Midland Railway – Butterley

The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway and museum complex at Butterley, near Ripley, in Derbyshire, England.

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History

Overview

The Midland Railway – Butterley lies on the Ambergate to Pye Bridge line of the old Midland Railway, a line once connecting the Derwent Valley branch of Midland Main Line to the Erewash Valley. A branch leading to the south to was in use from 1889 until 1923. The sole historical station on the line is, which opened in 1875.
The current line extends westwards from Codnor Park Junction on the Erewash Valley Line, although the present-day heritage line terminates at Hammersmith. The line currently runs for from to Ironville, via Butterley, and Riddings. It is operated and maintained by the Midland Railway Trust.

Operation

The Ambergate to Pye Bridge line was used to serve the collieries of Marehay, Hartshay, Pentrich, Swanwick and Britain Pit; the current Swanwick Junction station lies on the former site of Brand's Colliery. The line also provided rail access for the site of the Butterley Company.
The railway is also home to the narrow gauge Golden Valley Light Railway, which opened in 1991. It lies partially on the trackbed of a former plateway built by the Butterley Company in 1813 to connect its iron works facilities in Butterley to nearby Codnor Park.

Closure and restoration

The line was closed in 1968 and the process of restoring the line started in 1973. Much of the former trackbed was razed in 1976, when the nearby section of the A38 was constructed between Ripley and Alfreton; the route of the A610 between the Ripley roundabout and Buckland Hollow lies mostly on the route of the former line. The first preservation services started operating in 1981.

Stations and attractions

Hammersmith

Hammersmith is the western terminus of the line; the station consists of two platforms and the secondary line is used as a run-around loop. A signal box is present at the eastern end of the station and the A38 is visible from the platform to the west.

Butterley

This is the headquarters of the heritage centre. It consists of a double platform and the station building; the original buildings were demolished after the line closed. The current station building is a near identical match to the one originally at Butterley and was transferred from and built in place of the original.
The station building contains the gift shop and the booking office; a café and the Alfreton Model Railway Society are also present in adjacent buildings. The signal box at Butterley was formerly situated at Ais Gill on the Settle to Carlisle Line. A carriage shed also stands at the eastern end of the yard, neither the signal box or carriage shed are open to the public.
The Garden Railway is in the yard; it is an outdoor 16 mm scale model railway, which runs on most Sundays and some Saturdays. There is also the Star Tugs Trust carriage; a Mark 1, which is owned by the Star Tugs trust and holds a permanent exhibition of some original models from TUGS, the sister show of Thomas & Friends. It is open on certain running days.

Swanwick Junction

Swanwick Junction site holds the main complex for the Midland Railway Centre.

Station - it has four platforms; the station building was originally located at and rebuilt on platform 2. The building contains toilets, café, waiting room and booking office. Between platforms 3 and 4 is a waiting room; this is a replica of the original station building at Broom Junction. There is currently only public access on certain events. The original building was intended to be used, but it was destroyed by vandals before recovery.
Signal box – the operational signal box was moved from in 1988. There is no public access.
Matthew Kirtley Museum – the main museum on the Swanwick site houses various locomotives, coaches and wagons.
Historical Model Railway Society – this was opened in 2005. It contains a large display area, study centre and a small shop. Normally only open by appointment, it is sometimes opened at special events.
The West Shed – the home of the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust, owners of 6233 Duchess of Sutherland and 46203 Princess Margaret Rose. BR Standard Class 4 Tanks 80080 and 80098, with a small collection of classic LMS saloons including the famous Dynamometer car, are also stationed here.
St. Saviour's Church – moved from Westhouses, this Railwayman's church also holds occasional services.
Derby St Mary's Gatehouse – situated at the entrance to the site, this small building was moved to Swanwick from the goods yard at Derby St Mary's. This contains Swanwick Junction Model Railway Club.
Static Power Museum – normally open at busy periods and at special events, the building houses a good number of working machines.
Demonstration Signal Box – recovered from. Now in use at Brands Crossing as a demonstration signal box, with public access.
Linby Colliery Sidings Signal Box – currently in use as a bookshop.
Historic Carriage and Wagon Shed – a large number of coaches and wagons await restoration here, either in the sidings or the large shed in which the Society is based. On certain days, it is possible to see work being done inside the shed.
National Fork Truck Heritage Centre and Road Transport Gallery – this recently-completed building houses a collection of heritage buses, lorries, fork lift trucks and other forms of road transport. On certain special events, some of the vehicles are put on display out in the open.
Diesel depot – currently housing some of the centre's diesel fleet.

