Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

The Duke ,73001 (not far off requiring an exam ) and bubble 55006 are the only locos/unit currently available I believe .

 

What's happened with the Standard 4 Tank?

 

80080 is currently out of action pending completion of work on the motion, we expect it back in traffic later this year.

 

Wirksworth Miniature Railway Gala and other attractions - 6/7/8 September.

Wirksworth will be quite an interesting place this weekend. It is the start of the annual Wirksworth Arts Festival, plus the usual monthly market on Saturday, and there will be an early DMU working from Duffield on Saturday at 0830. If anyone wants to return late, there is an extra train in the evening for a catering event at 6-30pm, run by some chap called Basil and called "A Taste of Fawlty Towers". A bit of a dodgy cove if you ask me - last time he put on an event somoenoe found false teeth in the soup. However the rest of the train away from the catering coaches should be safe enough.

Meanwhile our Miniature Railway section will be celebrating their tenth anniversary with a gala of their own, to which entry is free of charge. It will feature visiting 7 1/4" locomotives, some of which will be operating, plus a display of 5" gauge models and the first opening to the public of a large 00 gauge layout donated by the family of the late Reverend Jonathan Oldfield which is based on the old Buxton Midland station.

 

Earlier this week we had the pleasure of a visit from a group of engineering students and staff from Birmingham University who spent some days working with us on a variety of track projects. They worked very hard, among other things they ballasted, levelled and packed a considerable length of siding and carried out repairs to a turnout, including lifting out a worn crossing and replacing it with a better example, manually - see below.

There will be steam services for half term all next week, hauled by The Duke.

The annual EVRA model railway exhibition will take place on 9th/10th November, and as usual it will be spread between locations in the town. Down at the station, EVRA will be holding a mammoth sale of second hand railway books, over 3500 books priced to sell, many at half price.

 

D1842 on Tuesday ..what ‘s become a rare diesel working at EVR….

 

Some of you may be familiar with the Green Signals Podcast, produced by Nigel Harris and Richard Bowker. Back in September, they came to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and spent a day with us. They have now published an hour-long behind-the-scenes video of their visit and includes several interviews to giv an insight into what makes us tick.

The video can be found here:

 

Moorbarrow visiting from Gwili should arrive this week and provide heat and some motion for services for the next few weeks .
D1842 will be assisting this weekend in the motion department.

 

Do you know whether Moorbarrow is likely to be working the following weekend, and, if so, will it have diesel assistance?

 

Departing earlier today.

 

Should be every weekend until end of March /whenever it leaves/Duke back together.

Unless take going to load 3/4 I assume it will be assisted ,but that might also depend on diesel loco and crew availability,as 73 almost due a B ,only leaving 47 with 4 drivers (one to three of which might be involved in the B exam ).

 

Visited the railway yesterday just to see Moorbarrow and had a great day at the railway.
Moorbarrow had the standard 5 coach set on its own and made little fuss handling the train on pilot valve.
A case of don't underestimate industrial locos.
Nice to be able to see and travel behind the loco nearer to home.
The owners of the loco were also present and they were really enjoying their visit.


I should mention that there are contra flow traffic lights on the A6 just south of Matlock before the turn off to Wirksworth at Cromford.

 

Is 80080 still based at the railway? I can't remember seeing it running recently.

 

It was there today in the old steam shed ..not run since 1/1/24….was under repair until around Oct 2024 …

 

I read in the railways house magazine that there is a running agreement to sort out and that repairs are complete.

 

1054 has been announced as visiting in May & June

 

With 80080 leaving for the North Norfolk, is there any plans to bring in any other steam locos?

 

Moorbarrow will now be staying until the end of the year; it has turned out to be a capable locomotive for our work. Someone has done a very good job on it. The Duke should be back in traffic shortly, currently waiting for new piston rings, I am looking forward to seeing both of them at work together. D3236 has arrived on loan from Nemesis, and should feature in the Twin peaks gala on 11th-13th April; however the most recent arrival is a very smart 7 1/4" model of a class 20; battery operated but with full diesel sound effects.

Other developments: we had the pleasure of a visit from as party of Alsthom engineers from Derby who spent a day working on the track on 19th March and changed an impressive number of sleepers.

The former Sneinton signal box, which is in store in the car park, has been receiving some attention to conserve it and make it more interesting to visitors.

To raise money for small projects like this we are selling bootscrapers through the EVRA shop, made from rail chairs and heavy duty brushes. Types available include BR LMS and Midland, here is a Midland example which will be going on sale shortly.

We also have a quantity of shelf type signalling relays, rather more than we shall require, which are available for sale or preferably exchange for mechanical signalling items.

 

The Shoppers Market Train from Duffield to Wirksworth will run again tomorrow for passengers wishing to visit the popular farmers and artisan market at Wirksworth, which is held on the first Saturday in each month. This first train is a railcar and leaves Duffield at 07-20. Tickets can be obtained here Buy Day Rover Tickets Tickets online - Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. Scroll down the list for the ticket, which is listed as "Duffield Shoppers Special" (£5.00), return on any train.

The railcar will then spend the rest of the day on the Ravenstor Line.

 

Parked or running up and down?