Ralph and Donard took a little time out during the September 2007 "Up Close Up North" tour to take lunch aboard a Pullman coach, hauled by a vintage steam locomotive through the Irwell valley.

The trip was arranged by John Beresford, who was delighted when Ralph accepted the offer of an unusual hot meal on wheels. Ken Woolass and Keith Littlechild also came along, and the party was completed by some very willing members of John's family.

Starting at Bolton Street station in Bury, the East Lancashire Railway wends its way to Rawtenstall, with stops at Summerseat and Ramsbottom. "The Lancastrian" then doubles back to the southern terminus at Heywood before completing the round trip, arriving back at Bury two and a half hours after departure.

This is ample time for a silver-service lunch to be savoured in the lovingly-restored "Borough of Rawtenstall" dining coach.

Here are some photos taken by Keith - who signally failed to get in front of the camera!

John, Ken, Donard and Ralph

Ralph and Donard in "The Borough of Rawtenstall"

Ken and John tuck into the trifle

This "Up Close" tour had brought Ralph's "Dylan, Guthrie and the Country Blues" show to his fans "up north", including three gigs in what was historically South East Lancashire. The concerts at Shaw (near Oldham) and Darwen (near Blackburn) were sold out. The third gig, at Bury, was, for contractual reasons, announced very late, and this was reflected in the turn-out. Nevertheless, Ralph's love for this repertoire shone through equally on all three nights, and delighted his audiences. Somewhat bravely, Ralph invited requests for his own songs towards the end of the gigs... and, I'm sure to his pleasant surprise, the good folk of S E Lancs didn't ask for "Streets of London" once at any of the three gigs - is this a record?!