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Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by martinr1, Sep 12, 2014.

  1. Brunswick Green 2

    Brunswick Green 2 Member

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    According to LNERCA newsletter 126 the following coaches are at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway:-

    Gresley saloon 43087
    Gresley TTO 43654
    Gresley TK 23890


    Always happy to be corrected if I have incorrect details.
     
  2. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Our summer pantomime season has just come to an end; a new departure for us and reasonably successful but not completely sold out, best summed up by a review which went something like, "We didn't know what to expect but the children enjoyed it immensely and we have booked for Halloween and Christmas".
    IMG_1010[1].JPG
    The contract overhaul of the Gresley TTO is making definite progress, it now has most of the roof planking in place and the doorframes are being hung. Bagnall 2746 The Duke is now snugly installed in the shed for further work to be done; it is remarkable how things have improved since the last time we were working on it indoors: the front end of the loco at least is on a concrete pad with a clear access to it - we don't have to hop over rails or the remains of the old turntable pit any more, though further concreting nearby is imminent. Likewise, the area at the rear of the shed has been cleared and ballasted up to rail level which gives efficient access to the rolling stock parked nearby. No more splashing through the pond.

    Ferrybridge No.3 has passed its preliminary boiler tests, the last one is on Thursday, so fingers crossed it should be available for the gala weekend, 3/4/5 September. The catering department are on full alert, the all day breakfast will be available and, fingers crossed, Gateau X will be back in the buffet.
     
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  3. Fireline

    Fireline Well-Known Member

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    Can I please ask what the engine behind the Duke is? Nothing on the stock list seems to fit the front end shown!
     
  4. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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  5. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    The details of the Gala Weekend are set out on the website: nine return workings on Friday and Sunday, ten on Saturday, with 80080 and 9466 double heading the last one. The breakfast trains are the first and third departures from Wirksworth on Friday (9466) and Saturday (80080). Demonstration freight in the Wirkworth Station area, occasional workings up the Ravenstor imcline.
     
  6. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Here is a picture of Cathryn inside the shed; as you will see, the restoration is well advanced, the boiler has a current ticket. Compared with the last picture of |The Duke, you will see that someone has laid down DPM after compacting the shed floor, so the rails on steel sleepers and concrete will follow shortly.

    The first day of the gala has gone very well for a Friday, most trains were well filled, I had the indulgence of breakfast on the first train down to Duffield. This was very good and a bargain for EVRA members: Rover tickets reduced from £20 to £10, breakfast £10 if you book on line. If I wake up early and hungry tomorrow, I might do it again. 80080 will be working the breakfast trains tomorrow, 9466 on Saturday. Someone asked me, what happens if you have not pre booked a breakfast? The answer is you go to the nearest steward and say, "have you got a place spare?" With a bit of luck he will reply, "please take a seat and we will take your order, £12-00". Breakfast is served in the LMS design Third Open and it is a splendid way to enjoy this immaculate coach.

    We hasd 4 engines in steam as promised: 80080 and 9466 on the branch, and the two barclays working demonstration freights in Wirksworth station limits and passenger rides on the branch to Ravenstor. I confirm there are supplies of Gateau X in the buffet, plus Monster Jaffa Cake. For the uninitiated, Gateau X is a cake mix containing large quantities of chocolate, smothered in a thick chocolate layer. Another item to watch out for in the buffet is the Huntsmans Pie, which contains chicken, ham and stuffing.

    Other excitement: after the end of the summer pantomime we had the essential staff sworn to secrecy, to expect a film star arriving by helicopter on Wednesday. No, not that one. But Derbyshire went from Hollywood to Bollywood and we did get Akshay Kumar, plus around 150 actors and extras for an Indian film, a police drama I think. This seems to have gone very well. See facebook.

    By coincidence, the catering department are planning a special evening in the near future featuring authentic Indian Railway Curry. Details to follow.
     

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  7. Vulcan Works

    Vulcan Works Member

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    Brilliant update. It’s great to read about the positive and imaginative range of activities on the railway. The Bollywood filming looked to be a great success, it could lead to other films!

    Apologies for crossing threads, but if it was up to me I’d take a coachload of my favourite Peak Rail Directors over the hill to see how things should be done in Derbyshire…
     
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  8. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    There was a well attended meeting of the Infrastructure Committee meeting last Monday, we have a lot of irons in the fire so just you wait. The autumn programme includes work on the Shottle signalling project, and installation of at least one new siding at Wirksworth. Signalling equipment keeps turning up.

    Meanwhile 80080 will be working the trains this weekend.
     
  9. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    We will be running our first ever Halloween trains in two weeks time, using a 3 car DMU to test the market, currently the trains are about 65% booked and rising, which is not bad for a new event. The Santa trains are currently 99.6% booked on the basis of five coach trains, however there is a CK in the works for a fast track overhaul and if and when we are confident it will be ready in time then the extra seats will go on the market, at the moment we expect to be able to make a decision by the end of October.

