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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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    The latest news is that the formal opening of the new platform building will take place on Wednesday 9th October.

    The Wirksworth Model Railway Exhibition on 19/20th October will be an ideal opportunity to come and see it.
     
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  2. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Inside the new platform building, picture courtesy of Tom Tait.[​IMG]
     
  3. Jamie Glover

    Jamie Glover New Member

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    Where is the picture?
     
  4. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    The picture is part of the interior of the brand new platform building at Wirksworth.
     
  5. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Is it snowing heavily or is it thick fog?
     
  6. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    The picture is not showing on the forum

    Keith
     
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  7. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    A friend of mine was recently repainting the Peak Oil premises at Shottle station and got quite a surprise when the ex-London Underground coach glided through on battery power. "We're lost" said the driver. I gather it was a successful test run to Duffield and back. The coach has since been into the shed for repainting; personally I'd like to see it feature in the Wizards of Wirksworth event on 27th October as a magically unexplained arrival, but I suspecty that event will be busy and complicated enough as it is. Also in the shed, the LMSCA BTO is now in red gloss and the prefabricated seats are being fitted rapidly. The shed itself is being extended; the steelwork is up and the roof sheets are on, though the ground is getting a little swampy and the mud will need cleaning out.

    The Birmingham students made a good start on preparations for the new carriage siding which the volunteers will comntinue as maintenance work permits. We are looking for the right hand half of a left hand straight cut B switch if anyone has this item for disposal.
     
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  8. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    The carriage department are very busy at the moment. Two more Gresley coaches have arrived from the NYMR and are receiving attention. A BR Mk1 buffet has also arrived from the NYMR for contract repair and work began to strip rusted end cladding even before it was shunted out of the car park. The Shottle Shuttle autumn service has begun.
     
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  9. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Our P.W. Dept can take bow: they spent a large part of the Summer and Autumn rebuilding drains, with the result that we had no serious flooding of the line in the recent downpours. Meanwhile a Mk 3 caledonian sleeper has arrived for volunteer accommodation, owned by the 10000 group and a box van for the Class 14. The PW dept are turning some of their attention to the urgent need for more siding space.
     
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  10. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    [​IMG]
    Christmas Comes Early to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

    Wirksworth Branch Railway ownership transferred to WyvernRail



    Wirksworth, 17th December 2019



    The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is delighted to announce that it has taken full ownership of the nine-mile branch line from Duffield to Wirksworth on the border of the Peak District. The railway is the only heritage line in Derbyshire - and one of only a handful in the country - that owns its infrastructure outright.

    Following several years of negotiations, the owning company, WyvernRail plc, completed the purchase of the railway from Network Rail on December 9th. In 2005, a lease purchase agreement was agreed but a series of legal hurdles were necessary before full title of the railway could be transferred and this included WyvernRail obtaining a Transport & Works Act Order in 2015.

    2020 marks the twentieth anniversary of the commencement of restoration of the line and as it enters its anniversary year, the company can now proceed with confidence to implement a programme to develop the line into a premier tourist attraction.

    John Snell, Company Chairman commented, “I am delighted that all the hard work of the railway’s Board of Directors has brought the negotiations with Network Rail to a successful conclusion. We now control all of our infrastructure and are poised for expansion.”

    This is a significant development for Derbyshire’s scenic Ecclesbourne Valley and the town of Wirksworth. This unique market town with a reputation for creativity has consistently demonstrated its sense of independence and now its railway line – virtually abandoned by British Railways - is owned in full by Wirksworth’s own railway company.
     
  11. mikechant

    mikechant Member

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    Excellent. I wonder what form the 'expansion' mentioned will take (beyond the current projects like the new Wirksworth Station building) - obviously not a line extension, but what else? Proper platform 2 at Shottle would be one thing I suppose.
     
  12. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    IMG_0341[1].JPG
     

    Attached Files:

  13. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    I hope the attempt to show pictures of the new station building goes better than my last attempt some weeks ago.

    The current projects are: commissioning the new toilet block and a shower facility for volunteers, extension of the maintenance building and the signalling for the loop at Shottle. Both Cathryn and The Duke are waiting for the return of their boilers and there will be another extended steam service this year; the very successful "Steam in the Valley" event will be repeated and enhanced.

    There will be an Open Day for prospective new members and volunteers on 15th February; in practice whether you wish to join or not this is an opportunity to have a guided tour behind the scenes; there will be a diesel service and discounted fares for anyone who takes out membership on the day.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2020
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  14. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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  15. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Duffield Rail Connection Reinstated! But from Wirksworth, not Derby. The track gang have completed the cleaning out and relaying of a wet spot at the Derby Road overbridge, just south of Wirksworth, the final ballast will be applied this week. Note the attention to the drainage channels; the track gang had been hard at work on drainage projects for most of last year which kept the railway relatively immune from flooding in the winter downpours. Come and meet the team on 15th February.
     
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  16. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    Image not working?

    Keith
     
  17. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Volunteering Day Postponed

    Following discussions between the Board of Directors this morning the decision has been taken to suspend services this weekend on Saturday and Sunday due to the forecast gale force winds and heavy rain. It is very disappointing as we were very much looking forward to kicking off the 2020 season but the safety of the public and volunteers is important. The Volunteering Day will be rearranged for a later date. We plan to operate as planned on Tuesday 18th for half term.
     
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  18. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    The world really is upside down at the moment; the storms passed and we had a really excellent DMU gala weekend, about 30% up on the previous year. We had planned a really spectacular summer, but then the virus crisis bit.

    Now the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway have issued a ‘Victory over the Virus’ appeal. You can make your donation via our special Victory over the Virus web page at www.e-v-r.com/victory methods options for payment include a PayPal option, typing in the amount and ticking the "Make this a monthly donation" box (PayPal take a fee).

    As has elsewhere, if volunteers and supporters simply contribute the amount of their travel expenses it can make an enormous contribution. That such a contribution can make so much difference just goes to show just how much effort the supporters of all the heritage railways do put in.
     
  19. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Money is coming in through the appeal, but it looks as if it is going to be a long haul. We are still a relatively young railway compared with many and relatively small donations to the appeal site in the last post will make a big difference. Two things happened just before the lockdown: the overhaul of the LMS brake open coach was completed and a large Orenstein and Koppel road rail machine arrived. The second item was purchased some months ago donations by a consortium of members; it has outriggers, a load sensor and a capacity of about 10 tons. It purchased at a very good price from one of our test customers. It will be ideal for P.W work when we can resume our activities.
     
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  20. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

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    Many thanks to all those who have supported our appeal; we still need support, goodness knows when the lockdown will be lifted, but we are managing for the time being.

    Meanwhile, here is a link to a video of an O&K similar to the one we got hold of just before the world turned upside down:
     

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