Eight years ago, it was all abandoned trackage and rotting ties, overgrown with trees and waist high overgrowth. A bunch of dedicated, middle aged men with determination, perspiration, and a few well written funding applications have turn it into what you see here, complete with new platforms, donated equipment, ties and rail. Funding has just been granted for asbestos abatement on the two tank locomotives, and then renewal into service. These were the two locos found in an old shed, covered in grease from a nearby industry. EVR carries tourists and railfans, and is regularly leased by railway equipment companies to test new equipment designs. All current equipment was either regular railway cast-offs or purchased by member enthusiasts after retirement.

Credit Richard Buckby for the images.










Opinion: You have to credit the Brits with their Nat. Heritage Pres. Lottery, but here are a group of men and women who found a resource, got down and dirty with the un-glamorous work of fixing track and drainage problems. They requested used material and made good with it, wrote up some funding plans, and showed up in small work groups on rainy, cold, miserable days as well as those warm and sunny. In my opinion, this is how you get a viable museum/tourist operation moving forward. An outstandiing work plan and dedicated force of volunteers with a similar mission. A lot of fish and chips have gone into this worksite.

In photo #4 there's a train (rake?) of what appear to be Network Southeast third-rail electrics. My wife and I rode some when we visited England and Isle of Man in 1993. Except for lack of 18-inch air whistles or air horns, they sounded like American interurbans. Locals called them "slam-door" cars and most were glad to see them replaced, but for traction fans, they were like the SN or CA&E come to life. I presume a heritage railway would not be able to use third rail power in their location.

I am pretty sure that it is an ex Gatwick Express rake of coaches so the livery is Intercity. These have a MLV (motor luggage van - battery/3rd rail powered) at one end and BG (full length) at the other - the intermediate coaches are Mark 2's (not sure which variant)

These are Gatwick Express cars, used as trailers behind the Diesel power at the EVR. There is no third rail at this location.

You may be interested in an update on this old topic. The eight miles of line from Wirksworth to Duffield opened to the public yeaterday.

The railway website address is www.e-v-r.com

or google search wirksworth railway

Tim

The EVR has completely rehabbed the Duffiend station, end of the line, so it no looks better than the adjacent British Rail station! Not only that, there are two steam locomotives and an assortment of relic Diesel locomotives in service. The EVR is beautifully manicured, with most of the work being done by retired men and women, volunteers, and donated equipment. Railroad maintenance equipment companies use EVR to test and demonstrate their products, which doesn't hurt.

It is worth noting that the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway's station at Ravenstor is only four miles from the southern terminus of Peak Rail in Matlock. One can also travel from Duffield on the EVR to Loughborough via National Rail. From Loughborough one could travel all the way to Leicester on the Great Central Railway. Thus, one could travel a distance of approximately 60 miles, over three heritage railways, and national rail, with only a four mile walk in between.
In addition, when the Great Central Railway link is completed the entire distance from Nottingham to Leicester (approximately 26 miles) will be able to be covered on preserved railways.
http://www.e-v-r.com/
http://www.peakrail.co.uk/
http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/

Steve Piwowarski

There is an article in the latest issue of "The Railway Magazine"

G

If you are interested in the UK heritage railway scene you may be interested in this compilation of photographs of the recovery of Oddingley level crossing box, which has been rescued and re-installed as a signal box at Shottle Station on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway where it is to control a passing loop halfway along the line. The work is still a long way from completion, one obvious job will be to clad the bottom of the box with traditional timber to match the top.

Did railways in Britain really have Signal boxes every few miles? if the traffic required, yes they did.

https://youtu.be/qpSOcB8IIhY