    There is large hole in the middle of the yard where the turnout for the new siding is being installed as this involves digging up the shed access as well as laying a new ballast bed; the switches are already in place. Meanwhile we are stocking up for the Winter maintenance campaign; 240 F27 sleepers have arrived and we have purchased a tamping head to dangle from the O & K roadrailer.

    Inside the maintenance shed work continues on the class 73 and the Gresley coach under contract repair is starting to look very good indeed. The restorations of Cathryn and The Duke continue; the latter has had its crinolines fitted ready for insulation and the cladding sheets. In the middle of all this No.2 shed road is being excavated for a reinforced concrete bed and floor. Ground surveys are taking place at the North end of the car park where there is a proposal to build a steam locomotive running shed.
     
  10. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    IMG_1079[1].JPG

    A recent view inside the shed; concreting in progress, The Duke is sporting crinolines and the smokebox is now permanently attached.
     
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  11. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    A picture of the Gresley TTO under restoration would be nice!
     
  12. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Here are today's pictures of the Gresley in the works: it now has a full set of new roof timbers aand the new ends have been built up. IMG_1086[1].JPG
     
  13. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Further news from the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway:

    9466 has just returned from an extended visit to the SVR; FTR checks are not yet complete and therefore it is likely that 80080 will be running the half term steam services on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

    The Halloween trains are filling well, over 70% booked, but these are evening DMU events; there will be normal steam services during the day.

    On Saturday the C & W dept split into three parts, working on the SK "Christmas Coach", and an EVRA owned SK, with a third team lifting existing bullhead track on No.2 road in the shed, in readiness for concreting.

    On the steam side, The Duke was having its crinolines adjusted and the rockwool and aluminium foil insulation mattresses are being made up; we have been challenged to get the cladding on within a month as it will need to be shunted out to get the concrete lorries in and the hope is to get the tank on at the same time. Steam Team volunteers were working on 9466, 80080, Cathryn and one of the Barclay tanks.

    A ballast cleaner has been purchased for the use of the P.W. team and will be delivered shortly, it requires overhaul but these are rare beasts and we were lucky to get it, meanwhile construction of the new turnout in the yard continues and it should be ready for use by next weekend. Down the line overbridge DJW4, immediately south of Hazlewood has had masonry repairs by contractors.
     
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  14. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Micrometers.

    I knew there was something I had forgotten. Shortly before COVID erupted the EVR received a donation of a major quantity of measuring equipment from Rolls Royce, which we promised to share and not sell. Quite a lot of these items have been distributed to good causes already, but there are still many micrometers in various sizes up to about 30 inch. I am under some pressure to pass these on as soon as possible as EVRA have received a bequest of a large railway relic collection for the museum and the space is urgently required. Representatives of any interested organisations should contact me. We will require written undertakings on headed notepaper that the items are for use and will not be sold on.

    Tim Oaks
     
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  15. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    The ballast regulator arrived last Friday; it will need a fair amount of work but at least we have got it. The Halloween weekend went very well indeed in the end; the trains were worked by a 3 car DMU and were somewhere over 90% booked in the end. Meanwhile the daytime steam service was also very well filled, and the steam heat system was tested in action. The new turnout in the yard still needs check rails, but these will be installed this week. Meanwhile, down in the shed..... IMG_1097[1].JPG
     

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  16. burnham-t

    burnham-t New Member

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    Kent & East Sussex loco dept would be potentially interested for use at Rolvenden. I think I've sent you a message with details, but please let me know if it hasn't got through. Thanks.
     
  17. burnham-t

    burnham-t New Member

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  18. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    No.2 road in the shed has been relaid with FB rail and is being prepared for concreting. The SK is back down on its reassembled bogies and will have the gangway connections reinstated this week, so it should be re-instated in traffic very soon. The new turnout is now complete and the vehicle crossing to the shed has been reinstated.

    Overbridge DJW4, which is just immediately south of the former Hazelwood Station has had pointing repairs by contractors.

    Bagnall 2746 The Duke has had the insulation fitted; we are using two layers of foil backed rockwool to try to keep water away from the boiler, which also makes it a lot less dusty and itchy to handle; the cladding is now also being fitted.

    The railway is in the process of obtaining the ex Midland Rly Sneinton Signal Box from Tuxford which will be delivered shortly; this will probably be installed at Gorsey Bank Level Crossing.
     
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  19. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    That's it: our last normal service day of 2021, thanks to all the hardy souls who braved the snow and ran the trains. 9466 made a brave sight pulling away from Duffield, there are pictures on our main facebook page. The next "normal" turn-up-and-pay steam service will be the mince pie specials on 2/3 January 2022.

    SK No. M26157 is now fully painted, lined and ready for traffic; just as well as all the extra seats it generated have been sold.
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2021
  20. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Here are pictures of The Duke, now sitting on the re-laid No.2 road, which like N0.3 is being prepared for concreting, also a shot of the Gresley coach which is under contract repair by LS services for the LNERCA, sadly it will not run on our railway, but it does look magnificent. A pair of fully overhauled bogies arrived recently and are waiting to be wheeled into place to have the body lowered on to them. IMG_1125[1].JPG IMG_1128[1].JPG
     
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