Midland Railway – Butterley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Midland Railway – Butterley
British Railways Standard 5 No. 73129 at Swanwick Junction Station
Terminus	Hammersmith and Pye Bridge
Commercial operations
Name	Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line
Built by	Midland Railway
Original gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Owned by	Midland Railway Trust Ltd
Operated by	Midland Railway Trust Ltd
Stations	3
Length	3+1⁄2 miles (5.6 km)
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened	1 February 1875
Closed to passengers	23 December 1968
Preserved era	Different era on a different day but normally 19th century
Preservation history
Headquarters	Butterley Station
Website
https://www.midlandrailway-butterley.co.uk/

The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway and museum complex at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.

History

Overview

The Midland Railway – Butterley lies on the Ambergate to Pye Bridge line of the old Midland Railway, a line once connecting the Derwent Valley branch of Midland Main Line to the Erewash Valley. A branch leading to the south to Ripley station was in use from 1889 until 1923. The sole historical station on the line is Butterley, which opened in 1875. The current line extends westwards from Codnor Park Junction on the Erewash Valley Line, although the present-day heritage line terminates at Hammersmith. The line currently runs for 3+1⁄2 miles (5.6 km) from Hammersmith via Butterley, Swanwick Junction and Riddings to Ironville. It is operated and maintained by the Midland Railway Trust.

Use

The Ambergate to Pye Bridge line, during its operation, was used to serve the collieries of Marehay, Hartshay, Pentrich, Swanwick and Britain Pit. The current Swanwick Junction station lies on the former site of Brand's Colliery. The line also provided rail access for the site of the Butterley Company.

The railway is also home to the 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge Golden Valley Light Railway, which opened in 1991. It partially lies on the trackbed of a former plateway built by the Butterley Company in 1813 to connect its iron works facilities in Butterley to nearby Codnor Park.

Closure and restoration

The line was closed in 1968 and the process of restoring the line started in 1973. Much of the former track bed was razed in 1976, when the nearby section of the A38 was constructed between Ripley and Alfreton; the route of the A610 between the Ripley roundabout and Buckland Hollow lies mostly on the route of the former line. The first preservation services started operating in 1981.

Stations and attractions of the Midland Railway - Butterley

Hammersmith

Hammersmith is the western terminus of the line; the station consists of two platforms and the secondary line is used as a run-around loop. A signal box is present at the eastern end of the station and the A38 is visible from the platform to the west.

Butterley

Butterley is the headquarters of the Midland Railway – Butterley. The station consists of a double platform and the station building; the original buildings were demolished after the line closed. The current station building is a near identical match to the one originally at Butterley and was transferred from Whitwell Railway Station and built in place of the original. The station building contains the gift shop and the booking office. A café and the Alfreton Model Railway Society are also present in adjacent buildings. The signal box at Butterley was formerly situated at Ais Gill on the Settle to Carlisle line. A carriage shed also stands at the eastern end of the yard, neither the signal box or carriage shed are open to the public.

Butterley Railway Station

In the yard is also the Garden Railway; an outdoor 16 mm scale model railway which runs on most Sundays and some Saturdays. In the yard is also the Star Tugs Trust carriage; a BR Mk1 (BG 80590) this is owned by the Star Tugs trust and holds a permanent exhibition of some original models from TUGS - the sister show of Thomas & Friends. It is open on certain running days.

Swanwick Junction

Swanwick Junction site holds the main complex for the Midland Railway Centre.

