Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, DMU Gala, Multiple Memories, (Day 2 Part 2). Sunday 14th May 2017.
Two days around travelling Staffordshire and Derbyshire, the Apedale Valley Light Railway gala, Electro-Motive, Longport, Hulme End, Leek and Manifold Railway, Steeple Grange Railway, the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Multiple Memories DMU Gala and finally calling in at Peak Forest on the way home.
DMU`s operating, Guest EMT Dog Box, class 153, Derby Lightweight M79900 Iris, Class 122 Bubble Car W55006, Class 101, E50170/E59303/E50253, former 101 692, Class 108 E53599, Class 119 W51073, Class 101 E51505/M51188, and Derby Lightweight M79612/M79018.
I was up and out of the Hartington YHA Hostel early doors and drove over to Wirksworth on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for the DMU gala; being early gave me chance to have a look around the yards. I like the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and have visited it a number of times over the years and watched it develop. The guest DMU at the gala was an East Midland 153, Dog Box, probably the first one to travel on the line and travel up to Ravenstor, which it did on the last trip of the day, this had been delivered by road on a low loader, and was named on the Friday after the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, a big thanks to East Midland Trains.
I took breakfast in the excellent coach come restaurant on the station platforms at Wirksworth and then caught the first train down the line to Duffield and was pleasantly surprised to find Shottle station was now open; indeed I managed to get off and take a few photographs while the train stopped there. The new station shop and buildings are now completed at Duffield station and what a great job they have done, this really is a very progressive railway.
On returning to Wirksworth I drove the one mile up to the Steeple Grange Light Railway, for a visit, (see separate blog), and after a look at the Stone Museum, returned to Wirksworth for the rest of the day. I travelled on a second trip down the line to Duffield and another trip up to Ravenstor. It was an excellent day, and a great gala, a lovely line to travel on first generation DMU`s through low pastoral and grazing lands. A big well done to all involved, lovely people, a nice railway.
I drove back to Manchester via Buxton and up the A6, diverting to Peak Forest on the return journey and it was nice to find two class 60`s and 5 class 66 in the yards, resting from a week`s work. I arrived home just after teatime and had enjoyed another fantastic two days away.
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