[Nov 7, 2020] Churnet Borders Explorer (Churnet Valley Railway)

This looks really interesting. Whereabouts is the boundary with Network Rail on the Stoke stub? Is it all the way to Endon?

 

All aboard the Borders Explorer !

April 5 / 18 / 19

As part of a series of events to promote and raise funds for our extension to Leek under the banner of Reconnect Leek, we are running a series of special trains across 3 dates where you can travel over every part of our railway network.

These trips will include the section towards Leek, currently known as the Leek stub and was re-laid in October 2019 before being opened by the leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council on the 11th October 2019, plus the first passenger runs down the Stoke stub as far as our boundary with Network Rail.

Whilst these trips are not huge additional mileage, they are travelling on parts of railway lines which the public have not been on for many years. Along with the two stubs passengers will travel along the full length of both the Churnet Valley Line and Cauldon Branch as far as Ipstones.

All proceeds from these 3 running days will go towards our RECONNECT LEEK project, that will put Leek back on the railway map for the first time since 1970. Even before the first sod is cut we need to pay professional fees to those who have painstakingly being putting an engineering solution together, that will enable us to cross over the Severn Trent sewer that was installed in the track bed after the line was lifted, along with our ecological obligation and also intertwining a concessionary footpath along the new extension.

There will be four return trips each day, operating in Top & Tail formation with members of our resident fleet. All tickets must be pre-booked for this event.

PRICES
Adult (16+) : £20
Child (4-15) : £15
Under 4s : Free

https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/events/border-explorer.html

 

No, its the extremities of Leek Brook Junction

 

Can trains still run down the stoke line beyond leekbrook jct or are the wood sleepers and pand rails in a poor state lil bear? If so what date did the last shunting movement or loco transverse the metals on the stoke line toward endon?

 

Not sure about the state of the track Davo, but in many places, certainly towards the Stoke end, you can't see the sleepers or track for the trees growing in the track bed.

 

Inspection and maintenance vehicles have visited the LBJ - Endon line as recently as 2019.

Physically we could drive something all the way into Endon station itself (3.5 miles). However CVR have no authority to use the LX at Endon, and NR own the line from the outskirts of LBJ to Stoke and for which we presently have no authority to operate along. We shall have to wait and see if NR permit us to extend operations in time for April or not.

 

How far down the Stoke branch is the NR boundary?

 

Just outside the extremities of Leek Brook. To find out the exact location you'll have to join us!

 

https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/news/stoke-line-works-begin

Work started on clearing the Stoke Branch. Pictures on Facebook (don't know why they aren't showing on the webpage).