RMweb Premium Dava Posted August 9, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 9, 2013 The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway from Duffield to Wirksworth has really developed since it opened a couple of years ago. As well as a super collection of heritage DMUs it often has visiting locos and in my experience is the friendliest and most enjoyable of the three SG preserved lines in Derbyshire. Wirksworth is always good for a stroll around. This month the preserved L&YR Aspinall 2F 0-6-0 is visiting, running in early BR livery as 52332. So yesterday I was off up there with some boxes of railway mags to donate to the shop and an excuse for a mid-week run on the line, as this weekend is DMU only. The steep climb up to the old quarry loading bay at Stoneacre in a single railcar unit is a good way of seeing the rolling stock collection, with a 33 & 31 among others. Then on the Mark 1 set behind 52332 down to Duffield and back.There is a very tasty LMS inspection saloon on the back of the train, but no takers today. A very pleasant ride, with lots of activity taking place to improve the line. Later on I called in on the 18 inch gauge Steeple Grange Light Railway who were having a working day. Their Ruston & Hornsby loco (by coincidence the last-ever Horwich works loco, so also L&YR heritage) was posed outside the shed. A really enjoyable day Dava Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signaller69 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Visited the line on Easter Sunday with my good lady and was surprised how quiet it was. There is certainly lots to see and some historic rolling stock in various states of preservation including LMS designed Sleeping Cars (both 8 wheel and 12 wheel), a C&HP water tank wagon (tender conversion) and a couple of ex- Gatwick Express GLV's (which I hadn't realised were converted from 2-EPB units) and as Dava says a good collection of DMU's. A second (wooden) platform is being built at the intermediate passing station which may indicate a desire for running 2 trains at some point, and they seem to be involved with running P.Way courses (various road vehicles and road-railers and a couple of ballast wagons etc marked up for such) which may be a useful form of income. Train wise a nicely turned out 3 car class 101 was running on the "main" line, with a lovely Barclay 0-4-0ST giving LMS brake van rides up the 1 in 27 incline, well worth the £2 supplement to be about 6ft from the chimney when the loco was opened up! A very enjoyable afternoon, well worth visiting if you are in the area. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 This railway will have steam again from the Bank Holiday weekend and through the summer months. Jinty 47406 arrived today on loan from the Great Central. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted May 16, 2017 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 16, 2017 The 3F will make an attractive sight with the Crimson Mk1 and LMS coaches, an enjoyable ride up the valley. Wirksworth has a quirky set of shops including a bookshop I never leave empty handed and the railway bookshop has many treasures. Recommended. Dava Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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