• Station - the station itself has 4 platforms; the station building was originally located at Syston railway station and rebuilt on Swanwick platform 2. The building contains toilets, café, waiting room and booking office. Between platforms 3 & 4 is a waiting room; this is a replica of the original station building at Broom Junction. There is currently only public access on certain events. The original building was intended to be used, but it was destroyed by vandals before recovery.
• Signal box – the operational signal box at Swanwick Junction was moved from Kettering station in 1988. There is no public access.
• Matthew Kirtley Museum – the main museum on the Swanwick site houses various locomotives, coaches and wagons.
• Historical Model Railway Society – this was opened in 2005. It contains a large display area, study centre and small shop. Normally only open by appointment, it is sometimes open at special events.
• The West Shed – the home of the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust, owners of 6233 Duchess of Sutherland and 46203 Princess Margaret Rose. BR Standard Class 4 Tanks 80080 & 80098 and a small collection of classic LMS saloons, including the famous Dynamometer car, are also stationed here.
• St. Saviour's Church – moved from Westhouses, this Railwayman's church also holds occasional services.

12077 outside museum shed

• Derby St Mary's Gatehouse – situated at the entrance to the site, this small building was moved to Swanwick from the goods yard at Derby St Mary's. This contains Swanwick Junction Model Railway Club.
• Static Power Museum – normally open at busy periods and at special events, the building houses a good number of working machines.
• Demonstration Signal Box – recovered from Linby railway station. Now in use at Brands Crossing as a demonstration signal box, with public access.
• Linby Colliery Sidings Signal Box – currently in use as a bookshop.
• Historic Carriage and Wagon Shed – a large number of coaches and wagons await restoration here, either in the sidings or the large shed in which the Society is based. On certain days, it is possible to see work being done inside the shed.
• National Fork Truck Heritage Centre and Road Transport Gallery – this recently completed building houses a collection of heritage buses, lorries and other forms of road transport and fork lift trucks. On certain special events, some of the vehicles are put on display out in the open
• Diesel Depot – currently housing some of the centre's diesel fleet.

Butterley Park Miniature Railway

Operating on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, miniature replicas of classic steam and diesel engines of both 3 ¹⁄₂ in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) gauge operate on a raised circuit of track. The public are permitted to ride for a small charge. The line consists of about 1⁄6 mile (0.27 km) of track, a traverser, tunnel, decorative speed signs and signal box. Details of the stock that the miniature railway uses is shown below:

Riddings

There is no station platform located at Riddings, but there is a run-around loop on the northern branch of Codnor Park Junction from which the line would have run northbound towards Pye Bridge Station. Just before the run around loop is the split in the track, which connects to the main line. The River Erewash runs underneath the junction.

Special events

The railway runs events, ranging from Teddy Bear's Picnic specials to Gala events; they feature standard gauge collection and the GVLR's stock:

• Victorian train weekends - using railways pre-grouping and early LMS coaching stock
• Easter Events
• Steam and diesel locomotive events
• Trains to the seaside at Swanwick Junction Station (late July-early September)
• Halloween Events
• Firework Night
• Santa Specials (late November until Christmas Eve)

The railway is licensed to host weddings and parties.

In September 1999, the Kosovo Train for Life was loaded at Butterley station, before travelling to Kosovo, via Kensington Olympia railway station and the Channel Tunnel; this was run in conjunction with the Kosovo Force peace-keeping efforts.

From 2007 to 2019, the MR:B hosted Indietracks, a music festival that was held at the Swanwick Junction site. The COVID-19 pandemic halted events in 2020 and 2021; in November 2021, it was announced that Indietracks festival would no longer be held.

Locomotives of the Midland Railway - Butterley

The steam engines of the Midland Railway Trust that run passenger services are mostly ex-LMS and BR locomotives of similar designs. Rarer industrial and mainline classes (such as one from as early as 1866), are stored in the Swanwick museum shed.

