Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Derbyshire: The Final Countdown to opening to Duffield.
 

The opening to Duffield is hopefully now only three months away so I have started a new thread to keep everyone up to date with the final arrangements.

We are heavily commited to the Formal Opening on Wednesday 6th April and first Public Trains on Friday 8th April 2011. So if something major goes wrong we will end up with loads of egg on our collective faces.

There is still quite a bit to do and the recent snow has not helped, but as the attached photos show it didn't stop us completely: Extending the headshunt at Duffield by half a panel 22/23 December and the completed job 27 December.

As I can release news this Forum will be one of the first places to get it starting tonight!

Best wishes,

John H-T.

It all looks good John,we should have an Formal Forum visit :).i will get there this year to have a look

All the best,Ian

I would be delighted to organise a visit for members of the Forum, ideally before the end of May while we have the Standard 2 78019 with us, so that we would have two locos in steam.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

This Press Release has just been published by the Ecckesbourne Valley Railway:

"FOR IMMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
Contact: Neil Ferguson-Lee
Tel. (01629) 822806
Email [email protected]

TIMETABLE PUBLISHED FOR 2011 REOPENING SERVICE
PUBLIC SERVICES COMMENCE ON 8TH APRIL WITH TICKETS ON SALE FROM FEBRUARY


Wirksworth, 4th January 2011: The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway will reopen the Wirksworth Branch in full to Duffield on Friday, 8th April, 2011, followed by a gala on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th. Tickets for the reopening train will go on sale in early February and be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Prior to the first public train, two days will be devoted to special services for the line’s volunteers and shareholders.

The 2011 timetable has been published and contains an exciting schedule of services and events for the 2011 season. Featuring 76 operating days, the core service provides four services per day from Duffield to Wirksworth, departing from Duffield at 11:10, 13:10, 15:10 and 17:10 and connecting with the East Midlands Trains service from Nottingham to Matlock.

The reopening gala over the first weekend will provide an exciting and intensive service featuring visiting British Railways Class 2MT locomotive no. 78019 and the railway’s rake of vintage carriages which will include a freshly-restored former London Midland & Scottish Railway vehicle that has been under restoration at Wirksworth since 2008. Services will also include the railway’s collection of vintage diesel locomotives and railcars to give a truly spectacular reopening event over the three days.

Locomotive 78019 will be resident at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for over two months and form the core of the events programme alongside Wirksworth-based 0-4-0 ‘Ferrybridge No.3’. The exciting programme includes an Easter Eggstravaganza and May Day Bank Holiday and a series of weekend steam events in April and May.

The full timetable and events programme can be can be downloaded from the following location:
http://www.e-v-r.com/documents/2011leafletweb.pdf

All dates are subject to final approval by the appropriate regulatory authorities."

As I said I will keep you up to date as information is released.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

There's a question that's been intriguing me for a while now. How on earth do you get all your rolling stock up there without a rail connection to the network?

The 8F group haven't brought their loco with them have they?

Wirksworth's roads are pretty narrow or do you use the Duffield end at Chapel Street.

I'm just imagining the 2MT turning into Coldwell Street. :D (picture courtesy of Streeview)

Thanks for the photo Wyvern. I have to confirm that that is the way all our stock arrives! Down into Coldwell Street then left into Station Road onto the car park and the loading/unloading point. The 8F will arrive this way in about 12month's time! The Standard 2 78019 will arive in late mid March. All our coaches and DMU's also follow this route!

There is an HGV firm opposite Station Road so large lorries are a daily sight in Wirksworth.

I can also take this opportunity to reveal that tickets for the opening weekend, 8th-10th April are now on sale and we are already doing a brisk trade.

Details at:

http://www.e-v-r.com/opening2011/

Today there were over 60 volunteers on site up and down the line getting ready for the opening with work on Duffield Platform, Vegitation clearance just north of Duffield Tunnel, track work at Shottle, boiler washout for No.3 at Wirksworth, work on the LMS open 3rd and Mk1 BSK plus admin activity selling tickets. With just over 2 months to go till the opening the pace is really hotting up!

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Good job Wirksworth people are so friendly and accommodating. :)

Also quite a climb up Cromford Hill!

They are used to big six wheeled limestone lorries but an 8F on a lowloader? All I can say is "Wow!"

I cant think of any other way to do it apart from going round by Duffield.

You can get an idea from this photo why the Midland Railway's original idea of opening a line to Rowsley was somewhat desperate.

I would like to be there with my camera to record it will make good photo opportunies for getting them into a magazine

They are indeed friendly and accommodating but Cromford Hill is a no-no, not only because of the extremely steep gradient, but the limited clearance as the road goes under the former Cromford & High Peak Railway at the summit.

The route for all rail vehicles by road is along the B5023 from Duffield and apart from one low loader ending-up in a ditch at the roadside for a few hours a couple of years ago (with a London Underground battery electric locomotive on board!), it's a pretty straightforward journey.

Neil

This might be of interest: http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2008/11/oh-dear.html :)

Neil

From overseas, congratulations to all - well done!

Thank you! Come and visit us when you are next in the UK!

Neil

now if the EVR was extented form Wickersworth towards Rowsley Village and Peak Rail extened form Rowsley Village towards Wickersworth then you would have a main line link at one end enable to allow Rail Tours up to Wickersworth and Locos and Stock would be able to be delivered by Rail rather than road which I immagine is more expensive.