Butterley Park Miniature Railway

Operating on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, miniature replicas of classic steam and diesel engines of both and gauge operate on a raised circuit of track. The public are permitted to ride for a small charge. The line consists of about of track, a traverser, tunnel, decorative speed signs and signal box.
Details of the stock that the miniature railway uses is shown below:

0	Number and name	Description	Current status	Livery
1	5801	GWR 5800 Class "5" Replica	Operational	GWR Green
2	70038 "Robin Hood"	BR Standard Class 7 "5" Replica	Operational	BR Lined Green
3	"Lion"	"Lion" 0-4-2 Replica	Operational	Green

Riddings

There is no station platform located at Riddings, but there is a run-around loop on the northern branch of Codnor Park Junction, from which the line would have run northbound towards. Just before the run around loop is a split in the track, which connects to the main line. The River Erewash runs underneath the junction.

Special events

The railway runs events, ranging from Teddy Bear's Picnic specials to Gala events; they feature standard gauge collection and the GVLR's stock:

Victorian train weekends, using railways pre-grouping and early LMS coaching stock
Easter events
Steam and diesel locomotive events
Trains to the seaside at Swanwick Junction
Halloween Events
Firework Night
Santa Specials.

The railway is licensed to host weddings and parties.
In September 1999, the Kosovo Train for Life was loaded at Butterley station, before travelling to Kosovo, via and the Channel Tunnel; this ran in conjunction with the Kosovo Force peace-keeping efforts.
From 2007 to 2019, the heritage centre hosted Indietracks, a music festival that was held at the Swanwick Junction site. The COVID-19 pandemic halted events in 2020 and 2021; in November 2021, it was announced that festival would no longer be held.

Locomotives and rolling stock

The steam engines of the Midland Railway Trust that run passenger services are mostly ex-LMS and British Rail locomotives of similar designs. Rarer industrial and main line classes, such as one from as early as 1866, are stored in the Swanwick museum shed.

