THE East Lancashire Railway has completed the first phase of its £600,000 redevelopment of Rawtenstall by installing the newly refurbished canopy on October 29.
The railway made good use of its Cowans Sheldon 75-ton crane to lift the canopy frame from its fabrication yard alongside the platform, and position it onto two cast iron columns previously set into the platform. The canopy has been made from the materials salvaged from Oldham Mumps, and will provide much-needed cover for visitors using the station.
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The East Lancs Preservation Society funded all material costs, while the canopy pillars were erected by Eric Wright Construction.
Getting the structure to sit where it should required a certain amount of jiggling, and a collective sigh of relief was released when it finally settled into place.
The next phase of the project will focus on the construction of a new a 37m-long fully accessible building, extending from the end wall of the current building along the platform.
The extension will house a cafe, kitchen, activity/community room, tourist information centre and toilet and baby changing facilities, while providing additional room to allow the current Buffer Stops Bar to expand.
A new forecourt/approach will eventually be created on the Bury Road side of the station.
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