Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Derbyshire. Its operations are based at Wirksworth station. It is currently planned to extend the railway along the former Midland Railway branch line which joined the main-line at Duffield.

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
Wirksworth Station as it is today.
Locale	Derbyshire, England
Terminus	Ravenstor Duffield
Commercial operations
Name	Wirksworth branch
Built by	Midland Railway
Original gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Operated by	WyvernRail plc
Stations	5 (to be 6)
Length	9 miles (14 km)
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Commercial history
Opened	1867
Closed to passengers	1947
Closed	1964 (freight) 1989 (completely)
Preservation history
1992	WyvernRail is formed
1996	Light Rail order granted
1997	Derby and Wirksworth Railway Association is formed (later to become EVR)
2000	Volunteers start clearing vegetation from the line
1 October 2002	Wirksworth re-opens and its passenger trains begin
2003	WyvernRail and Network Rail agree fifteen-year lease-purchase deal
2004	Gorsey bank reopens and 1⁄2 mile (0.8 km), passenger trains begin
1 September 2005	Ravenstor opens and 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) passenger trains on 1 in 27 (3.7 %) incline (of the same name) begin
2007	Iridgehay level crossing reinstated and later reopened
8 March 2008	Idridgehay reopens and 3+1⁄2 miles (5.6 km) passenger trains begin

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
Cromford and High Peak Railway Incline Ravenstor Stoneycroft Quarry Wirksworth Coldwell Street Gorsey Bank Rood Lane Idridgehay Shottle A517 Ashbourne Lane Hazelwood King Street A6 To Belper Duffield To Derby

When complete it will be one of the few Heritage Railways that operates a whole branch line in its original form and entire length.

The line is operated by diesel locomotives, which haul former multiple unit trailer cars and also uses heritage diesel multiple units.

History

Origin

The "Wirksworth Branch" was the product of early nineteenth century railway rivalry. Since 1835 Wirksworth's citizens had been promoting the idea for a branch line from the North Midland Railway (later the Midland Railway) at Duffield. The Midland was initially uninterested, but then realised that the branch could be extended to Rowsley. This was difficult, but the branch could avoid the section from Ambergate, on its Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, which was shared with its rival the London and North Western Railway.