Churnet Valley Railway General Discussion

Hi, is the N7 still planned to be out on the 11th/12th April, or possibly at Easter ?? We'd like to come for a ride before her ticket runs out TIA

 

Looks like the N7 will get a smooth run leaving Chedd for Froghall. We were out today levelling the track just south of the yard. The departure of the two 37s stopped us going further afield.

 

Easter - Reserve
11th - Yes
12th - Possibly

 

Thanks for the info', I'll try for next Saturday the 11th..

 

N7 Farewell on the Churnet Valley - 11th & 12th April 2015​

As many people will be aware, April sees the Churnet Valley's long term guest N7 No.69621 reach the end of its current boiler certificate. Once this has expired, the locomotive will be withdrawn from service prior to a return to its home-base at the East Anglia Railway Museum.

With this in mind, the CVR will be operating the N7 for one last time on the weekend of 11th & 12th April, which is coincidentally the railway's Sci-Fi weekend. Services will be running to the 2-train Yellow timetable with the N7 operating on the T1 diagram on both days, which sees the locomtive operate five return trips along the CVR only with its first train departing from Cheddleton at 10.32am.

These trains will be the locomotives final public services, so if you want t see the N7 in steam for one last time make sure you find your way to the Churnet Valley for this event.

The N7 is due to to be withdrawn Midnight 18th April after a days operating a Private Photographic Charter.

A note for the Diesel fans: 33102 will be the second train operating the Yellow Timetable over the 11th & 12th.

 

Evening all,

Shots of TKH/33102 on Easter Sunday trains are now online at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157651316917937/

 

Following the TKh failing on services today, the N7 is out tomorrow and on reserve for Wednesday too if repairs are not completed in time.

 

Don't know the ins/outs of it, but as they are hoping to fix it for Wednesday I would say not.

 

Evening all,

Shots of the N7 on today's Easter trains. I arranged with the Crew to add the 'LCGB' headboards seen as it MIGHT be the last time it'll carry them before it's ticket ends on the 18th April, shots online at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157651732650586/

 

Spring has come in the Churnet Valley so just for a change it was warm and an even better surprise when I arrived was that the N7 was in steam and ready for a service day.
We thought the main job for the day was providing sections of rail for the foundations of new water column but soon found that most of the PWay gang were standing watching, so the spare half went off down the line to finish clearing up the lineside clearance. Two big bonfires made a big difference. That section of line looks much more attractive than it did 2 years ago.

Took the opportunity to get a short clip of the N7. Handheld and a bit shaky but probably my last view of her working.

 

Evening all,

Shots from today's trains with the N7 and the 'LCGB' boards once again, just can't resist: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157649516147113/

LCGB Boards should make an appearance Saturday!

 

Do they really HAVE to? They bear no relevance whatsoever to ANYTHING AT ALL and, like today, I suspect that very few passengers will welcome their appearance!
Still, I suppose this course of action might be considered slightly more appropriate than shoving a DALEK on the top bracket ... which is what Saturday is really supposed to be all about!!

 

They have 100% relevance to 69621, seeing as she hauled both of the original railtours in 1962!

http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/60s/620407lc.html

http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/60s/620428lc.html

Saturday many of the owning group are down, and most of them have not seen her run with the replicas. Also we will be recreating the run as was, for we'll be using Eastern Lamps instead of Discs (as only the J15 ran with discs). At present our second LNER Lamp is currently undergoing repairs, hence the last 2 days have seen discs used, but arrangements have been made to get a set of LNER lamps available for Saturday.

As for the comment re: passengers. Many of them didn't even notice them, let alone feel their presence "unwelcome". Those that did notice actually found it fascinating what we were doing when they came over to the sheds and asked me.

 

They have to go on the loco one last time before they go on my railway room wall.

 

N7 warming fire is going in as I speak ahead of her final weekend.

Look forward to having some of you visit us for this. She will be performing 5x Return Trips along the CVR, first departure from Cheddleton at 10:32.

 

Summer has come to the Moorlands. Up the line at the entrance to the tunnel today replacing sleepers. A gang of 12 (nearly a record) changed 8 sleepers.

 

Shots from today's (26/4) services now online at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157649873231593/

 

Just spotted this in the digital edition of the Leek Post and Times -

http://www.leek-news.co.uk/Moves-bring-railway-Leek/story-26442024-detail/story.html

So this is the revised planning application by MCR to free up the cash to go towards the CVR extension into Leek. MCR's contribution to the cost of the extension is to be the value of the land sold for development but capped at £300k with the council, MCR and CVR endeavouring to raise the balance of expenditure for the extension.

 

Shots from last weekend's bank holiday Ipstones trains now online....

2nd/3rd May: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157651946249297/

4th May: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157652298647696/