| The first regular passenger service to run on the
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, between Wirksworth and Gorsey
Bank, for fifty-seven years, ran at 12 hours, noon, on Tuesday
the 24th of August.
The service was out and back to Wirksworth Station, as
there is currently no station at Gorsey Bank. This run is
approximately one kilometre.
The first train carried some 140 passengers and was hauled
by the railway's 0-6-0 Ruston locomotive, "Cromwell", the
train itself consisted of the four carriages of the former
Gatwick Express set, which the railway acquired last year. The
drivers for this service were Martin Miller and Sam Ryde, with
guard Mike Craft. The train was despatched from Wirksworth
Station by Stationmaster Anton Shone. The first day of
operations continued with trains at half hourly intervals
until 17.00. The official opening of this section of the line
will follow in due course. |
