The Golden Valley Light Railway
The Railway Today
The Golden Valley Light Railway is not a preserved railway, in the sense that the
route is essentially new, however like other volunteer run railways it is active
in preserving our railway heritage. The 2' gauge railway has its headquarters at
the Midland Railway - Butterley which is a preserved standard gauge railway (and as
such not within the scope of this site).
From Butterley passengers can make a 1 mile
journey aboard ex coal industry 'man riders', although in the medium-long term
it is hoped to replace these with more orthodox carriages. The journey takes
visitors via two intermediate halts to Newlands Inn where there is a country
park and of course a pub so a break of journey here may be enjoyable.
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| Butterley Park Station |
The Orenstein and Koppel
Awaits restoration |
Regular locomotive power is provided by two diesels; a Motor Rail locomotive which
saw only short service in it's original role at Campbell's brickworks near Chesterfield
before going into store and newly approved Simplex T Class Ellison. From time to time
visiting steam locos also grace the track and are as ever favourites with the
passengers. Amongst the members is a husband and wife team who not only own an
Orenstein and Koppel steam locomotive (located at the railway) but were married in
the loco shed, the bride arriving by steam loco and the couple departing in the same
way after the ceremony! The Orenstein and Koppel is destined to haul passenger trains
at some future date, however much work needs to be done before this loco is restored
to health, as you can see from the picture.
Newlands Inn is close to the Historic Cromford Canal and it's two mile long
tunnel and in fact the railway traverses the bed of the disused reserviour which
used to feed this system.
History and Origins
The GVLR was formed on 28th May 1986 as a group of enthusiasts with the aim of
building a narrow gauge railway on the site of the Midland Railway Centre. They
are certainly to be congratulated on producing a working railway in five years,
opening on 30th June 1991! No one should underestimate the magnitude of such a
task.
The original four hundred yards of track was extended to the current length
by volunteer labour and in May 1998 the Government Inspector called and gave a
satisfactory report allowing the lengthened line to open to passengers. I am
sure we all wish the GVLR well in it's aim to run trains of fully enclosed
bogie coaches behind steam haulage at some time in the future.