ECCLESBOURNE VALLEY DIESEL FLEET DEVELOPMENTS

IN THE August issue of Railways Illustrated we reported that 31601 Devon Diesel Society was leaving the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and should have left the line for a new home base by mid-june.

A last-minute change of plan has meant that the move of 31601 didn’t happen and the locomotive will now be remaining at Wirksworth for the foreseeable future.

This development meant the Class 31 was able to take up its originally planned running days on June 29 and July 20.

31601 should also be in service at the EVR August 6-8 diesel gala. The event should also feature recently-restored Class 47, D1842, which has been paced on long term loan to the EVR courtesy of the Crewe Heritage Trust.

D9537, 33103 Swordfish and 73210 Selhurst are also based on the EVR.