Diesel and electric locomotives

Number and name	Description	Current status	Livery	Owner	Photograph
"Andy" 16038	Fowler 0-4-0DM	Under restoration, possible conversion to diesel hydraulic.	Railfreight Grey	Private Owner
"Albert/Emfour 9" D1114	Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 Shunter	Undergoing restoration back to operational use.	Green	Midland Railway Trust
No. 416 "Needlesnoot"	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 Shunter	Operational after an engine overhaul; repaint into Castle Donington livery completed in 2020.	Castle Donington Blue	Midland Railway Trust
No. RS12	Motorail Simplex No RS12	Stored – poor condition, but 90% complete	Brown	Midland Railway Trust
No. RS9	Motorail Simplex No. RS9	Stored – very poor condition, 60% complete	Blue	Midland Railway Trust
No. 441	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 Shunter	Undergoing clutch repairs	Blue	Midland Railway Trust
No. D1154 'Manton'	Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 Shunter	Under restoration	Green
No. 5337	Mercury Tractor 0-4-0	Stored.	Blue	Midland Railway Trust
No. 384139/D2959	Ruston & Hornsby	Under Overhaul	BR Green	Midland Railway Trust
No. D2858	BR 0-4-0 Class 02	Static display – gear box failure	BR Green	Midland Railway Trust
No. D2138	BR 0-6-0 Class 03	Undergoing overhaul. Successful fundraising appeal resulted in the purchase of a new engine, which is being prepared for installation.	BR Green	Midland Railway Trust/NCB
No. 08590 "Red Lion"	BR 0-6-0 Class 08	Operational - Butterley Yard Pilot	BR Blue	Private owner/Midland Railway Trust
No. 08331	BR 0-6-0 Class 08	Operational	Black	Private owner/Midland Railway Trust
No. 12077	BR 0-6-0 Class 11	Operational – Swanwick Yard pilot	BR Green	Midland Railway Trust
No. 8001	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Operational - on loan to Epping Ongar Railway	BR Green, with full yellow ends	Class 20 Locomotive Society
No. 20048	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Operational - on loan to the Severn Valley Railway	BR Blue	Midland Class 20 Association
No. 20059	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Operational - on loan to the Watercress Line	BR Green, with yellow warning panels	Midland Diesel Group
No. 20188	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Operational, on loan to the Watercress Line	BR Green, with yellow warning panels	Midland Diesel Group
No. 20205	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Operational – main line certified	BR Blue	Class 20 Locomotive Society
No. 20227	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Operational - main line certified	London Transport Red	Class 20 Locomotive Society
No. 25321	BR Bo-Bo Class 25	Awaiting electrical repairs and repaint	BR Green	Derby Industrial Museum
No. 5580	BR A1A-A1A Class 31	Operational	BR Blue	A1A Locomotives
No. 31108	BR A1A-A1A Class 31	Operational	BR Railfreight red stripe	A1A Locomotives
No. 31414	BR A1A-A1A Class 31	Undergoing restoration	N/A	A1A Locomotives
No. 31418 "Boadicea"	BR A1A-A1A Class 31	Undergoing restoration	N/A	A1A Locomotives
No. 31271 "Stratford 1840–2001"	BR A1A-A1A Class 31	Operational – on loan to Llangollen Railway	Railfreight Construction	A1A Locomotives
No. 40012 "Aureol"	BR 1Co-Co1 Class 40	Currently having its turbocharger repaired	BR Blue	Class 40 Appeal
No. D4 "Great Gable"	BR 1Co-Co1 Class 44	Operational.	BR Blue	Peak Locomotive Company
No. 45041 "Royal Tank Regiment"	BR 1Co-Co1 Class 45	Operational, on loan to Nene Valley Railway	BR Blue	Peak Locomotive Company
No. 45108	BR 1Co-Co1 Class 45	Operational, on loan to East Lancashire Railway	BR Blue	Peak Locomotive Company
No. 45133	BR 1Co-Co1 Class 45	Under restoration	BR Blue	45/1 Preservation Group
No. D182	BR 1Co-Co1 Class 46	Operational	BR Blue	Peak Locomotive Company
No. 47401 "North Eastern"	BR Co-Co Class 47	Under restoration	BR Blue	47401 Project
No. D1516	BR Co-Co Class 47	Under restoration	BR Two-Tone Green	47401 Project
No. 27000 Electra	BR Class 77 EM2 1500 V Electric	In operational condition, though generally an exhibit in the Matthew Kirtley Museum	Lined Black	EM2 Locomotive Society

Multiple units

0	Number and name	Description	Current status	Livery	Photograph
1	Unit. 51118+56097	BR Class 100	Under restoration, owned by the Llangollen Railcar Group	BR Green
2	DMBS 51907 + DTCL 56490	BR Class 108	Operational, private owner	BR Blue and Grey
4	Unit. 977775+977776	BR Class 114	Stored, out of use	BR Blue
5	Unit. 50019+56006	BR Class 114	Under restoration	BR Multiple Unit Green
6	DMBS Unit. 51669+51849	BR Class 115	Restoration never to begin	Rusty Green
7	Unit. 51591+59609+59659+51625	BR Class 127	Stored, out of use	BR Green, white crest.
8	Unit 141113	BR Class 141	Operational, private owner	Red and White
	Unit 142011	BR Class 142 Pacer	Operational, privately owned.	Provincial Blue
10	Nos. 29666 and 29670	BR Class 505	Undergoing restoration, owned by the Altrincham Electric Railway Preservation Society	N/A

