Because of the length of the trains, they could not be loaded at Thorneybank station platform but instead started from the East Lancashire sidings, and the outward trips were without incident.

[4][6] The last normal train of the day arrived at Burnley at 7:00 pm, after which the only railway employees left on duty were Parker, the porter, and Grant, a night-watchman.

To assist them later on with the return of the two excursions, two casual men (James Crabtree, a calico printer; and Thomas Bridge, a blacksmith) had been engaged for the evening; this was a common arrangement when trains were expected at times when few railway staff were available.

To allow the train through to the East Lancashire sidings instead of running into the station platform, a man had to pull a lever to set the points.

When the Goole train arrived an hour later, Crabtree decided to give Bridge the task of pulling and holding the point lever.

The station was reopened (with new timber platforms) in September 1986, two years after the successful re-introduction of year-round services between Leeds and Preston/Blackpool North.

On weekdays, the station is served by Northern semi-fast services from Blackpool North or Preston to Leeds and York via the Caldervale Line.

[11] This calls at Accrington and Rose Grove, then Todmorden and most local stations to Manchester (except Walsden and Moston, which are only served on Sundays).

Replacement buses operated to and from Hebden Bridge,[14] connecting with the train services from Blackpool and Preston whilst the work was in progress.

[16] Network Rail had intimated in its Lancashire & Cumbria RUS that such a link would be possible, but that the business case would only be viable with third party funding.

[17] It was thought that the scheme would proceed following the finalising of a Multi Area funding agreement between central government and a consortium of councils in East Lancashire in January 2009,[18] although it was subsequently omitted from the list of projects recommended for funding over the next decade by the North West Regional Development Agency in July 2009.

[20] Services were initially due to start at the May 2014 timetable change following completion of the curve (and its signalling) and the Holme Tunnel work.