| Railway Preservation News https://www.rypn.org/forums/ |
|
| More on Ecclesbourne Valley Railway steam restoration https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=23890 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | Richard Glueck [ Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | More on Ecclesbourne Valley Railway steam restoration |
PRESS RELEASE DATE September 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Steam returns to the Wirksworth Branch Or Full steam ahead for engine restoration Work is starting on the restoration of Wee Yorkie, an 0-4-0 steam engine, following an award of almost £49,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association, based at Wirksworth in Derbyshire. The engine will have its tank removed by crane, prior to the removal of asbestos by a specialist firm and then the work to restore the engine begins. Students from Derby University, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Ashbourne and Anthony Gell School, Wirksworth will help volunteers from the Association with the work over the next year. Wee Yorkie was built in 1954 at Andrew Barclay and Sons Ltd Works at Kilmarnock, in Scotland. It spent its working life at the Central Electricity Generating Board's Power Station at Ferrybridge, near Knottingly in Yorkshire, before being replaced in 1970 by diesel engines. Its works number was 2360. The Association has a long lease for Wee Yorkie, and for another 0-4-0 and an 0-6-0 from a private owner; restoration of the other engines will be undertaken in due course. Mike Craft, Association Secretary said "I am absolutely delighted that the money from the Heritage Lottery Fund will enable us to restore a steam engine that is of the same class and type that used to operate in Wirksworth Goods Yard and the local quarries." HLF Regional Manager Emma Sale added, "We are delighted that this award means it's full steam ahead for the restoration project. Local volunteers, students and school pupils will have the rare opportunity to learn about their industrial heritage in a hands-on way which will help bring history to life." For further details please contact Mike Craft on 01629 825213 Notes to Editors The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation's heritage for everyone to enjoy. Since 1994 it has supported more than £22,500 projects, allocating over £3.6 billion across the UK. www.HLF.org.uk About Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association (EVRA): EVRA is a charity with the main aims of the restoration, preservation, and maintenance of the railway between Wash Green, Wirksworth and the National Stone Centre (Ravenstor Platform) as a working railway. The historic mineral incline runs from Wirksworth Station Yard to the new Ravenstor platform, built using Derbyshire Aggregate Levy Funding, awarded to the Association in early 2003. The Association has also received Heritage Lottery Funding to refurbish the main platform at Wirksworth, Local Heritage Initiative funding for two interpretation projects (relating to the railway and local quarrying) and three Awards for All Grants. The total grant aid received by the Association, since 2001, is over £225,000. The Association has purchased and restored rolling stock including two brake vans, shark, box van and Flatrol/weltrol and has converted a tube wagon into a carriage for use on the incline. Volunteers also restore rolling stock owned privately but based at Wirksworth. The Association also works to conserve the railway and associated artefacts between Wirksworth and Duffield. We are working with WyvernRail plc to reopen the Duffield to Wirksworth railway, which passes through the beautiful Ecclesbourne valley in the heart of Derbyshire. www.evra.org.uk |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ] |
| Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|