Coaching stock

Midland Railway vintage set

These coaches are only in use on vintage days:

0	Number and name	Description	Current status	Livery	Owner
1	No. 6	LDECR TZ in-lined	Operational, stored in Matthew Kirtley Museum when not in use	Lined Red	Midland Railway Trust
2	No. 253	MR BTZ	Operational, stored in Matthew Kirtley Museum when not in use	Lined MR Red	Midland Railway Trust
3	No. 78	MR TY	Operational, stored in Matthew Kirtley Museum when not in use	Lined MR Red Livery	Midland Railway Trust
4	No. 50	LYR FO	On display in Matthew Kirtley Museum, awaiting full restoration	Plain Maroon	Derby City Council
5	No. 26481	MR CCTY	Operational, stored in Matthew Kirtley Museum when not in use	Grey	Midland Railway Trust
6	No. 1910	MR ROY	Not currently fit for passenger use, used by HC&W volunteers as saloon; stored in Matthew Kirtley Museum when not in use	Lined MR Red	Midland Railway Trust
7	No. 42608	LMS HBY	Operational, stored in Matthew Kirtley Museum when not in use	LMS Red	Derby City Council
8	No. 2944	MR BCK	On display in Matthew Kirtley Museum, awaiting full restoration	Plain Maroon	Midland Railway Trust
9	No. 1250	MR BT	Stored at Swanwick Junction Historic C&W sidings	Plain Maroon	Midland Railway Trust
10	No. 2885	MR CK	Stored in Historic Carriage and Wagon Workshop	In recovered state	Derby City Council/Midland Railway Trust
11	No. 34068	MR BZ	Under sheeting at Historic Carriage and Wagon Workshop	Brown	Midland Railway Trust
12	No. 1119	MR TZ	Awaiting restoration Historic Carriage and Wagon Workshop	Grey	Midland Railway Trust
13	No. 1260	MR PS	Operational, stored in Matthew Kirtley Museum when not in use	Lined MR Red
14	No. 211	MR CF	Stored, awaiting restoration	Grey	Midland Railway Trust
15	No. 445	MR FS	Awaiting full restoration, on display in Matthew Kirtley Museum	Green	Midland Railway Trust
16	No. 349	MR PS	Stored, awaiting restoration	Maroon	Midland Railway Trust

LMS coaches

Restored coaches are run alongside MR coaches on certain running days:

Number and name	Description	Current status	Livery
No. M27093	LMS BTK	Stored in Matthew Kirtley Museum	Lined LMS Maroon
No. 45047	LMS INSP	Stored in Matthew Kirtley Museum, owned by 7F Preservation Group	LMS Maroon
No. 30225	LMS POS	On display in Matthew Kirtley Museum	Maroon
No. 5734	LMS BTK	Being restored by its private owner.	LMS Maroon
No. 2884	LMS BGZ	Undergoing restoration in Historic Carriage and Wagon Workshop	Maroon
No. 10257	LMS SRFO	Currently on display in Matthew Kirtley Museum	Maroon
No. 14425	LMS SLT	Under sheeting at Historic Carriage and Wagon Workshop	Brown
No. 14281	LMS TK	Under sheeting at Historic Carriage and Wagon Workshop	Brown
No. 14718	LMS TO	Under sheeting at Historic Carriage and Wagon Workshop	Brown
No. 5682	LMS TO	Gifted to new owner for restoration	Lined LMS Maroon
No. 16553	LMS TO	Under restoration Historic Carriage and Wagon Workshop	Red
No. 16782	LMS TK	Under sheeting at Historic Carriage and Wagon Workshop	Maroon
No. 612	LMS SLT	Destroyed by arsonists. Scrapped, but many parts recovered.	Lined LMS Maroon
No. 31299	LMS BG	Was previously used as disco coach, now stored; privately owned, in front of Historic Carriage and Wagon Workshop	LMS Maroon

