| The Ravenstor Opening Weekend was especially busy, and the
weather was wonderful for the occasion.
Wirksworth Station on the morning of the opening
Many people attended the opening ceremony, at which Mr
Geoff Carlile of the Derbyshire Aggregate Levy Scheme cut the
tape. First public services on the newly opened line to
Ravenstor were operated by guest steam engine 0-4-0 saddle
tank “Castle Donington No 1” which was brought over specially
from our friends at Butterley.
Guard Craft flags the train away
No 1 performed excellently and the trip up the incline to
Ravenstor resounded with the beat of a hard working engine,
much to the joy of passengers, and sightseers on the bridges
and embankments overlooking the line.
The train passes Spring Lane
We were very pleased by the number of passengers taking the
trip as part of a longer walk or visit to the attractions
around Ravenstor, such as the National Stone Centre, the High
Peak Trail and the Steeple Grange Railway, and in all of these
places it was very gratifying to hear the distant whistle of
No 1 through the trees.
The VIP party enjoys the ride
Trains to Ravenstor now replace those to Gorsey Bank as our
regular weekend service, and will operate throughout the
winter season on Saturdays and Sundays, first departure from
Wirksworth being 10.50 to Ravenstor and first departure from
Ravenstor at 11.00 am and then every hour until 16.00. Trains
will be diesel hauled except for the weekends of the 22nd/23rd
and 29th/30th October, when there will be a further visiting
steam engine.
The train on arrival at Ravenstor Station
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