Steam locomotives operational or Needing Repair

Number & Name	Description	History	Current Status	Livery	Owner(s)	Year Built	Photograph
No. 1163 "Whitehead"	Peckett 0-4-0ST	Built in 1908, "Whitehead" was used in the major Welsh industries. On withdrawal, it was purchased by the Great Western Society and moved to the West Somerset Railway. Arrived at the Midland Railway – Butterley in July 1999.	Under Repair	Unlined Brunswick Green with the BR Crest.	Private Owner.	1908
No. 3597 "Falmouth Docks No. 3"	Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST		Under Repair	Lined Green	Private Owner	1926
No. 47327(23)	LMS Fowler Class 3F 0-6-0T	On display in the museum awaiting overhaul.	Under Repair	S&DJR Prussian Blue.	Derby City Council.	1926
No. 47357 (16440) "Uncle Albert"	LMS 0-6-0T Class 3F Jinty	Last operated in 2004. Being reassembled at Swanwick after work on the chassis at the East Lancashire Railway and the boiler at the North Norfolk Railway. Made first post overhaul moves in October 2023 with re-entry to service planned to take place in December 2023. Planned to be outshopped in maroon livery as 16440.	Operational	LMS Maroon (on completion)	Derby City Council	1926
No. 47445	LMS Class 3F 0-6-0T Jinty	Under major restoration with work currently focused on the frames off site at the East Lancashire Railway.	Under Repair	N/A	Derby City Council	1927	~
No. 46203 "Princess Margaret Rose"	LMS 4-6-2 Class 8P	Currently on display in the West Shed, Stored.	On Static Display	BR Maroon	Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust	1935
No. 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland"	LMS Coronation Class	Certified for main line running. Returned to service in September 2018 after an overhaul. Regularly used for rail tours.	Operational	LMS Crimson Lake	Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust.	1938
No. 3883 "Lord Phil"	Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST	Originally built for use with the War Department at Donnington. Based at Butterley since 2019. Boiler ticket expired in December 2021 and undergoing ten-yearly overhaul.	Under Repair	Lined Green	Private Owner	1943
No.7214 "George"	RSH 0-4-0ST from British Celanese Works at Spondon	At PRCLT West Shed.	Under Repair	Dark Green	Midland Railway Trust	1945	~
No. 2111 "Lytham St Annes"	Peckett 0-4-0ST	At PRCLT West Shed.	Under Repair	Lined Blue	Private Owner	1949
No. 80080	BR 2-6-4T Class 4MT	80080 worked on the old London, Tilbury and Southend Railway branches. On withdrawal, it was sent to Barry in the 60s. 80080 was, with 80098 also at Butterley, first sent to the Peak Rail and they were moved to their current location in 1983. They were soon restored to work on mainline railtours.	On loan to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway	BR Lined Black with Early Crest.	Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust.	1954
No. 80098	BR 2-6-4T Class 4MT	Both 80080 and 80098 shared similar histories during their services with BR, both worked on the old London, Tilbury and Southend Railway branches, both were later allocated to other sheds and later sent to Barry in the 60s. Its boiler ticket expired in late 2009 and it quickly moved into the workshop.	Under Overhaul	BR Lined Black with Late Crest.	Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust.	1954
No. 7817 "Castle Donington Power Station No. 1"	RSH 0-4-0ST	One of the last steam locomotives in regular industrial usage in Great Britain. Stored awaiting overhaul.		Dark Blue.	Midland Railway Trust.	1954
No. 73129	BR Standard Class 5	On display in the Exhibition Hall at Swanwick Junction awaiting major overhaul.	Under Repair	BR lined Black with the early crest.	Derby City Council	1956

Static or Dismantled

Number & Name	Description	History & Current Status	Livery	Owner	Date	Photograph
Brown Bailey No. 4	Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 0-4-0ST	Permanently plinthed outside gates at Swanwick Junction. Previously was the trust-created character "Oswald the Talking Engine"	Light Blue	Midland Railway Trust	1894
No. 47564	LMS Class 3F Jinty 0-6-0T	Stored, dismantled.	BR Black	Derby City Council	1928	~

