The Association’s objects, approved by the Charity Commission are as follows
For the public benefit and to advance education:
a) To restore, renovate, preserve, maintain and operate the railway between
Wash Green, Wirksworth and the National Stone Centre, as a working
heritage railway.
b) To restore, renovate, preserve and maintain artefacts and other heritage
features connected with the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway along its entire
length. (Artefacts to include inter alia rolling stock, buildings and
engineering equipment.)
Since 2001 the Association has completed a
number of projects, some grant aided and some from funds raised by the
Association. The Association has also been very active in purchasing items of
rolling stock from EVRA funds and where necessary restoring them to their
original condition.
The Association became a charity in summer 2002 and this opened the way forward to apply for grants, many of which are only available to charities. (In addition to specific projects the work to restore the track and other intensive labour works are also undertaken by EVRA members, working as volunteers.)
The projects include:
Ø Providing a container for tools used by volunteers. (Awards for All grant 2001)
Ø Equipping and operating a Portacabin as an Information Centre, with historic photographs, artefacts, details of rolling stock and updates on current projects. (Awards for All grant 2001)
Ø Re-installing the main lights at Wirksworth (8 in total for security. (EVRA 2002)
Ø Re-instating the water supply which was used for steam engines, which involved re-lining the original cast iron pipe, repairing the catch tank at the top of the incline, providing a storage tank on the incline and building a new water crane at the bottom of the incline. (Awards for All grant 2003)
Ø Rebuilding Wirksworth main platform following a collapse (Heritage Lottery Fund 2004)
Ø Members have spent thousands of hours clearing overgrowing vegetation from the track from Wirksworth to Duffield to allow engineering trains to pass.
Ø 14 Footpath and 9 accommodation crossings have been repaired and upgraded. Fencing repairs have been carried out.
Ø A flagpole has been erected
Ø A significant length of track has been replaced with new sleepers and ballast, including layout reconfiguration on points and crossovers, with labour supplied by EVRA members.
A number of items planned since late 2002 come under the umbrella of The Train Ride to History project. This is based on the opening of the incline for passengers, for the first time and the associated trail around local footpaths related to quarrying and the railway, including the National Stone Centre.
Ø Converted a tube wagon to passenger carrying for the incline service (Awards for All (2003)
Ø Building a new platform at the top of the incline, Ravenstor (completed June 2003). Ravenstor lies below the National Stone Centre, at the limit of standard gauge track. (Derbyshire Aggregate Levy Grant Scheme (DALGS)
Updated 27th March 2004
Since March, more work has been done on The Train Ride to History project, following the confirmation of a Local Heritage Initiative (LHI) grant.
Ø Reopening and fencing a concession footpath from North End, Wirksworth from the Station Yard as part of the trail. (EVRA)
Ø Development of graphics and text for the interpretation panels.
Ø Production of 11 interpretation panels (LHI)
Ø Training sessions for the building of dry stone plinths at Ravenstor and the Station Front at Wirksworth, for interpretation panels (LHI; Tarmac donated the stone)
Ø Installation of free standing panels at Ravenstor platform and the standard gauge and narrow gauge tunnels (LHI)
Ø A re-bodied stone wagon has been completed and transferred to permanent display at Ravenstor and painted in Tarmac livery (Funding from Tarmac)
Ø Restored narrow gauge mineral wagons have been placed at Ravenstor (high level) and at the narrow gauge tunnel in the yard at Wirksworth. (LHI)
Ø Two large blocks of limestone have been located on the old narrow gauge track above Ravenstor and interpretation panels have been installed (LHI/Realstone donated the stone)
Ø The Train Ride to History trail leaflet written by EVRA volunteers, has been printed, together with a direction guide leaflet to the railway.(LHI)
Ø The trail route has been waymarked with distinctive roundels. (LHI)
All of this work culminated in the official opening of the Train Ride to History trail and interpretation panels on 29th August 2004, by Lady Hilton, our patron and Jean Rider from the Countryside Agency, which manages the LHI grant. Local authority representatives and other guests were also present.
