Churnet Valley in 2013

Cor, wouldn't mind hearing one of them on Cauldon trips!

 

Excellent, becoming quite the international railway now.

 

Thought I'd post a quick summary of what has been achieved on the railway in 2013.

In the main lineside clearance has been the focus as we had started to develop a tunnel of green. Efforts have been centred on Cheddleton which as the start point for a number of passengers it is our First Impression point on the railway.

And so Basford Bridge bank has had the brushcutters let loose, and then been burned off with a before/after photo provided of this. As part of this you can now see the natural spring, and associated culvert which I was told by some didn't exist before I started!


A couple of lads have also cleared South of the station alongside what was once the UP line. This area is near to where the landslip is, and with the work nearing completion the views across the valley have been opened up and you can now see the landslip site quite clearly.


Elsewhere in the MPD, TKh 2944 has arrived ahead of her full restoration having been recently been bought by a group mainly of the young lads from the MPD (at 25 I'm slightly older than some of them!). They have a second one arriving next month I believe.


5197 has started to be stripped ahead of her overhaul now that sister 6046 is in full service on CVR.


LMS BG has been brought up from Oakamoor for restoration restart following the completion of other projects.


Beyer Peacock 1827 is now steamable but still lots of little issues for John and his team to sort out.

Outside of Cheddleton, Leek Brook Signal Box restoration is underway. Once the contractors have finished volunteers will move in to help with the smaller tasks which will also see the former hospital platform extended to enable 3 coaches to be on the platform without the requirement for moving the points on the runround loop.


Various pictures included to show all this.

Our next running day is on Sunday, with our Model Railway & Classic Car Weekend. If anyone does come to visit feel free to say hi. I'm firing the N7 all day

 

Forgot to add, for those interested the TKh Lads have started a Facebook Group to provide updates as/when they can.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TKH-2944-and-2871-support-group/571723202859477

 

Paid a little visit today. 69621 was on the service train and 2944 was on display, behind 5197's tender. Took me a while to find the front half of 5197, but i found her lurking at the back of a siding in the MPD. First time I've been outside of winter, and it is a very nice part of the country. Well worth the visit, even if just for the scenery. The geotrail at Frogall is also worth looking at
Photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66203188@N03/8754752476/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66203188@N03/8754756526/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66203188@N03/8754765482/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66203188@N03/8753616955/in/photostream/

Video

 

Glad you enjoyed your visit. Hopefully you'll come back again later in year. There was a surprisingly high number of visitors around for the day's events which all looked very promising. The weather certainly helped though, was definitely a tad warm on the N7.

Next event now Wallace & Gromit for the Bank Holiday Weekend (excluding the Saturday).

Also, something a little different. Link to the CVR website for its new corporate ventures. Was spoken of at the AGM last year IIRC, and slowly steps are being taken to develop this side of the business. Full set of links on my original first post.
http://englishrailway.co.uk/

 

My experience of TkHs is that you will be lucky to hear them at all!

 

The one that visited the NNR a few years ago made plenty of noise on Kelling Bank. Made an excellent sound recording.

 

Good thats re-assuring.

 

It most certainly did! Sounded meaty as anything working in pilot valve, as I recall, then certainly wasn't shy in the volume department on the banks!

 

4015 seems to make a fair bit of noise on the relatively flat AVR in the video below

 

This weekend sees N7 69621 first trips up Cauldon this year (excluding her DH with 31806 at the steam gala).
She will do two trips each day Top & Tail with one of the line's 33s, and then Saturday evening she will be working solo up Cauldon on the evening diner.
Reason for the 33 requirement during the day is this will be 6 coaches and N7 has a limit of 4 solo.
Video below showing this formation passing Bradnop in 2012.

http://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/event/212/cauldon-lowe-churnet-valley-line-service

 

May well consider heading up to see the N7. What will be operating on the Froghall to Cheddleton services?

 

104 DMU will be operating the 3 CVR return trips.

 

Bit disappointed about that. I was wondering what to do this weekend and the idea of the N7 to Cauldon was high I the list (I'd seen elsewhere that the S160 was out of service), but the thought of being pushed by a diesel on the interesting bit rather puts me off.

 

She will still do some work, just as I say a weight limit has been imposed on her and due to popularity of these trains we need to run with more coaches.

For those interested, 33102 will be the tailing loco this weekend.

 

Todays Cauldon Lowe shots: http://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157633855700556/

 

And more shots from today... http://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157633885120538/

 

I'm planning to visit the railway over the next couple of weekends, 8th, 9th or 15th, 16th June, can anyone tell me which engines are likely to be working?

Many thanks!

 

N7 out for all dates in June except possibly Velocipede Rally. 6046 currently undergoing repairs to her bearings.