Ferrybridge No.3 Named

The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association (EVRA) have formally named and unveiled Ferrybridge No.3 locomotive for operation following successful rebuilding and testing. The locomotive, named "Brian Harrison" after the gentleman who rescued it, remained in a Yorkshire scrapyard for 30 years in the hope that one day it would be fully restored. Thanks in part to a Heritage Lottery grant, as well as private individuals, the locomotive is now fully operational again at the cost of around £80,000!

The unveiling took place at 11am on 25/05/10 by Brian Harrison's son with the presence of BBC television and ITV Central. Invited guests included the media, volunteers who have worked on the project and guests from Poland - a steam driver and his family who work on one of the few remaining operational steam mainlines in Europe. The locomotive then took a train (in the form of Inspection Saloon 999504 for distinguished guests as well as the newly arrived MarkI SK E26157) to Idridgehay where passengers disembarked and watched the locomotive run past several times before returning to Wirksworth.

As this is the first operational steam locomotive to be based at Wirksworth, there are still some final items to iron out, including the full training of locomotive crew and improving the water supply.

The railway is hosting an event weekend this Bank Holiday in conjunction with the popular Wirksworth Carnival in the town and it is intended for "Brian Harrison" to be in steam on crew training exercises. It will be well worth a visit to see the locomotive in "as new" condition!

It is then intended for 1874 locomotive "Bellerophon" to join "Brian Harrison" for a few weeks and run two weekends of steam gala on 31st July/1st August and 7th/8th August.

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