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Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

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

  1. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    I gather there will be steam worked ballast trains on some days next week as well. Photographers are likely to get bopped on the head and given a shovel - and should not be there anyway, which is why I'm not giving the dates or the worksite.
     
  2. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    We had the inaugural session for our newly organised Saturday P.W. team last weekend, performing simple but essential maintenance at Wirksworth on the tracks near the steam shed - mostly changing sleepers. A further session at Wirksworth has been organised for next Saturday 27th March.
     
  3. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Preparations for re-opening are in full swing. 80080 arrives on Thursday, with 9466 not far behind. Meanwhile track repairs continue with steam worked ballast trains. The carriage department formed their own PW team last Sunday and extended No.1 road through the back of the shed so that bogies can be trundled out of the way for cleaning while the carriage bodies sit up on jacks. Down at Loughborough the boiler for 2746 The Duke is going through preliminary tests ready for the official hydraulic test, which will hopefully be on 31st March.
     
  4. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    80080 basks in the sun in the yard at Wirksworth. Meanwhile 2746 has had a successful hydraulic test. 9466 is due to arrive next week.
     

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  5. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    The boiler for 2746 has passed an initial steam test; 9466 arrived on Friday. There will be a special dry run service on Tuesday 13th April; public services will re-start on Thursday 15th April.
    IMG_0832[1].JPG IMG_0835[1].JPG
     
  6. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Services on the Ecclesbourne Valley railway restart today. Here is the rehearsal train passing through Shottle on Tuesday 13th April, double headed by 80080 and 9466.Shottle is temporarily looking very much as it did in the 1950's as the old oil tanks and the former Crich tram shed have been removed pending the construction of replacements.
    Please note that the station building is the private property of Peak Oil Ltd; visitors should NOT walk into what is now their accounts office and attempt to purchase tickets or coffee and sandwiches, which has occasionally happened.
    IMG_0851[1].JPG
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2021
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  7. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Our first weekend of operations has gone very well, trains well filled. The "Cakes of the Day" have returned to the buffet, the latest offering is a very sinful chocolate cake garnished with slices of Creme Eggs. Elsewhere the P.W. dept have gone all mechanical and are refurbishing a spare Rolls Royce diesel to be installed in the P.W. dept shunter; this had a successful trial last Tuesday. A quantity of signal poles have arrived from Barton on Humber.

    Nearly all of the local campsites have re-opened, some have been much enlarged since last year, so we are repeating the leaflet runs which worked so well before.
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2021
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  8. Vulcan Works

    Vulcan Works Member

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    That all sounds marvellous. It sounds like you’re all very busy. If you need a hand a former PRA Director has a little more time available to assist you now...
     
  9. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Latest news from Wirksworth is that today we took delivery of an experimental class 168 Hybridflex unit for extended trials, pictures shortly.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2021
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  10. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Here are the vehicles for our latest testing contract, the class 168 Hybridflex unit. This operates on a mix of battery and diesel power, which can be used at the same time if required. The idea is that on the approach to a station, the diesel is switched off, and the train is slowed by regenerative braking, the motors being used as dynamos. The train then restarts on battery power until clear of the station, thus drastically reducing pollution within station limits and urban areas, as well as substantial fuel economies.

    Motive power next weekend will be 80080
     

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    Last edited: Apr 25, 2021
  11. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    The "Derbyshire Countryman" dining services will begin in June, using the LMS BSO, which is freshly restored and looks magnificent. A film preview can be seen here: www.e-v-r.com/countryman-dining (direct link won't upload for some reason)

    The Hybridflex unit has made a trial run to Duffield

    The boiler for 2746 The Duke continues to receive attention to minor snagging items at Loughborough but should not be long now.
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2021
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  12. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Member

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    Very pleased to see they are clear about catering for different dietary requirements on their dining services. That would give my wife and I a huge amount more confidence in booking a dining service with them
     
  13. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    What is the status of 9466 ? it has worked a couple of days then "failed"
     
  14. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    9466 had a minor problem, rapidly cured.
     
  15. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    many thanks and good to hear
     
  16. sleepermonster

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    We had a good busy Saturday, the first of the Fish and Chip trains, organised in conjunction with the chip shop at Duffield through Messrs Fox and Andrews. These will also run on 29th May and 5th June. The production of "Cakes of the Day" has had to be stepped up, the buffet staff are experimenting with a new prototype, currently known as "Gateau X". It seems to consist largely of chocolate.

    At the moment all passengers must begin their journeys at Wirksworth, but provided the government holds to its present course, they will be able to joint the train at Duffield at some point in June.

    The latest Gresley restoration by LS enterprises is making good progress in the shed, it is an outside contract for use on the NYMR, but it is encouraging to see good work done in a reasonably efficient facility: body up on jacks, bogies rolled out of the back of the shed, enough clear room left for another full length vehicle under cover on the same road.

    Also in the shed, good progress is being made fitting the plumbing to Cathryn.

    Down at Shottle, the S & T team are have been fitting timber sheathing to the support columns and are beginning to erect the studding to support the cladding in due course.
     

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  17. Vulcan Works

    Vulcan Works Member

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    Its great to hear about positive progress and the return of passengers. I’ll hopefully take my family on a trip during the school hols. T’other railway over the hill is still slumbering unfortunately. Hope Gateaux X is a success, we can only hope that the testing team bravely makes its way through plenty of quality control samples!
     
  18. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Passenger loadings over the bank holiday weekend were very satisfactory; we had one unsold compartment on Saturday, six on Sunday. I wasn't there on Monday. Gateau X is still in development, but the catering department fielded an extremely sinful five layered rainbow sponge with blue icing. Down at Shottle the signal box is making progress. The incline up to Ravenstor isn't open yet, but the area from The National Stone Centre down to the halt is well worth exploring, here is a picture of a rail overbridge which was never used on the legendary link down from the C & HP, which was to have been rope worked at 1 in 5.
     

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  19. Woolley

    Woolley Member

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    Had my first ride on this railway 29th may 21 and didnt really no what to expect but what a fab railway this is I can only recommend it to anyone who hasn’t been fantastic run back to wirksworth behind 9466
     
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  20. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Glad you enjoyed your visit.

    The first "Derbyshire Countryman" dining service starts tomorrow using the exquisitely restored LMSCA BSO, rebuilt from a completely stripped out departmental coach, hence it is an open rather than a compartment coach. Meanwhile the first production Gateau X is cooling in the buffet fridge, to be loosed upon an unsuspecting world in the morning.

    The volunteer induction team were in session, interviewing new volunteers. We have recently had about 40 applications and all need to be logged on HOPS, given track safety courses and introduced to their prospective departments.
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2021
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