NEWS
This update: 23rd June 2008 Vol 7. Issue 25.
Education, Education, Education
We have just had a full week of playing host to school children from the various local schools in and around Wirksworth. This well worthwhile participation with the local community is of potentially great benefit to both the young people involved and the E V R as each learns from the other. The children accompanied by their teachers were able to see the workings of this 'new' railway in their town and enjoyed train trips to Idridgehay to see, perhaps for the first time, views of their countryside other than from a car or bus.
The week finished with the Teddy Bears weekend where the slightly younger children with their families were able to enjoy their visit to a railway.
Going underground
It is strongly hinted, after much delay and uncertainty, that once again we will be seeing London Underground train(s) appearing at Wirksworth. Watch this space - or better still, pay a visit and see for yourself.
Opening to Idridgehay – the DVD
Click for information
Progress reports for week ending 22nd June
Monday [MM]
The first day of Wirksworth Church of England
infant school's Railways week. Ably guided by Vince Morris and John Hastings
Thomson the morning and afternoon visits were most successful and it was
heartening to see how much effort our team and school had put into this
project.
Phil and I accomplished a whole line weed treatment journey, not to escape the
children honest!, and is clear we are getting on top of the on track vegetation
with the very noticeable exception of the mares tail invasion - more research
required. At Duffield we met the developer of the new flats and had some useful
information on the routes of power cables and drains through our property
there.
Back at base 2 fitted vans arrived containing spares for the dmus. After some
tlc they will look quite nice on demonstration goods trains in the future.
Further work was achieved on the narrow gauge project and some mechanical and
cleaning progress was made with Iris. The track patrol covered Ravenstor,
Gorsey Bank and the Yard accomplishing some routine repairs, point and ground
frame oiling.
The Booking Hall received a few visitors and help welcome our school visitors
and white paint was applied to the first of the two new entrance gates.
Quit a lot of activity on a "quiet" day
Tuesday [PT]
Today saw the funeral of Dave Mee, one of our long-time
stalwarts. As a
result, many members attended the service. A few turned up and a
scratch working party was assembled.
Some scrap rail was cut up and conveyed to the
skip. The assorted
chairs and spacers were taken into stores. One sleeper on the Pit road
itself was changed and a joint was packed. Two further crossing timbers
were brought up for changing in the next few days. Two concrete
sleepers were lifted from the swamp area and moved so that spare
equipment can be relocated in the site. Some sorting out of the stores
area was also carried out.
'Wee' sorry, the small green loco had her reversing system overhauled
and painted ready for to start refitting next week.
Some paying guests spent the first of a few days with us adding bits
and pieces to the Tube lines Test Site
The Schools team were out and about in local schools as part of an
ongoing project. Vince decided to return to base for lunch - he can
still remember school dinners!
A handful of visitors attended and preparations continued for the
Teddy Bear weekend.
[MM]-
Just to add a note to Phil's report. There was
a very sizeable contingent from the Railway for Dave Mee's funeral that, in
some way, recognised his considerable contribution to the enterprise. His
presence with us will be greatly missed.
Wednesday [PT]
The weather was not as bad as had been predicted. However a shock wasfelt this morning, as the Police informed us that a car had smashed
into Derby Road No.1 bridge. The driver had absconded. Quite a large
hole has been made in the stonework - this bridge was partially rebuilt
some years ago and was one of the finest on the line. The local council
were quick to repair the crash barriers and put signs up. Enquiries are
continuing.
The Per way team took some vehicles down to Shottle Yard for temporary
storage to relieve congestion, after dropping off a gang to carry on
with the fishplate greasing. Approx a quarter of a mile was done today.
Only another 156 panels to see to, before the Duffield jaunt starts.
The Booking hall staff had a malfunction today meaning that Driver
Lidgett had to 'volunteer' for the post. We were also unable to
operate the Incline service. Fortunately no one turned up for a trip.
The Narrow gauge team continued fettling up the track in the area of
Waterfall Halt.
Various loads of scrap were removed from site and replacement bins
brought in.
