RETRO fever swept parts of East Lancashire as thousands of visitors got into the swing of life in the 1940s.
Each of the stations along the East Lancs Railway was given a theme for the time-travelling extravaganza.
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Rawtenstall was reborn as ‘Little Germany’ complete with an oompah band and German field hospital.
And Ramsbottom resembled the back streets of Paris, as Marina Berg provided the accordion ambience and The Hotsie Totsies added a splash of continental colour.
Several shops along Bridge Street and Bolton Street got into the spirit of the weekend, decked out in bunting and period posters.
Army jeeps and bren machine guns were also on display outside the station, with the Railway Hotel promoting a swing music programme of its own and a funfair for youngsters.
Marketing manager Kate Walker, confirming ticket sales were up 50 per cent for 2015, said: “We’ve added some new attractions and hope there is something for everyone to enjoy.”
Promoters had also specifically requested that no SS uniforms or Nazi insignias were worn, as part of battle re-enactments over the three days, after flashpoints in previous years.
A planned fly-past by a Lancaster Bomber had to be cancelled after the craft developed mechanical problems on an outing earlier this month.
Today the fun continues at Rawtenstall with music maestro Paul Harper offering to get people ‘In the Mood’, a living history display on Camp Roanoke at Irwell Vale and a 1940s Proms-style concert at Ramsbottom.
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