The Link would make the whole line a JOint Operation simmilar to what is proposed by the GCRN & GCR which I would immagine bringing in extra renue for both PR & EVR and giving EVR some probaly much needed revenue to improve maintiance facilities etc.


Especialy with the ability to accept rail tours the project would bring in lots of torists as well the railway being a first ie..a new Heritage line / extwnsion created from scratch alotgh I belive from John HT that the land was prepaired quite some years ago but was never built nut yet me peronaly sees p[leanty of potential.

When the Wirksworth branch was originally built, the Midland Railway was intending to take it as far as Rowsley because of problems with its existing line from Ambergate.

It would have involved a 1503-yard tunnel and a 280-yard long viaduct down to the entrance to Matlock gorge and it would have run up the west side through Matlock.

My picture gives an idea of the height difference involved.

Thank you! Come and visit us when you are next in the UK!

Neil

Thank you, I most derfinitely shall.

Can you buy your ticket on the day for this event ?

Only if they haven't all been sold. At present booking are coming in very quickly and are for specific trains and seats. The tickets are not Day Rovers and none will be available for that week end. The tickets do include rides on the incline which are not pre booked.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Hi John, thanks for the information it is very usefull to enable us to keep abrest of progress. This expansion of yet another heritage railway shows the dedication and commitment of all staff and volunteers who give thier time (albeit for the love of the job) for the wider audience and I will be at the steam weekend in April. I look forward to it.

Thanks Phil,

Look forward to meeting you. I will be around all three days.

Hope to post some updates later today.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Would have been a better Idear to use the Class 31 and the Gatwick Stock rather than Railcar /DMU.

We do not have HMRI approval for the Class 31 working with the Gatwick Set. Also the Gatwick stock is our main catering facility at present.

Best wishes,

John.

A few photos of progress at Duffield Platform the edging and tachtiles are now complete. Still needs tarmac.
Best wishes,

John H-T.

Hi John

Thanks for the updates. looking good and hoping everthing continues to develop ready for your launch. Your team at EVR have done sterling work through terrible conditions this winter and hope now you can reap some rewards and get due recognition for the project that it deserves. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Regards

The EVR has an honourable history of DMUs. It was the test track for the prototype fifties Derby units.

It's a pity Iris couldn't be used.

Used to sit on the stile of the foot crossing at Holloway Road and watch them.

Iris will be part of the line up complete with new seats! She is one of the jewels in our crown!

Best wishes,

John H-T.

The last tim eI was on Iris the seats looked Brmd New that was about two years ago now, Have they re-done them agin ?

LMSCA Open 3rd to Duffield and Iris's new seats.
 

Iris now has new seats in authentic cloth. The other seats have been transfered to one of the other units. Photo of Iris's new seats attached.

A major step forward for the LMSCA's Stanier Open 3rd today: A test run down to Duffield and back: 17 mile round trip, first major outing for 40 years and no problems! Another piece of the jigsaw is in place!

Next week the linoleum flooring goes in and after that the seats, already prefabricated. Wait until you see them!

Photos of the open 3rd at Duffield attached.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

How far does the pattern of Iris's seats go back becuse I only rember the previous pattern in BR dyas ie 1980s and the EREgionla Railways NW pattern ie Grey with Blue squares / dots.

Iris went into service approx 1954-1955

I rode the early DMUs to Lincoln St. Marks every weekend 1959-60 for about two years.

Apart from the view forwards through the cab, the one thing I remember was the Beclawat sliding lights vibrating deafeningly whenever the engine was idling.

Those seats look really a class act the quality of your work is brilliant I would rather ride on them than the planks we ride on now.

Thanks 5701.

I think they have been done professionally. I am not sure who paid, possibly the owners. As far as I know the pattern is the one originally used in the mid 50's when the Derby Lightwieghts were introduced.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

The Green Park Royal Unit at Lloangollen has the same or very simmilar seatingbut I do think Llnagollen has the Best Selction of Heritag4e DMUs not so MUch the EVR buut the EVR does have a Good Selction of DMUs Just eager to have a ride behind the cls 31..

Only the EVR offers a regular service using an original Derby Lightweight though!

Two Weeks to go!
 

First Public Trains to Duffield are due to run two weeks today see:


There is a flurry of last minute activity:

Duffield Platform is now more or less complete.
Standard 2 78019 has arrived and successfully completed gauging trials yesterday.
The LMS Open Third Coach is nearly complete.
Inspection Saloon has had a complete repaint.
Centre Car for the Class 101 is complete.
Plus many other jobs, these are just the headlines!

Photos of 78019 and Duffield Platform attached.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Is the centre coach for the 101 an actuall 101 cwntre coach as I don't rember 101s having centre coaches ?

Yes it is a Class 101 Centre Car see page 20 of the EVR Stock List for info:

http://www.e-v-r.com/documents/stocklist.pdf

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Prehaps the EVR would be Interested in this class 115 3 car for sale


The three vehicles are believed to be
51655
http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust....o.asp?Ref=3010
59664
http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust....o.asp?Ref=3099
51677
http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust....o.asp?Ref=3013

and were in reasonable condition when last seen.

Information form another forum that Im on.

Atleast if they bought it then the Centre car could be loaned to the ELR or SVR as I belive they need one.

!2 days to go!
 

Test train to Duffield today including newly restored LMS Stanier Open Third Coach. Public Opening now only 12 days away.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Good couple of photo's John, all the best for the reopening

Things are looking good from your photos John and the platform and all the hard work that has gone into building the infrastructure is a credit to all. Cant wait to visit.