As a living museum Ellenroad provides a fascinating and ever changing glimpse into the rich industrial heritage that forged the landscape of the area and adds another dimension to the work of local notables such as Lowry.
The tireless work of the Trust and its team of volunteers continues at Ellenroad, firing up the boiler once a month (which begins at 6am, an act of real dedication if ever I met one) awakening the beating heart of the steam engine and opening the site to visitors.
Giant cogwheel waiting restoration
And the work of the dedicated steam enthusiasts does not end there.
Ongoing projects to restore the dwindling stock of grand industrial steam engines are piled up in dissected parts around the site like a collection of vast Meccano pieces.
Enough to keep many an overall clad steam enthusiast happy for many a year to come.