A REUNION is set to take place for former railway workers as one of their old locos prepares to return to East Lancashire.

Ex-staff from the Lower Darwen engine sheds, which closed in 1965, are being sought for a get-together at the East Lancashire Railway company’s headquarters on Saturday, March 4.

Just over a week before the re-registered steam locomotive 76084, which was based at Lower Darwen, will run along the East Lancashire line once more as part of a specially-commissioned charter.

The loco, restored at a cost of £750,000 by 2013, will travel along the Copy Pit Line, past Todmorden and Burnley, before turning towards Accrington, Blackburn and its former home at Lower Darwen.

Eric Bond, of the Railway Touring Company, behind the charter, said: “This will be the first-ever revenue-earning charter 76084 has hauled on the full national network and is quite fitting that she will be passing through the locations where she once worked for British Railways in the 50s and 60s.”

The charter, on Saturday, February 25, will be running from Preston to Buxton and the East Lancashire leg will take place late at night.

Promoters of the reunion say that former workers will have the chance to ride behind the 76084 loco, on the ELR line, between Rawtenstall, Ramsbottom and Bury.

The owning company of the loco, Standard 4, is based in Rishton. Rail experts say that 76084 is the only Lower Darwen engine to survive into preservation.

Once it left Lower Darwen, the Horwich-built loco was stationed at Wigan, before being sold off to collectors in South Wales.

Before passing through a number of hands, a dedicated restoration company was formed in 1997. The refurbishment effort took 16 years.