The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

 

I decided to pay a visit to Wirksworth station as it was advertised as being open everyday (something most heritage railways should consider doing). When I was arrived I was struck at how clean the railway and its rolling stock was. Even restoration work was being done in a way that was clean and tidy. I had the pleasure of meeting Anton the Station Master of Wirksworth who allowed me to take a wander down the yard to have a look at the rolling stock. 

Railway yards are usually messy places but the Wirksworth one was as neat and tidy. Not a lump of ballast out of place. You could even run a white glove over some of the ballast wagons without picking up a speck of dirt, well that may be a slight exaggeration but the place was gleaming. Even as I walked down the yard volunteers stopped to pass the time of day with me and to answer my questions and this is where I picked up on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railways greatest quality.  

 

The Duffield to Wirksworth line was originally built as a possible alternative mainline to Manchester from Derby but was never completed as such. It became a sleepy branch line removing stone from the Middle Peak Quarries down a steep gradient into Wirksworth Station. Although passenger traffic was stopped in 1947 freight continued until the line was mothballed. The line was retained by Network Rail and it became a legend that the only way a train could kill you at Wirksworth was if you died of shock at seeing one. When the railway company was leasing the line, it is said that when a junior network rail official was sent to survey the infrastructure on a ‘disused’ branch line, he nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard a DMU horn. But now the rail company Wyvern Rail has taken over running trains.

 

The mineral gradient north out of Wirksworth to the Middle Peak Quarries, has now been converted to a passenger carrying branch, and boy do the units have to work up that gradient. They now finish after a five minute journey at Ravenstor, by DMU where you can walk up one of the inclines to reach the National Stone Centre, the excellent Steeple Grange Light Railway and of course the great High Peak Trail which runs along the basis of what was the old Cromford and High Peak Railway.

The other train heads south from Wirksworth to Idrigehay one of three immediate stops on the line, but I was told that next year they will have extended passenger services to Duffield. 

 

On a running day it seems a great number of staff turn out, all smartly dressed (with bespoke uniforms) to enjoy the job of conveying passengers. The people here enjoy giving the passengers a good day out as much as the passengers enjoy their day out.

This railway also boasts some other curiosities, a narrow gauge train that takes you on a trip down the yard, a very classy buffet in an ex Gatwick express luggage van, and the most advanced signalling System in Europe. 

 

This railway is the smartest, tidiest and the most welcoming heritage railway I have seen recently.  For what is better than riding in the cleanest railway carriage I have seen on the national network or off along one of England’s pleasant valleys where the boot of the tourist has not trodden on too much, being driven by good drivers along well maintained track?

So to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Society and to Wyvern Rail you are awarded, for your service, the prestigious Gold Medal.

 

GHGF 2009