Great Central Gala & Ecclesbourne (and others)

[STEVIEBOY1]

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed my visit on Saturday 05 Oct to the GCR Gala day which was booked via a railway holiday company

It was an excellent day, much better than I had expected, an amazing feat of timetabling with all the extra "goods & TPO" services as well as a frequent passenger service too. A big thanks to everyone who made it possible especially the volunteers.

Hope it won't be too long before the Mount Sorrel Branch is operating and of course the bridge connection to the other section off the line from Loughborough to Nottingham/Ruddington.

We also visited the Ecclesbourne Valley railway, did the little branch up the incline, with a lovely old DMU I think called "Iris", how old would that be? and then in another DMU to Duffield where we connected with a more modern single coach railcar to Derby. I have wanted to visit the EVR for ages and never got around to doing it, so it was great to be able to do it at last.

We also went to the Battlefield line & the Churnett Valley line which was operating almost to Caldron Lowe, plus peak rail to Matlock where it now goes in to the main line station, top & tailed as there is no loop there, that was a very pleasant route too.

It's amazing how many of these preserved lines there are and good to see so many people using them, the GCR & CVR were very busy indeed.

 

[Wyvern]

Iris is a "Derby Lightweight" one of the first of the 'fifties DMUs and predating TOPS so doesnt have a class number.

Her first run would have been on test up to Wirksworth, so had definitely "come home". I used to sit on the stile at the foot crossing just outside Duffield and see them pass.

She got her name when, after leaving revenue service, she went to the Research Division as a test coach.

 

[caliwag]

The 4 wheelers were called rail-buses weren't they. There's no multiplicity about Iris of course, so what were single units known as? Sorry to be a pedant!

 

[Wyvern]

Spam cans (around Derby at any rate)

Seriously though just "railcars" I think.

There were only a few four wheelers at that time and not considered very succesful.

 

[harry42]

Did you not get to travel on the GCRN (one above Loughborough to Ruddington?)

That is also a really nice line and you can alight at East Leake for a meal or just a walk.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

We also visited the Ecclesbourne Valley railway, did the little branch up the incline, with a lovely old DMU I think called "Iris", how old would that be?

My Dad used to work on Iris in the 70s/80s when he worked for the Research Department at Derby. Think we have a few photos of her somewhere around....

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Did you not get to travel on the GCRN (one above Loughborough to Ruddington?)

That is also a really nice line and you can alight at East Leake for a meal or just a walk.

Hi, No I did not get to travel on the GCRN this time, however I have been on that line a couple of years ago. It will be good when they are properly linked up. I agree it is an interesting line, plus the transport museum at Ruddington. Rgds.