Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

Om museet

The branch line from Duffield to Wirksworth opened in 1867. It was built by the Midland Railway, partly as a first step towards a route to Rowsley and Manchester, but that extension was dropped and the line stayed a branch. Passenger trains carried locals to Derby, while limestone from the Wirksworth quarries and milk for London became the main freight. Regular passenger services ended in 1947, and the line stayed open for stone trains.

In 1990 about a mile of track was lifted, but the work was stopped and the line was kept as a protected freight route. The company WyvernRail was founded in 1992 to run a community passenger railway, gained a Light Railway Order in 1996 and became a public company in 2002. The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association was formed to support it, and volunteers began restoring the line. Trains have carried visitors since 2002, and in April 2011 the whole line between Duffield and Wirksworth reopened.

Today the railway runs steam, diesel and railcar trains on selected days between Wirksworth and Duffield, calling at Idridgehay and Shottle, where passengers can change onto the national network at Duffield. At Wirksworth station visitors can see a museum opened in 2019, with railway artefacts, history displays and interactive exhibits, a second-hand transport book shop, a model railway in a carriage and a miniature railway. The company also offers dining trains and locomotive driving experiences.

Højdepunkter

• Heritage steam and diesel trains between Wirksworth and Duffield
• Railway museum with artefacts, history displays and interactive exhibits
• Large second-hand transport bookshop at Wirksworth station
• Model railway in a carriage and a 7 1/4-inch gauge miniature railway
• Dining trains and locomotive driving experiences
• Ravenstor Station at the top of a 1-in-27 incline

Permanent udstilling

• Railway museum – A museum at Wirksworth station with railway artefacts, displays about the history of the line and interactive exhibits, opened in October 2019.

Grundlagt

2002

Ejer

WyvernRail plc

Entrépriser & rabatter

The Day Rover lets you hop on and off at all stations for the day; it is not a booking for a particular train, and it is not valid on special-timetable days or pre-booked specials (it is accepted on August Bank Holiday). Online tickets carry a small booking fee that is not charged at the ticket office. Special events, dining trains and Santa trains are priced separately.

Tilgængelighed

• Kørestolsvenlig: ingen oplysninger
• Elevator: ingen oplysninger
• Handicaptoilet: ingen oplysninger
• Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
• Servicehunde tilladt: ingen oplysninger
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

The website says that many of the temporary buildings at Wirksworth station are not easily accessible; a new accessible station building with accessible toilets, café and museum is being built.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Interaktive stationer

Family Day Rover and annual tickets are sold, and under 5s travel free. A miniature railway with sit-on carriages and a model railway are suitable for all ages, and Santa trains and other family events run through the year.

Transport & parkering

Wirksworth station is the main hub, on Station Road, Coldwell Street; the website recommends starting a car journey there. Duffield station is off the A6.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumsbutik

Station Café at Wirksworth, the Apollo Bar in a 1950s carriage on Platform 3 (open from 11:00 on most running days), and dining trains (the Derbyshire Countryman). The shop sells second-hand and new transport books, maps and railway memorabilia.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Firmaarrangementer

Op til 40 personer.

The Apollo Bar carriage can be hired for parties of up to 40 guests; private charter trains are also available.

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