Train Ride to History

 

Since receiving the grant the project has gained momentum. In February, EVRA volunteers started work on re-opening the concession path which will bring the Train Ride to History trail back into Wirksworth station yard. The footpath had not been used regularly for over 50 years, since it was the route taken by passengers from the north part of the town to gain access to the station. Trees were felled to give views across the station yard and fencing was erected. Work also started to clear trees to provide access to the narrow gauge tunnel, where one of the interpretation and a display of narrow gauge rolling stock panels will be sited.

 

 

 

In early March seven volunteers attended a training day given by Vicky Worthington on interpretation. The sessions focussed on identifying the target audience and aiming the interpretation correctly and everyone who attended found it useful and informative.

 

In April, a group consisting of representatives from the Wirksworth regeneration Group, Derbyshire County Council Countryside Services, Steeple Grange Light Railway, Wirksworth Civic and Historical Society and EVRA met and agreed the style and type of interpretation panels. Simon Unsworth, the graphic artist from Groundwork Erewash Valley has started work on the first leaflet, which will attract people to the town and the railway, using images supplied by Paul Rayner. It is hoped that this leaflet will be ready in June. Vince Morris has drafted the wording for the first interpretation panels and is working with local historian, Tony Holmes to find suitable photographs.

 

Work started to clear the soil in front of narrow gauge tunnel; unfortunately there was much more than estimated, but after 5 days of excavation it is now clear. In May work will begin on creating the path to the tunnel. The narrow gauge rolling stock, which EVRA has purchased, needs considerable restoration and this is now underway as is that for the standard gauge truck, which is also part of the display. More narrow gauge rolling stock is needed for the display at Ravenstor and reports of possible sources are being followed up.

 

 

 

Volunteers have been walking the trail route, which runs from the incline station (Ravenstor), through the National Stone Centre, along the High Peak Trail and back, via the quarries, along North End, to the station. A meeting has also been held with Alastair Morley, Project Officer for Derwent Valley Rural Transport Partnership, with a view to incorporating information about public transport links along the walk.

 

Right at the end of April, 6 tons of limestone, which Tarmac plc had donated for the dry-stone plinths for two of the interpretation panels was delivered. At the same time two large blocks of limestone which had been cut and donated by Realstone of Wingerworth were delivered; these will also support interpretation panels. The logistics of getting these all delivered to the right places, three of them to very difficult locations on the incline finally went off without a hitch, although for a couple of weeks there were sleepless nights!

 

On June 5^th EVRA will be hosting an exhibition at Wirksworth Town Hall to introduce the project to local people and to ask for comments on the draft interpretation panels, leaflets etc. and to explain the various parts of what is a complex project.

In late May 2004 work was progressing on the reconstruction of a Tarmac stone wagon on a chassis obtained by the Association. Tarmac has agreed to pay for a signwriter to paint their logo dating back to the 1950's on the side of the wagon. Work was progressing on various aspects of the exhibition, including the preparation of a questionnaire and local publicity..

On June 5th EVRA hosted an exhibition at Wirksworth Town Hall to introduce the project to local people and to ask for comments on the draft interpretation panels, leaflets etc. and to explain the various parts of what is a complex project. The graphics, photographs and text for six of the interpretation panels were available for comment and were favourably received, with a few very constructive comments or additions. Similarly the leaflet was welcomed by visitors. Although there were never large numbers, the number attending was gratifying and the interest shown was very welcome. Further contacts for past employees on the line and in the quarries were made. In the rest of June, work progressed on all eleven interpretation panels and finalising the leaflets. One leaflet contains information on how to get to Wirksworth, with information on public transport and the other details the Train Ride to History Trail. Narrow gauge chassis were refurbished and tipping trucks were made as part of the exhibits at Ravenstor and by the narrow gauge tunnel within Wirksworth Yard. Fencing was erected above Ravenstor Platform and an old railway crossing gate was refurbished and erected as part of the Trail route.

The path to the narrow gauge tunnel was created in July, with the heaviest work being done on one of the hottest days of the year! The leaflets were printed in July and the plan for their distribution finalised with help from LHI staff.

In early August there were two training sessions (a total of 10 volunteers) for the building of dry stone plinths at Ravenstor and the Station Front at Wirksworth, for interpretation panels with the stone donated by Tarmac. By mid-August the free standing panels at the standard gauge and narrow gauge tunnels were in place and the panels had been fixed to the dry stone plinths and to the stone blocks. The narrow gauge rolling stock was lifted by JCB onto the narrow gauge dock at Ravenstor and at the narrow gauge tunnel. The 'Tarmac' wagon was also hauled into place and the base painting completed to enable the signwriter to carry out his work. The trail route was waymarked with distinctive roundels depicting a steam engine

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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. Local authority representatives and other guests were also present.

In November the three interpretation panels on the High Peak Trail (where the branch was due to join the Cromford and High Peak Railway and at Intake Lane) and at Steeple Grange Light Railway were erected. The interpretation panel on the Market Place in Wirksworth was opened formally by the Mayor, Cllr. M. Ratcliffe in December. The audio interpretation set up in the standard gauge tunnel was been installed and a notice directing visitors towards the tunnel has been installed. The waymarker posts within the National Stone Centre have had to be concreted in following vandalism.

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 of 1:30, some half mile to the Tarmac quarry complex. The opening of the incline necessitated the building of a new platform (Platform 3) opposite the main platform at Wirksworth. Work on platform 3 has progressed and by late January 2005 the platform had been built, the tarmac laid and the final interpretation panel has been erected, finishing the physical aspects of this project. The distribution of the leaflets continues and visitor numbers to the station have increased during the early part of 2005.