Final line up of Class 14s is announced for Ecclesbourne Valley’s 14s@60 event

THE ORGANISERS of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway’s 14s@60 event have confirmed the full line-up of the popular diesel-hydraulic locomotives set to work on the Derbyshire heritage railway.

The event, on July 25-28, will feature six preserved Class 14s, with D9504, D9529, D9551 and D9553 joining EVR residents D9525 and D9537 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first-built example, D9500, emerging from British Railways Swindon Works in July 1964.

Although the working lives of the 56-strong fleet on BR was relatively short, many went on to find further careers in industry, with the National Coal Board and British Steel utilising Class 14s until the mid-1980s. Additionally, a small number were exported abroad.

Their prolonged use in industry saw just over a third of the overall type enter preservation, with 19 of the original 56 locomotives still in existence. The versatile nature of the Class 14s means they are ideal for the preservation sector, suitable for passenger, freight, engineering and shunting duties.

Full details for the 14s@60 event are due to be announced in the near future, but it has been confirmed that in addition to an intensive service on the Wirksworth to Duffield line, a railtour is also planned to visit the line on July 27, promoted by Locomotive Services Group subsidiary Inter-city. The event will see D9525 work its first passenger trains for many years after it changed ownership and moved to the EVR in unserviceable condition in 2022. The volunteer team has completed an engine rebuild and overhauled many other components to return the locomotive to good condition.

It will also feature the final workings for classmate D9537, which is due to be stopped for a major overhaul after 10 years of service at the East Lancashire Railway, the EVR, and visits to various other heritage lines.

Meanwhile, work is underway to move the track layout on the approach to Duffield, after the site of a previous land slip suffered further movement earlier this year. A £30,000 appeal has been launched to assist with the project and to protect this area of the line from future risk. Almost £17,000 had been raised as this issue went to press. Any reader wishing to contribute can visit www.gofundme.com/f/ operation-duffield for further details. Further information on the 14s@60 event can be found at www.e-v-r. com/14s-at-60/

Tom Mcatee A photographic charter on the East Lancashire Railway on February 9 saw Baron Street Locomotive Works used to recreate North West 1980s depot scenes. The Br-blue line-up of Class 40 Preservation Society’s 40135, the Class 40 Appeal’s 40012 Aureol and the Peak Locomotive Company’s 45108 are displayed, with privately-owned 25279 in the foreground.

Andy Coward The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway’s 14s@60 event in July will feature six popular diesel-hydraulic locomotives, including Nene Valley Railway-based 9529. Also expected to be in use during the event are D9504, D9525, D9537, D9551 and D9553.