Photo Gallery 3

Churnet Valley Railway 1995 - to 2001

Please click on the thumbnail to view the large picture.

The first train under the control of the Churnet Valley Railway, and the first movement on the line for over 5 years, traversed the Cheddleton - Leek Brook section on April 7th 1995 when D7672 "Tamworth Castle" retrieved four coaches and Class 33 loco 33056 "The Burma Star".

This was followed in November 1995 by the highly publicised delivery of the National Railway Museum's replica "Rocket".

Public services began on August 24th 1996, the first day's services being in the charge of LMS 3F "Jinty" tank loco 47383.

The axle loading of the Churnet Valley line can accommodate the largest visiting locos. Ian Riley's Class 5MT 45407 was a popular visitor during 1999.
 
 
 
 

Whilst during 2001 the CVR played host to ex- LNER B1 4-6-0 61264.

Another LMS "5" visited late in 2001, this being ELR-based 45337.

An unusual visitor was Pete Waterman's GWR 2-8-0T 5224 which visited the Churnet Valley for trials. This is to our knowledge the first ex-GWR loco ever to visit the Churnet line.

The Cheddleton site meanwhile has expanded from a single siding to be the operational heart of the Railway. (Compare this with a similar view taken during 1980!)
 

At Consall, a replica of the original NSR station building has been constructed and is being fitted out.

Still at Consall, a signalbox to typical NSR design was constructed to control a passing loop to enable two-train operation. The box superstructure is from Clifton Crossing on the closed Rocester - Ashbourne line, and contains a McKenzie and Holland lever frame.

On 11th August 2001, the Churnet Valley Railway increased its operational length once more when the extension south from Consall to Kingsley & Froghall was opened. The first train is seen here at Kingsley and Froghall behind BR 4MT 80136.

Photos D. Cawthorn MBE/D. Felstead/C.A. Proctor