John I don't fully understand the question but I hope this will answer what I think you are asking.

The Branch line was never closed it was mothballed. However no maintanance was done from 1989 until we were allowed to start clearing the line in November 2000, by which time it was a nine mile forest. Since then we have opened the incline up to Ravenstor - half mile. - and three and a half miles of the main branch to Duffiel (to Idridgehay). We are now upgrading the rest of the line to passenger carrying standards, mainly by spot resleepering and have relaid the run round at Duffield. We now have less than one and a half miles left to do and hope to have in done by the Autumn for full reopening next spring.

The mainline connection was removed when the Midland Main Line was upgraded to 100mph running as Network Rail wanted £250,000 per year to maintian the link, money we do not have!

Hope this answers your question.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

We are now below 1,000 sleepers to be changed: 995. This week's total is 116 changed.

68 days left before the September deadline so it is going to be a "damned close run thing!" - both physically and financially.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

www.one-last-push.org

Last Sleepers placed at Hazelwood.
 

Yesterday,Wednesday 15th Septyember, the last of the sleepers that have to be replaced to complete the upgrading of the Shottle to Duffield section were placed under Hazelwood Bridge.

We do have about another 200 sleepers which we will replace before tamping takes place but the main work is now done. 200 sleepers represents about 3 weeks work. Yesterday we changed 36 sleepers!

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Well done John and team another goal reached and very nearly there now. Good photographs
Regards

Have just read your news feed for Thursday.

You can call yourselves a proper railway now the cable fairies have visited.:) :)

Golden Sleeper and Spike
 

Today the official golden sleeper and spike were placed just south of Hazelwood in front of the TV cameras. Great feeling to know that we have got the job done within the time scale set.Best wishes,John H-T.

Once upon a time , you had a countdown clock on your webby - how does it stand now against it?

We have now completed the work that must be done before opening next April. The exact date will depend on who opens it. Likely to be sometime in the first two weeks of April.

In the meantime we have some maintenance work we want to do before the tamper arrives: 179 more sleepers to change, two lengths of rail to replace, 176 pairs of fishplates to grease, Duffield platform to complete and several cross drains to clear. Fairly minor compared with the 5,000 plus sleepers already changed etc. etc!!

Serious planning for the opening can now get fully into gear!

Best wishes,

John H-T.

That takes care of September, so what will you be doing next month? (LOL)