Churnet Valley Railway General Discussion

Sunday 17th March I held at night time photo charter with 75014 as 5D Stoke allocated 75035 at Kingsley & Froghall Station: https://flic.kr/p/2pE43Lz

 

Lovely video and picture, whats the gradient up there, it sounds like the locos working hard and not going too fast?

 

For the first half mile it is 1 in 40 then from there to just shy of the 3 mile post it is 1 in 45. Leekbrook North Jct to Leekbrook East Jct is 1 in 50.

 

Tamworth Castle is looking very sorry for itself, do we know when it will be returned to use?

 

Following the very successful gala weekend, 4079 "Pendennis Castle" will be working our service trains this weekend and throughout May.

The current loco roster is online;

Public Train Service - Churnet Valley Railway

 

A day spent mostly at Consall but topped off nicely with 4079 on a more comfortable load !

 

4079 Pendennis Castle in action on Saturday 27th May, climbing the 1/40 between Leekbrook Junction and Ipstones

 

Why does Pendennis Castle leak so much steam?

 

To mark the last weekend of operation for Pendennis Castle at the Churnet Valley Railway before it returns to Didcot we will be holding a Rail Tour weekend where 4079 will carry a variety of head boards to re create the rail tours that it ran in the 1960's.

On Saturday it will haul the 13:30 and 18:30 departures from Froghall and on Sunday the 10:30 and 13:30 from Froghall.

The headboards in use will be;

Saturday 13:30;

View attachment 84902

Saturday 18:30;

View attachment 84903

Sunday 10:30;

View attachment 84904

Sunday 13:30;

View attachment 84905

Normal fares apply and can be booked at the discounted rate;

Public Train Service - Churnet Valley Railway

 

Chris

I assume that the 18.30 train on Saturday is a dining train.
Is the 13.30 on Saturday diesel hauled or is a S160 going to be rostered on it?

Thank you.

 

On Saturdays in June, July and August the 10:30 is diesel, 13:30 and 18:30 are steam.

 

Possibly a leaking piston gland but I dont think I've seen any clips yet of her steam tight when working hard.

 

Cummon feel the noise ! On its last weekend of operation on The Churnet Valley, 4079 Pendennis Castle carried a variety of headboards from railtours of yesteryear. The 13.30 departure on Saturday saw an excellent and VERY noisy climb up to Bradnop and beyond with 7 on.

 

The inside rear pressure relief valves need setting hence why they only blow when it’s working hard.

 

A few shots of Pendennis Castle last weekend at the Churnet Valley

Basford Green Cheddleton: https://flic.kr/p/2pUQUSn

Threshing Barn nr Ipstones loop: https://flic.kr/p/2pV1CWF

 

As the fireman that’s a cracking shot, we certainly had a good farewell weekend for her!

 

Yay… Another video promoting trespass, just what we want.

 

Had a good day on the railway today. Was initially apprehensive because only two trains were advertised and the first of those was a diesel. So did not know what to expect. Turned up at Froghall at around 12pm. Very friendly staff and they suggested we drive to Cheddleton to look around there first as our train did not go until 1330. A 15 minute drive along very narrow lanes to Cheddleton. The station there could do with a bit of work, big sign saying "signalbox arriving Dec 2023" and here we are 7 months later and no signalbox. I think this station could do with a lot of work to tidy it up. Wandered down to the sheds and a very kind gent showed us around the yard where the S160 was simmering. Lots of stock needing work, efforts seem to be concentrated on returning the third s160 to steam. An excellent tour of the shed that made the day. Thank you.
Returned to Froghall and boarded our train. Nicely turned out Mk1 and we got our preferred seat in the first coach. I had no idea of the gradients and so we were really wowed when we rounded the curve at Leekbrook and it was opened up! Fantastic stuff. Brilliant ride to Ipstones, engine working hard all the way. Useful commentary on the PA. Very limited refreshments, I think they are missing a trick here. Could do with an onboard buffet. Can't get off at Ipstones, so watched the runround from the coach then an easy coast downhill to Froghall and a cream tea in the tea room. A chance chat with a volunteer revealed that it's possible to see the leek extension, also they were running an 1830 train. There is an observation area by the curve at Leekbrook so we made our way there.
Parked in Morrisons carpark and followed the footpath. This goes alongside the extension, through the tunnel all the way to Leekbrook Jct. Over a level crossing and you are in the observation area in the triangle. Waited a bit then the train came by, working at it's limit, fantastic sight and highly recommended viewing. I'll post video at some point. It is possible to see a lot of the new work from the footpath and from the road through the triangle and it looks very impressive.
All in all we had a great day. I wasn't expecting much as the timetable was so thin and the website very unclear, bit it was far better than we thought. This is a railway with huge potential, extensions possible in three directions and I understand they own most of the trackbed already. In a few years this will be fantastic.