Our guests were able to complete their Installation and Testing of
more bits for the Tube Lines Test Site. They confirm that there is a
definite possibility, that there may be a battery loco turning up in
the very near future - hence the need to clear space.
Much behind the scenes business taking place, regarding Project
Planning, and many new contacts being made
Thursday [MM]
A day of many contrasts. This was day 4 of the
Wirksworth C of E infant school's Railways Week with Year 1 riding the rails in
the morning and Year 2 in the afternoon - I must say that Vince looked a little
shell shocked from his 4 day stint but the tremendous effort all seemed very
worth while. The morning train was also joined by a party from Callow Park and
the afternoon train gained a few members of the public to add to the coffers.
At some distance from this activity the PW team finalised the work on the pit
road point and jacked and packed the base of the Incline. A short sentence does
not do justice to the back breaking work to achieve this result. A shunt took
place to maximise vehicle storage space in readiness for the return of Tube
Lines to the fold next week and Margaret-Ann received further attention.
The VCT made further progress with the entrance gate installation and had a
filing session for their stock of timber. An essential component for the return
of Tube Lines was successfully completed - an illuminated buffer stop light at
Gorsey Bank turned on and off at the flick of a switch.
A little goodie bag was prepared for the Chef de Gare at Die, the twin town of
Wirksworth, as a contingent leaves for France tomorrow.
Further news of the cause of the Derby Road bridge incident revealed that the
absconding car driver was uninsured, had no MOT and only possessed a
provisional licence - I fear it is going to be a long haul to receive any
compensation, if at all, for repairs that are likely to run into five figures.
The Booking Hall received our many visitors and the till was satisfactorily
energised.
Friday [MM]
A pleasant day with the last charter for
Wirksworth C of E school at the end of their Railways Week. The children were
ably hosted by JHT who went on to fill a staffing gap in the Booking Hall. I am
sure our role in the community and the benefits we bring are much more widely
understood.
Ian the Australian had a full day inspecting and fettling our dmu doors before
leaving us for two weeks holiday.
Preparations took place for the Teddy Bears weekend with much photocopying and
balloon inflation.
The track patrol team completed one of the three outstanding level crossing
tasks which was to secure the southern concrete road panel against any
movement. The two remaining tasks should be completed next Wednesday so we can
put this project to bed. The team then took a detailed look at the section
between Edwards crossing at Duffield and milepost 134 achieving some remedial
work as they progressed.
Our "light" steel skip was exchanged yielding £95 for what 12 months
ago we would have paid to be taken away! This encouraged further fishplate bolt
sorting and discovery of a little more scrap.
All in all, a good day.
Saturday [ME]
For the third year in Succession the first Day
of The Teddy Bear weekend saw Continual rain. Luckily it did not stop a steady
stream of children with Teddys who were able to enjoy both train rides and a
Magician in the dry in the EVRA COACH. Yvonne also told her very good stories
in the Buffet Car. Roy and Les continued on the 03s brakes. Lets hope the Sun
shines for the Teddies Tomorrow
Sunday [AS]
A drier day than yesterday and sufficiently
windy to bring tree branches
onto the line designed to keep the guards exercised when they were not
practising the Gorsey Bank gater's two-step. The Happy Day Express ran
happily all day with a steady flow of passengers, many from as far
afield as Ilkeston, where surprise random advertising had appeared in
the Ilkeston Investigator instead of that planned for the Belper
Trumpet. This and the correctly placed advert in the Derby Telegraph
brought in a number of passengers who had never enjoyed the delights of
our line before. No records were broken but we certainly did better than
last year notwithstanding yesterday's lousy weather.
A magistrate of conscripts attended to the day's only other work, which
was to address the two box vans (Fanny and Johnny) which arrived from
another railway on Thursday in a state of high rust. A large number of
wire brushes were given out and much rust removed, this was followed by
a little modest preparatory work and topped off by the application to
the strapping of one of the vans of Mr Shone's Improved Box Van Pink.
Further applications will follow.
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