EccLESBouRNE BuiLDS NEW STaTioN aND ‘SigNaL Box oN STiLTS’
Authentic Midland Railway-style infrastructure is sprouting at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, with the construction of a new station building and the rebuilding of a signal box – the latter on stilts.
At the line’s Wirksworth headquarters, the first of three sections of the timber station building has been erected, which will be fitted out as a 64-seat café. A separate toilet block has also been built, and will eventually be incorporated into the second part of the building.
Meanwhile, the former Oddingley signal box – a genuine Midland Railway structure recovered from the BirminghamGloucester line – is set to be re-erected at Shottle, where it will control the passing loop and allow regular two-train operation.
“It’s ready to go on its stilts,” said Tim Oaks, a director of the EVR’s operating company Wyvernrail, referring to the fact that the box was originally built at ground level to control a crossing, but for its new role, it will be mounted on a steel frame – clad in timber for an authentic look.
It will be fitted out with an original MR lever frame, whose original location is unknown and which was donated to the EVR after being found in a garage.
Other equipment such as pulleys and cranks, originally from Wennington on the ‘Little North Western’ line from Hellifield to Carnforth, has been acquired from the Poulton & Wyre Railway Society near Fleetwood.
“There are still some pieces of the jigsaw missing,” said Mr Oaks, “but we’ve got enough to be getting on with.”
Trains occasionally pass at Shottle during special events, such as the June 15/16 ‘Steam in the Valley’ weekend starring L&Y ‘27’ 0-6-0 No. 52322 and BR ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 No. 78018 – but the loop is currently operated by two ground frames, which requires two or three members of staff.
“The box will be essential for crossing trains regularly,” said Mr Oaks. “It’s popular at special events because it means we can run an hourly service – on a line that length, people get bored if the trains are two-hourly.”