Steam at Wirksworth
Ecclesbourne Again
Yes, we’ve been before - eight years
ago, when all that was on offer was a
ride in a DMU car, propelled by an ex-BR
03 shunter, up the Ravenstor branch.
Two years ago, the Ecclesbourne
Valley’s main line from Wirksworth
down to Duffield reopened for passenger - we’d been
promising ourselves a return visit ever since.
The railway’s website explains that, normally, the main
line services are operated by heritage diesel railcars
(which in some respects are ideal - the
scenery, though not spectacular, is very
pleasant), with only the short Ravenstor line
seeing “some steam hauled services”. However,
for “a few weeks in May”, main line steam is
returning, in the shape of GWR 0-6-2T no. 5643
from the Ribble Steam Railway. The May Day bank
holiday weekend would see three steam
locomotives in action - we’d better go to the
Ecclesbourne again.
5643 was (perhaps obviously)
operating between Wirksworth
and Duffield. Barclay 0-4-0ST
“Brian Harrison” (2360 of 1954,
ex-Ferrybridge power station)
offered short brake van rides,
and newly-restored sister
(brother?) locomotive “Henry
Ellison” (AB 2217 of 1957, ex-
Kilnhurst tar works) was
propelling a DMU car up the
Ravenstor line. That’s three
steam rides for one “Day Rover”
fare of £12, which considering
the length of the trip down to
Duffield (8½ miles, half-an-hour
each way) seems pretty good
value. The brake van rides made
up for their shortness with their
amusement value...
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
5 May 2013
...and, having moved on to amusement value,
there’s also a 2’ gauge railway operating at the
top end of the yard, from the quarry tunnel
entrance to the waterfall. A single manrider,
hauled / propelled by “Lesley the Lister”
(26288 of 1944), travelled at a pace which
may, briefly, have neared walking speed.
I’ve no idea what passenger figures are
normally like - but today’s trains (a four-coach set on the
main line) were well-filled - the Ecclesbourne Valley
people will, I suspect, be feeling very pleased with
themselves by the end of the holiday weekend. I would
say “sufficiently pleased to want to hire-in steam again” -
but that’s already planned. Ex-L&Y 0-6-0
no 1300 is booked to operate services
during the school summer holidays - I
think we’ll be back...
Links:
•
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
