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Ecclesbourne Valley Railway facts for kids

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Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
Wirksworth Station Overview.jpg
Wirksworth Station as it is today.
Locale Derbyshire, England
Terminus Ravenstor
Duffield
Commercial operations
Name Wirksworth branch
Built by Midland Railway
Original gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Operated by WyvernRail plc
Stations 5 (to be 6)
Length 9 miles (14 km)
Preserved gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Commercial history
Opened 1867
Closed to passengers 1947
Closed 1964 (freight)
1989 (completely)
Preservation history
1992 WyvernRail is formed
1996 Light Rail order granted
1997 Derby and Wirksworth Railway Association is formed (later to become EVR)
2000 Volunteers start clearing vegetation from the line
1 October 2002 Wirksworth re-opens and its passenger trains begin
2003 WyvernRail and Network Rail agree fifteen-year lease-purchase deal
2004 Gorsey bank reopens and 1⁄2 mile (0.8 km), passenger trains begin
1 September 2005 Ravenstor opens and 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) passenger trains on 1 in 27 (3.7 %) incline (of the same name) begin
2007 Iridgehay level crossing reinstated and later reopened
8 March 2008 Idridgehay reopens and 3+1⁄2 miles (5.6 km) passenger trains begin
8 April 2011 Duffield reopens and 10 miles (16 km) passenger trains begin
9 August 2014 Shottle reopens (after more than 65 years out of use)
Headquarters Wirksworth

The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Derbyshire. Its operations are based at Wirksworth station. It is currently planned to extend the railway along the former Midland Railway branch line which joined the main-line at Duffield.

When complete it will be one of the few Heritage Railways that operates a whole branch line in its original form and entire length.

The line is operated by diesel locomotives, which haul former multiple unit trailer cars and also uses heritage diesel multiple units.

History

Origin

The "Wirksworth Branch" was the product of early nineteenth century railway rivalry. Since 1835 Wirksworth's citizens had been promoting the idea for a branch line from the North Midland Railway (later the Midland Railway) at Duffield. The Midland was initially uninterested, but then realised that the branch could be extended to Rowsley. This was difficult, but the branch could avoid the section from Ambergate, on its Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, which was shared with its rival the London and North Western Railway.

Images for kids

  • Derby Lightweight Single Unit 79900

    Derby Lightweight, no. 79900, operating on the line on which she was originally tested when new some 55 years earlier, fully restored to passenger carrying standard from being former test car IRIS. The unit is now a unique example of a Derby Lightweight single car unit.

  • 55006 at Bewdley

    Class 122, no. 55006, operating away from home, at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway on 15 October 2004, whilst taking part in the Railcar 50 event. This unit is painted in original BR Green livery, and is usually based at Wirksworth.

  • Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (map)

    The route of the railway, running north from Duffield, via Wirksworth, to Ravenstor

  • Ferrybridge No3

    Ferrybridge No.3 on its first test run to Gorsey Bank after a total rebuild.

  • D8001 at Wirksworth

    Second built Class 20 D8001 waits at Wirksworth in 2009

  • W51073

    Class 119, no. 51073, one of the first restoration projects to take place at the railway and one of only three surviving examples.

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