The branch line from Duffield (5 miles north of Derby) to Wirksworth in the peak district is around 8 miles long. It opened to traffic in 1867 by the Midland Railway. It was built to mainly serve the limestone traffic (there was a large quarry at Wirksworth), but in it's latter years saw noteriety in special passenger trains taking day visitors to see the famous 'well dressings' in the peak district. It closed to regular passenger traffic in 1967, but remained for freight until the mid 80's (I turned down a chance to travel on what would be the last passenger train as I was offered 'time & 3/4 pay' for working a rest day, Doh!). It is now seeing a new lease of life by the preservation group the 'Ecclesbourne Valley Railway' however the connection to Network Rail infrastructure at Duffield was severed a few years ago, and the restoration is not fully complete yet, but I wish them well.
In 1994 myself and my partner (now wife) with some friends decided to spend 2 Sundays 'walking the line'. Being a railwayman I would normally advise against this, however given that there were 5 year old trees growing in between the track, there was a reasonably good chance of not getting run over. So off we went, a couple of bottles of wine, some sandwiches and salad, and with all of the blackberries growing along the line for desert, a fine time was had, urban exploration at it's best!!
I present a few of the photos I took of the infrastructure being reclaimed by nature, walking in order from Wirksworth to Duffield.
Wirksworth yard:
Weighbridge hut, just outside of the yard:
Approaching Idridgehay station:
Level crossing at Idridgehay station, note the metal structure in the middle of the photo, which is the back of the solar panels used to power the level crossing warning lights:
Idridgehay station and for sale at the time, how I wish I had the money to buy this!!
Signal:
Buffer in the grass, presumably from a prang at some point:
Platelayers hut, it still had a smell of creosote!
Grassy track:
Shottle station, used for a fuel depot and private residence:
Another view of Shottle station:
Track removed, I think the rails went to be part of the Nottingham-Mansfield 'Robin Hood Line' which was being rebuilt at the time:
Pedestrian bridge bypasses the line on the outskirts of Duffield:
Duffield Tunnel, only 52 yards and the only tunnel on the line:
The A6 road bridge passes over the line just prior to the station site:
Finally, the disused platform looking towards the connection to the Midland Mainline, with a class 150 unit having just left the operational part of the station on it's way from Matlock to Derby. I like how the signal was still powered and displaying red!!
Hope you enjoyed this tour, I am glad I recorded the line when it's fate was uncertain, and have captured it before a preservation group restored it.
Cheers
Some links to photos of the stations in their original condition:
http://www.wirksworth.org.uk/X155.htm
http://www.derbyshireuk.net/idridgehay.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesbourne_Valley_Railway
http://www.e-v-r.com/
In 1994 myself and my partner (now wife) with some friends decided to spend 2 Sundays 'walking the line'. Being a railwayman I would normally advise against this, however given that there were 5 year old trees growing in between the track, there was a reasonably good chance of not getting run over. So off we went, a couple of bottles of wine, some sandwiches and salad, and with all of the blackberries growing along the line for desert, a fine time was had, urban exploration at it's best!!
I present a few of the photos I took of the infrastructure being reclaimed by nature, walking in order from Wirksworth to Duffield.
Wirksworth yard:
Weighbridge hut, just outside of the yard:
Approaching Idridgehay station:
Level crossing at Idridgehay station, note the metal structure in the middle of the photo, which is the back of the solar panels used to power the level crossing warning lights:
Idridgehay station and for sale at the time, how I wish I had the money to buy this!!
Signal:
Buffer in the grass, presumably from a prang at some point:
Platelayers hut, it still had a smell of creosote!
Grassy track:
Shottle station, used for a fuel depot and private residence:
Another view of Shottle station:
Track removed, I think the rails went to be part of the Nottingham-Mansfield 'Robin Hood Line' which was being rebuilt at the time:
Pedestrian bridge bypasses the line on the outskirts of Duffield:
Duffield Tunnel, only 52 yards and the only tunnel on the line:
The A6 road bridge passes over the line just prior to the station site:
Finally, the disused platform looking towards the connection to the Midland Mainline, with a class 150 unit having just left the operational part of the station on it's way from Matlock to Derby. I like how the signal was still powered and displaying red!!
Hope you enjoyed this tour, I am glad I recorded the line when it's fate was uncertain, and have captured it before a preservation group restored it.
Cheers
Some links to photos of the stations in their original condition:
http://www.wirksworth.org.uk/X155.htm
http://www.derbyshireuk.net/idridgehay.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesbourne_Valley_Railway
http://www.e-v-r.com/