Diesel and electric locomotives

Number & Name	Description	Current Status	Livery	Owner	Photograph
"Andy" 16038	Fowler 0-4-0DM	Under restoration, possible conversion to diesel hydraulic.	Railfreight Grey (coal sector)	Private Owner
"Albert/Emfour 9" D1114	Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 Shunter	Undergoing restoration back to operational use.	Green	Midland Railway Trust
No. 416 "Needlesnoot"	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 Shunter	Operational after an engine overhaul and repaint into Castle Donington livery being completed in 2020.	Castle Donington Blue	Midland Railway Trust
No. RS12	Motorail Simplex No RS12	Stored – poor condition but 90% complete	Brown	Midland Railway Trust
No. RS9	Motorail Simplex No. RS9	Stored – very poor condition – 60% complete	Blue	Midland Railway Trust
No. 441	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 Shunter	Undergoing clutch repairs	Blue	Midland Railway Trust
No. D1154 'Manton'	Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 Shunter	Under Restoration	Green
No. 5337	Mercury Tractor 0-4-0	Stored.	Blue	Midland Railway Trust
No. 384139/D2959	Ruston & Hornsby	Under Overhaul	BR Green	Midland Railway Trust
No. D2858	BR 0-4-0 Class 02	Static display – gear box failure	BR Green	Midland Railway Trust
No. D2138	BR 0-6-0 Class 03	Undergoing overhaul. Successful fundraising appeal resulted in the purchase of a new engine which is being prepared for installation.	BR Green	Midland Railway Trust/NCB
No. 08590 "Red Lion"	BR 0-6-0 Class 08	Operational - Butterley Yard Pilot	BR Blue	Private Owner/Midland Railway Trust
No. 08331	BR 0-6-0 Class 08	Operational	Black	Private Owner/Midland Railway Trust
No. 12077	BR 0-6-0 Class 11	Operational – Swanwick Yard pilot	BR Green	Midland Railway Trust
No. 8001 (20001)	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Operational - On Loan to Epping Ongar Railway	BR Green Full Yellow Ends	Class 20 Locomotive Society
No. 20048	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Operational. On loan to the Severn Valley Railway.	BR Blue	Midland Class 20 Association
No. 20059	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Operational. On loan to the Watercress Line.	BR Green with Yellow Warning panels	Midland Diesel Group
No. 20188	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Operational, on loan to the Watercress Line.	BR Green with Yellow warning panels	Midland Diesel Group
No. 20205	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Operational – mainline certified	BR Blue	Class 20 Locomotive Society
No. 20227	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Operational - mainline certified	London Transport Red	Class 20 Locomotive Society
No. 25321	BR Bo-Bo Class 25	Awaiting electrical repairs and repaint	BR Green	Derby Industrial Museum
No. 5580 (31162)	BR A1A-A1A Class 31	Operational	BR Blue	A1A Locomotives
No. 31108	BR A1A-A1A Class 31	Operational	BR Railfreight Red Stripe	A1A Locomotives
No. 31414	BR A1A-A1A Class 31	Undergoing Restoration	N/A	A1A Locomotives
No. 31418 "Boadicea"	BR A1A-A1A Class 31	Undergoing Restoration (Stored)	N/A	A1A Locomotives
No. 31271 "Stratford 1840–2001"	BR A1A-A1A Class 31	Operational – on loan to Llangollen Railway	Railfreight Construction	A1A Locomotives
No. 40012 "Aureol"	BR 1Co-Co1 Class 40	Currently having its turbocharger repaired	BR Blue	Class 40 Appeal
No. D4 "Great Gable"	BR 1Co-Co1 Class 44	Operational.	BR Blue	Peak Locomotive Company
No. 45041 "Royal Tank Regiment"	BR 1Co-Co1 Class 45	Operational, on loan to Nene Valley Railway	BR Blue	Peak Locomotive Company
No. 45108	BR 1Co-Co1 Class 45	Operational, on loan to East Lancs Railway	BR Blue	Peak Locomotive Company
No. 45133	BR 1Co-Co1 Class 45	Under restoration	BR Blue	45/1 Preservation Group
No. D182	BR 1Co-Co1 Class 46	Operational	BR Blue	Peak Locomotive Company
No. 47401 "North Eastern"	BR Co-Co Class 47	Under restoration	BR Blue	47401 Project
No. D1516 (47417)	BR Co-Co Class 47	Under restoration	BR Two-Tone Green	47401 Project
No. 27000 Electra	BR Class 77 'EM2' 1500 V Electric	In operational condition, though generally an exhibit in the Matthew Kirtley Museum	Lined Black	EM2 Locomotive Society

