year after proving to be so popular last spring.

The heritage railway is already known and loved for its calendar of themed events for families all year round, with wizard, dinosaur, and Alice in Wonderland-themed being some of the fan-favourites, as well as its Thomas the Tank Engine replica and its Halloween and Christmas specials.

But this weekend’s event is one especially for the retro steam train lovers.

Returning this weekend from Friday 10 – Sunday 12 April 2026, well-known historic steam trains such as the A1 60163 ‘Tornado’, and the Battle of Britain 34070 ‘Manston’, will be what are known as the star guests at the three-day event.

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The West Country 34092 ‘City of Wells’ and the L&Y/LMS Class 23 No. 11456 will also be making appearances across the weekend.

Steam train
Loads of legendary retro steam trains will be travelling through Greater Manchester this weekend / Credit: ELR

If you’re after a particularly special experience, then on Friday 10 and Sunday 12 April, ‘Tornado’ will be paired with a 1960’s Freight Train, and as part of this collaboration, ELR is offering Brake Van Rides for a supplementary fare.

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This isn’t the only stand-out pairing either, as over the weekend, the 34092 ‘City of Wells’ will be paired with the guest 34070 ‘Manston’ for some double headed specials.

This special pairing is actually because 2026 marks 60 years since the closure of the famous Somerset and Dorset Railway, where it was common to see these Bulleid Pacifics at the head of the ‘Pines Express’ – which ran from Manchester to Bournemouth.

There’s also a number of dining experiences to make the most of too.

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As part of the Dining With Legends series, rail enthusiasts are invited to sit back in one of the opulent Pullman-style carriages and enjoy fine dining whilst being hauled by the legendary ‘Tornado’.

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Legends of Steam returns on this Friday 10 – Sunday 12 April, and tickets are on sale now.

Both day ticket and dining options available, and you can find out more information and grab your tickets on the ELR website here.

Featured Image – ELR

Bury

A ‘legacy walk’ in memory of Joe Thompson is taking place across Greater Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Joe Thompson legacy walk for charity 2026

The ‘Walk With Me for JT’, a.k.a Joe Thompson ‘Legacy Walk’, is back next month, and Greater Mancunians are being encouraged to take part.

Returning this year following his tragic passing last April, the now annual charity walk has already raised thousands for charity and is set for another big turnout.

Joe Thompson, an ex-Rochdale AFC and Bury FC player, sadly died at just 36 following a long battle with lymphoma, having been diagnosed three different times in 12 years.

While the young husband and father of two’s story is a heartbreaking one, it has also become a source of inspiration for so many across the North West and, indeed, across the UK, with people once again gearing up to complete a fundraising walk in his name.

Set to honour him by making the journey from his adopted home of Rochdale all the way to Old Trafford, with Thompson having come through Man United’s youth academy, the 15-mile trek will start at his former club’s Crown Oil Arena and stop at Bury’s Gigg Lane as well as Salford City’s Peninsula Stadium.

First held in 2024 under the ‘Walk With Me for JT’ banner, the initial legacy walk saw the Bath-born footballer and countless others complete 21 miles in an effort to raise money for treatment.

Gone but never forgotten, the charity walk survives not only in the hearts and souls of his family, friends and other people’s lives he touched, but in the community spirit that his struggle and immense bravery in the face of illness helped spur on throughout the region and beyond.

Writing on social media, the Thompson family and the Foundation in his memory said, “Last year, he walked beside us. This year, we walk for him. This isn’t just a walk… It’s a promise. A promise to carry his strength, his belief, his light forward.

For every family facing illness. For everyone experiencing loss or hardship. For anyone who needs hope right now. Every step matters. Every mile has meaning. Whether you’ve walked before or this is your first time. You won’t walk alone.”

They signed off by adding: “Be part of something bigger. Be part of Joe’s legacy. Be part of the movement. Get a team together, invite your friends, colleagues and family and let’s raise funds to support The Joe Thompson Foundation.”

With the event beginning at 11am on Saturday, 2 May, there have already been numerous sign-ups, and you can expect even more to lace up their shoes and pay tribute to a local hero.

If you want to join in the effort and help do your bit, you can register for the 2026 Joe Thompson Legacy Walk right HERE.

We go again.

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Featured Images — Publicity picture/Rochdale AFC (screenshot via YouTube)

Bury

Embrace announce intimate live show in beloved Bury music venue

Danny Jones Danny Jones Embrace album launch gig tickets The Met Bury Wax & Beans

British alternative veterans Embrace have announced another intimate show here in Greater Manchester, only this time it’s over in Bury at a stunning small-cap arts venue.

It’s not often you get to see such a long-standing band play outside of the city centre so far into their career, especially in gorgeous grassroots spaces like this one.

A fellow Northern outfit, they’ve often been lumped in with that ‘post-Britpop’ era of music, and plenty throw around the so-called ‘dad rock’ label, but honestly, we couldn’t care either way: they remain among the UK’s perennially underappreciated underdogs that never get old, as far as we’re concerned.

Revealing a handful of new live dates for their album launch this summer, they’ll be making just two appearances in the North West on the run.

Writing in the post, the group said: “We’ve lined up a run of exclusive UK dates in venues that are some of the smallest we’ve played in years. It’s going to be special, but capacity is extremely limited.”

As you can see, besides the Jacaranda Baltic in Liverpool, the only other place in this region where they’re set to play for this mini tour is The Met over in Bury.

One of the most beautiful gig spots, not just in the town but in all the 10 boroughs, for our money, the room only holds around 400 standing and roughly 250 seats.

For seasoned artists like this lot, who are more used to playing big festival stages and big domestic headline tours – which they’re also doing later this year – it’s sure to be a special night.

Toasting the release of their ninth studio LP, Avalanche, this spin-off on the tried and tested in-store format wouldn’t be possible without the help of local record store, Wax and Beans, who are promoting and hosting the show.

Now that’s grassroots in action.

Once again, if you do miss out on any of these shows, the Yorkshiremen are playing bigger gigs for a very special anniversary, including over at Manchester Academy 1.

But we can’t lie, there’s something about the idea of seeing them decades on from when they first tightly-packed out crowds of this size.

If you want to be part of the Embrace album launch tour, you can get ready to grab your tickets at 10am this Friday, 27 March, right HERE. And speaking of great record shops…

First batch of special releases for Record Store Day UK 2026 announced

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Publicity picture (supplied)

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