Why haven't I visited this delightful railway before, I have to ask myself? This 9 mile branch line was built by the Midland Railway, running from the mainline at Duffield through charming rural scenery to Wirksworth in the Derbyshire Dales.
On the day of our visit, June 1 2019, the one locomotive in steam was the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 0-6-0 No. 52322 which was nearing the end of its visit. Thanks to the low tender and Spartan cab I was able to get some fine footage of the crew at work. It was this engine's presence that prompted my visit because I have a real soft spot for the class as I was familiar with a number of them when they were allocated to 27D Wigan (L&Y) in the early fifties. One could often be seen at Orrell West yard having brought in coal wagons for the local merchants before taking away wagons of bricks from Bispham Brickworks. Incidentally, the brick wagons were delivered to the exchange sidings by a dirty old industrial engine named Hilda. Can anyone give me some details of this engine which we pupils of Upholland Grammar School took so much for granted?
This video shows excerpts from the run from Duffield to Wirksworth, ending with shots of stock movements at Wirksworth before the engine goes on shed.
If you are in the area I strongly recommend a ride on this pretty line.
By the way, this engine also appears in: • SUNDAY AT LLANGOLLEN R...
1 июн 2019
