Peak Rail, The Briddons and the Ashover Light Railway - Saturday 27th July 2024
A day out in North Derbyshire, beginning at 9:45 with a brake van trip from Rowsley South to Matlock, hauled by one of Peak Rail's industrial steam locos. On the return journey there will be an opportunity to visit Pete and Andrew Briddon at their Darley Dale workshop. The stock is constantly changing but there will be a number of diesel shunters on site, plus a few other rail vehicles. The tarpaulins will be removed from most of those stored in the yard, and the locos positioned to facilitate photography. Cab rides will also be on offer. Pete Briddon has more the 40 years' experience of building and operating industrial diesel shunters, so this will provide a good opportunity to ask him any questions on the subject.
Following that visit we will return to Rowsley for lunch after which, at 2:00, there will be a tour of the Peak Rail shed at Rowsley. The afternoon will conclude with a visit to the Ashover Light Railway, where the unique Spondon battery loco will be giving rides along their line, which has been extended since our last visit two years ago. If repairs are completed in time the Hunslet and/or Ruston will also be in action.
No arrangements have been made to include the Heritage Shunters Trust because at this stage they cannot say whether anyone will be on site that day. If they are it should be possible to visit their shed over the lunch break, for a charge of £5, paid cash direct to HST on the day.
As an added attraction 45596 BAHAMAS will be visiting Peak Rail and is scheduled to work the normal service trains that day. And if you want to make a weekend of it, nearby Wyvernrail is staging the 14s@60 event from 25th to 28th July, with no less than eight of the class (all of which, of course, saw industrial service) due to attend.
All elements of the IRS programme can be booked separately, so you only need pay for those which are of interest to you. The rates are:
Peak Rail brake van tour: £12
The Briddons: £12
Peak Rail shed tour: £5
Ashover Light Railway: A voluntary donation (suggested amount £5 but more would be gratefully accepted!) payable cash on the day. If you are a UK taxpayer the donation can be gift-aided.
Non-members are welcome to attend any of these, but will need to take out day membership for £2 (covering all four elements).
Bookings will close on 23rd July and are non-refundable after that date (unless the events are cancelled).