DMUs and EMU sets

0	Number & Name	Description	Current Status	Livery	Photograph
1	Unit. 51118+56097	BR Class 100	Under restoration, owned by the Llangollen Railcar Group	BR Green
2	DMBS 51907 + DTCL 56490	BR Class 108	Operational, owned by Private Owner	BR Blue and Grey
4	Unit. 977775+977776 (50015+56015)	BR Class 114	Stored out of use	BR Blue
5	Unit. 50019+56006	BR Class 114	Under restoration	BR Multiple Unit Green
6	DMBS Unit. 51669+51849	BR Class 115	Restoration to never begin	Rusty Green
7	Unit. 51591+59609+59659+51625	BR Class 127	Stored out of use	BR Green, white crest.
8	Unit 141113 (formed of 55513+55533)	BR Class 141	Operational, owned by Private Owner	Red and White
	Unit 142011 (formed of 55552+55602)	BR Class 142	Operational, Privately Owned.	Provincial Blue
10	Nos. 29666 and 29670	BR Class 505 (Trailers only)	Undergoing restoration, owned by the Altrincham Electric Railway Preservation Society	N/A

Coach stock

Midland Railway vintage set

These coaches are only in use on vintage days.

LMS coaches

Restored coaches are run alongside MR coaches on certain running days.

Mk1 and Mk2 coaches

As with most railways, BR Mk1s are the staple passenger stock of the MRB

Other coaches

As with most other railways, Butterley owns several unique carriages, which are only used on very special occasions.

Matthew Kirtley Museum

Mock up of the Class 93 locomotive, located in the Matthew Kirtley Museum at Swanwick

The Matthew Kirtley shed is the largest building on the Swanwick Junction site and holds all the exhibits of the museum. Below is a list of stock that can be found inside. As of March 2022 it is currently closed to the public awaiting repair of the shed roof.

Museum Stock

No. 158A	Midland Railway 156 Class 2-4-0	This engine has not run under her own steam since arrival at the trust, and is part of the National Collection. Currently on loan to Barrow Hill Roundhouse.	Midland Railway Maroon	National Railway Museum	1866
"Gladys"	Markham & Co. 0-4-0ST	A static display in the Matthew Kirtley Museum	Dark Green	Midland Railway Trust	1894
"Victory"	Peckett 0-4-0ST	A static display in the Matthew Kirtley Museum	Dark Green	Midland Railway Trust	1919
"Stanton 24"	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0TC	A static display in the Matthew Kirtley Museum	Dark Green	Midland Railway Trust	1925
Boots No. 2	0-4-0TF	A static display in the Matthew Kirtley Museum	Boots Blue (with logo)	Midland Railway Trust	1955	~

Golden Valley Light Railway

The Golden Valley Light Railway is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge line. Laid on the trackbed of a former ironworks railway, this line runs for just under one mile (1.6 km) from the Swanwick Junction site to the far end of the country park adjacent to the former site of Newlands Inn. The terminus is just above the eastern portal of the Butterley Tunnel, which forms part of the Cromford Canal. The Swanwick Terminus gained a new engine shed in 2007, which specifically houses GVLR stock.

Golden Valley Light railway stock

In addition to the standard gauge stock on the Midland Railway, The Golden Valley Light Railway, a separate organisation altogether, owns a collection of locomotives, ex colliery manriders, Ashover coach No.4 and ex industrial wagons, many of which are being restored to work on the line. [1]