Down the line from Duffield

It's always a great pleasure to see abandoned railways coming back to life. Spending some holiday time at my brother's in Derbyshire, we took the opportunity to see the nearby Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, linking Duffield and Wirksworth, some eight miles away. Closed to passenger traffic in the 1950s, the line is being re-opened to tourists and enthusiasts, with work underway on the section running into Duffield station (served by Midland Mainline). With some extra donations and voluntary work, Wirksworth will hopefully soon have a rail link to the outside world. But apart from the appeal to rail fans, the line has a practical use, as it will also serve the quarries at Wirksworth, allowing for a more environmentally-friendly way of transporting the rock. The sleepers are in a very bad state, many have totally rotted through - not surprising since the line was built in the 1870s. Above: A works train leaving Duffield. Below: Cousin Hoavis, Eddie and Moni walking the disused section of the line.

This time last year:
To the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution
Over the Peaks by bus (Moni and I were to retrace this journey this year - same bus driver!)
Memory and Comfort (Dziadzio Tadeusz has recovered from his operation a year ago)
Tissington Trail (another disused Derbyshire railway put to good use)
Of stained glass, rainbows and floods
Bouncing queen, see her bounce on the trampoline