[John H-T]

I am starting this thread as a Diary of the progress in reopening the remaining five miles of the Wirksworth to Duffield Branch line just north of Derby.The target date for completion of the work is September 2010 ready for a reopening on 8th November 2010, the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway's 10th Birthday.

The one and half miles of continuous welded track from Idridgehay to Duffield is well in hand (See photo posted today) and this week we have strated to work are way through Shottle Station.

There were so few good sleepers in the first two panels that they were lifted, the track bed scraped, new sleepers laid and rails replaced. This was accomplished in two days with our volunteer force, many of whom are over 60!

The first photo show the cleared track bed, the second two lengths of rail in place, the third the complete reconection, the fourth a general view of Shottle looking south towards Duffield; the platform is on the left just before the road bridge, the left hand turnout goes into the yard and the right hand turnout is the start of the passing loop and the fifith shows the sleepers laid out.