Interesting read......

Definatley Lookingforward to Visiting at the End of April as the £2.00 I would save on the trainfare from DUF to AMB will go for the extra cost of the ticket for that weekend (Saturday) a£2.00 less for National Rail £2.00 more for the EVR though all those cariages youll make EMT jelous thogh funny how Heritage Railways Can run more carigages the the Main Railway Companies.

HRH Duke of Gloucester reopens Duffield-Wirksworth Branch.
 

HRH Duke of Gloucester arrived at Duffield by East Midlands Trains today. The train stopped briefly at Duffield Network Rail Platform and the Duke then walked Across to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Platform. He rode on the footplate of Standard 2 78019 to Idridgehay and then in The LMS Inspection Salloon to Wirksworth where he was introduced to groups of volunteers and local School Children. He was then taken up the Incline to Ravenstor before final speeches and presentations.

The train was made up of 78019, Mk1 SK, newly restored LMS Open 3rd (1947) and the LMS Inspection Saloon (BR built).

.... and the sun shone!

Tomorrow is Shareholders' Day and then public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A few tickets still available: phone 01629 823076 for availability.

A selection of photos below:

The view of the EVR Platform at Duffield from the Mainline Platform with the Matlock Branch Train.

The Royal Head Code on 78019.

The Royal Train at Wirksworth.

HRH talking to the Crew of No.3 at Wirksworth.

78019 with train and Thunderbird Class 20 D8001 (not needed!)

Best wishes,

John H-T.

A very good feature about the Duke's visit on BBC East Midlands today has just been broadcast.
Some excellent and detailed coverage.

Hi, here is our official press release for today:

OBJECTIVE ACHIEVED
ECCLESBOURNE VALLEY RAILWAY OPENS TO DUFFIELD: MORE THAN A DECADE’S TEAM EFFORT REWARDED WITH A VISIT BY H.R.H. THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

Wirksworth, 6th April 2011: The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, connecting Duffield near Derby with Wirksworth, the Gem of the Peak, became fully operational today when His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester travelled the whole line to open the line formally.

Arriving by train from London, His Royal Highness crossed from the main line platforms at Duffield and joined the first scheduled passenger train from Duffield to Wirksworth since June 1947. Hauled by a former British Railways locomotive, no. 78019, the train included a carriage, built the year the line closed, that has been restored by a dedicated team of volunteers at Wirksworth.

The train was filled with the working volunteers who could celebrate over a decade of hard work to the reopening of the railway and John Snell, the Chairman of WyvernRail plc, paid credit to them: “We have waited, anticipated and dreamed of this day for over a decade and it is so very fitting that the people who made this dream a reality are those who are present on this very special day”.

Riding on the footplate for part of the journey, His Royal Highness toured the station at Wirksworth and visited the railway’s museum before unveiling a plaque commemorating his visit and the line’s reopening.

Present at the event were Martin Miller, General Manager of WyvernRail and Mike Craft, Secretary of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association, both of whom were present on the very first day of clearance work in November 2000. “It is truly amazing to consider not only what we have achieved in just over a decade but the sheer dedication of both our shareholders and volunteers in keeping faith in our plans, often when we literally could not see the wood for the trees” remarked Mr. Miller, while Mike Craft was in reflective mood: “To see so many of our friends here today is a wonderful experience and I think everybody present will take a moment to remember some of the team who passed-away before our dream could be realised”.

The celebrations today pave the way for a festival lasting the next four days with public services commencing on Friday 8th. This event forms the start of what promises to be an exciting season for the railway with steam and heritage diesel trains, all of which connect with East Midlands Trains’ services between Nottingham, Derby and Matlock.

Today, Wirksworth has returned to the railway map and the town looks forward to welcoming rail travellers for the first time in over six decades.

Ends.

I am sure there will be many more but here is a good set of images on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robin_s...ith/5595425190

Neil

Congratulations to everyone at the EVR

Hope you enjoyed the day and have a great weekend.

Regards

Saw it on the news on East Midlands Today (Wednesday) and it looks really great. Cant wait to travel on the line myself, and looking to visit on the weekend of the 16th. Well done to all those who contributed to all the very hard work, as yet anther branch line opens (or extended) to my knowledge that makes 4 extended lines in the last year!
Heritage lines are becomming a bigger attraction than ever before and if the GCR gets its way with "bridging the gap" we will have yet another huge line in our region.
What a testiment to all the effort put in by those who offer their valuable time for the good of all. Well done.

Many thanks Bryan, Phil and Master Cutler.

Another busy day today with good loadings, First public day tomorrow.

Unless you are desperate to ride during the first weekend I recommend waiting untill next weekend when all day rover tickets will be available.

I am firing on No.3 on Sunday 17th so if you are around please come and say hello.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

On BBC News this morning as well. :D

Well done all great work. Hoping to visit next year.

4th extension or connection in 12 months ?

1/ ERV
2/ CVR
3/ SPA Valley

Is the 4th Swanage, or have I missed someone else important ?

Is there any decent film of the grand opening on the net ? YouTube doesn't seem to have as much as I hoped.

I know there has been quite a bit of film taken. If I find any good links I will post them.

I haven't had much time to take photos as I have been too involved. I do have quite a few photos but they are not mine to post..

Having a day off tomorrow after 7 days on the trot but will be back at Wirksworth on Tuesday and Wednesday. Will be firing on No.3 next Sunday and possibly Saturday.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

K&ESR 1 mile extension to the site of Junction Road Halt opened 19/3/11 though not in regular use - special occasions only.

Tony

Great to see the extension open John. Congratulations to the whole team at the EVR.

Tony

Thanks Pesmo and TRP.

First report of the opening is in today's Heritage Railway - Full Page.

Will be on the footplate of No.3 Saturday and Sunday so if anyone is visiting please say hello.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Ill be there on the 30th as going to Llangollen this Saturday for the cls 31.

Thogh I asume an hope that now the caraiges are in order at the EVR we will see more use of the cls 31 at the EVR and the other DSL Locos hauling cariges.

It is in Gatwick Express livery which would look odd I imagine

If I win the lottery I'll buy them a Class 73 to go with the coaches, :D

Swanage joined up with the national network on 8th September 2002

It is probable that the Class 20 will be used with the Crimson Lake Rake during the summer, which is appropriate in the branch line and period context, although admittedly the Inspection Saloon and the Open Third are in LMS Livery.

It is unlikely that the 31 will be put into traffic in the near future for a variety of reasons.

Many thanks for your offer Wyvern.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Shame..Atleast if Tommy & Hydra can do some Haulnig Passenger Trains then that would be Intresting.

Tommy and Hydra are no longer at Wirksworth. They have been sold.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

oh right i think I actually meant “L J Breeze”

I have added some images to Photobucket and thought that this one, taken by our official photographer Geoff Buxton, might be of interest.

I think it's fair to say that we are co-located with EMT at Duffield!

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/...tion_8715a.jpg

Kind regards,

Neil

I hope to be there on Friday !

1. Am I right in thinking that there will be steam working on that day ?

2. Do you give discounted fares to people who were born in Wirksworth ?!

All the best

Martin

Yes we shall have steam on Friday: the 12:20 from Wirksworth to Duffield and 13:10 return, followed by the 16:20 with 17:10 return.

We are looking to introduce a residents' pass but, alas, if you no longer live in our fair town I'm afraid regular fares apply but if you are a 'senior member', then you may be eligible for one of our concessionary fares.

Kind regards,

Neil

There will only be steam on the incline service on Monday. Iris will be in action on her own Friday to Sunday.

Best wishes,

John H-T.