Other work
Ø Members have participated in the restoration and erection of former level crossing gates at 3 locations in the yard at Wirksworth and delivered a further gate for use at Ravenstor. A small length of wall has been erected to form a barrier at the yard entrance. (EVRA)
Ø A foot crossing gate and fence has been erected above Ravenstor platform to allow access for the trail.
The other major achievement was the re-opening of a kilometre of line to passengers in late August.
Updated 20thSeptember 2004
EVRA, after consultation with the Charity Commissioners and upon their recommendation, has applied to become a company limited by guarantee. This has been successful and Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association Limited (company number 05257082) is now in existence. The company will continue to be called Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association. With the approval of the Charity Commission the company has become a charity (number 1106810). The charitable company will exist to achieve its original objects and will trade as a non-profit making organisation.
Ø The interpretation panels on the High Peak Trail and at Steeple Grange Light Railway were erected. (LHI)
Ø The interpretation panel on the Market Place in Wirksworth has been opened formally by the Mayor, Cllr. M. Ratcliffe
Ø The audio interpretation set up in the standard gauge tunnel has been installed. (LHI)
Updated 4thDecember 2004
Ø Progress has continued rapidly through Autumn into winter. The main programme over this period and projected into summer 2005 is the opening of the incline line for passengers. The incline line is so called because it is the line running north from Wirksworth Station up a near constant gradient 0f 1:30, some half mile to the Tarmac quarry complex. Known by the name Ravenstor, the platform there is to be used to access The Train Ride to History trail, the High Peak Trail and the National Stone Centre. The opening of the incline necessitates the building of a new platform (Platform 3) opposite the main platform at Wirksworth. (WyvernRail received a grant from Derbyshire Development and Economic Partnership for the work on the incline and as part payment of the construction of platform 3; EVRA received a second grant from Derbyshire Aggregate Levy Scheme towards the cost of the platform.)
Ø Work on platform 3 has progressed and at the time of writing the platform has been built and awaits the tarmac to be laid. The fence is erected and being completed, the passenger shelter steel structure has been started, turf laid on the banking, which backs the new platform and work is soon to commence on the foot crossing from Platform 1.
EVRA volunteers have not worked exclusively
on this (or any other) project but daily carry out a multitude of routine tasks
to maintain a railway that welcomes increasing numbers of visitors and provides
an ever more popular and more widely known attraction in the community. Tasks
include care of the buildings, cleaning carriages, welcoming visitors and
leading walks around the site and beyond, running special events, firewood
production, maintenance of fences, gates etc., gardening, painting, restoration
of rolling stock etc. etc. Tidying the yard/car park area has until recently
been an ongoing (endless!) task, but the layout and surface will soon be
permanent.
Updated 23thJanuary 2005
Ø A demonstration section of narrow gauge track has been laid at the Standard gauge tunnel, where a narrow gauge engine and tram will be displayed.
Ø The final Train Ride to History interpretation panel was installed on platform 3 as the tarmac was laid in late January. (LHI)
Ø Work at Platform 3 at Wirksworth station is almost complete. The shelter is complete apart from painting and the fencing is being creosoted, but the security fencing, foot crossing, trespass guards etc. are complete.
Ø Volunteers have spent much time working on the new track into the platform and nearby stone loading dock. This has produced a rare feature, a section of interlaced track, which serves either the platform or the dock, according to purpose. This meets all HMRI requirements while using a relatively small space between the two. This work is substantially complete at this date, requiring only minor work and ballasting.
Ø Over 1250 young trees (mainly hawthorns) have been planted along the boundaries to reinforce new fences and the hedges which have been laid.
The Association heard in February that it has been awarded a further Local Heritage Initiative grant, which covers a number of projects associated with the recording of people’s memories about the railway and quarries. It also includes interpretation panels for the stations down the line and the development of an interpretation coach – watch this space!
We have also received a further Awards for All grant for a steam gala in August/September, exhibition material and educational items for the Interpretation Coach..
A further DALGS grant has also been awarded for the resurfacing of Idridgehay Platform. Work will start in the last week of May.
Updated 20thApril 2005