Mark 1 and Mark 2 coaches

Mark 1s are the staple passenger stock of the heritage centre:

Number and name	Description	Current status	Livery
No. E9300	BR Mk1 BSO	Operational	Blood and Custard
No. W4904	BR Mk1 TSO	Operational	Blood and Custard
No. M1862	BR Mk1 RMB	Operational	Blood and Custard
No. 99040	BR Mk1 BCK	Operational – Currently in use with 6201 Princess Elizabeth	LMS Crimson
No. NE4537	BR Mk1 TSO	Operational	Lined Maroon
No. M13328	BR Mk1 FK	Operational	Blood and Custard
No. M1802	BR Mk1 RMB in Maroon Livery	Under overhaul	Lined maroon
No. 84020	BR Mk1 BG	In use as temporary store	Lined Maroon
No. 4816	BR Mk1 SO	Stored, out of use	Lined Maroon
No. M4804	BR Mk1 SO	Stored, out of use	Lined Maroon
No. 4480	BR Mk1 SO	Stored, out of use	Lined Maroon
No. 84144	BR Mk1 BG	Operational	Lined Maroon
No. 99041	BR Mk1 BSK	Operational, based at PRCLT West Shed; 6233's Support Coach	Lined Maroon
No. 80782	BR Mk1 BG	Stores vehicle	Plain Maroon
No 9281	BR Mk1 BSO	Stored	Lined Maroon
No. 80590	BR Mk1 BG	Tugs Trust Coach, based in Butterley Yard	Lined Maroon
No. 86696	BR Mk1 GUV	Owned and used as stores vehicle by Electra Preservation Group	Plain Maroon
No. 93881	BR Mk1 GUV	Used as stores vehicle by Historic Carriage and Wagon Department	BR Blue
No. 93380	BR Mk1 GUV	Used as stores vehicle by MRT Railcar Group	BR Blue
No. 93180	BR Mk1 GUV	Stores vehicle	Maroon
No. 34255	BR Mk1 BCK	Stored at Butterley Goods Dock	Plain Green
No. 6390	BR Mk1 BG	In use as Class 20 Locomotive Society general storage container	InterCity Executive
No. 5045	BR Mk1 TSO	Ex-Swanwick waiting room and picnic coach. Undergoing overhaul	Plain Maroon
No. 2902	BR Mk1 Royal Dining/Kitchen Saloon	On display in Matthew Kirtley Museum	Claret
No. 13484	BR Mk2b FK	Class 20 Locomotive Society mess coach, at Swanwick Junction	Research colours
No. 5461	BR Mk2b TSO	A1A Group Mess Coach, at Swanwick Junction; scrapped 2021	Blue and grey

Other coaches

Butterley owns several unique carriages, which are only used on very special occasions:

Number and name	Description	Current status	Livery
No. 6320	LMS BFK	Based at PRCLT West Shed, used as an inspection saloon; currently undergoing a repaint	Lined LMS Maroon
No. 45000	LNWR SPEC	Arrived November 2005, on display at PRCLT West Shed	Lined LMS Maroon
No. 45050	LYR SPEC	Purchased by PRCLT September 2005, Operational	Lined Maroon
No. 1176	SR PMV	Currently stored in Tamper sidings, used as S&T stores van	Brown
No. 1865	SR PMV	Currently stored in Tamper sidings, underframe for MR 211	Blue
No. 2151	SR PMV	Currently stored on end of Ashpit road	Maroon

Matthew Kirtley Museum

The Matthew Kirtley shed is the largest building on the Swanwick Junction site and holds all the exhibits of the museum. As of March 2022, it is currently closed to the public, awaiting repair of the shed roof.
Below is a list of stock that can be found inside:

No. 158A	Midland Railway 156 Class	This engine has not run under her own steam since arrival at the trust and is part of the National Collection. Currently on loan at Barrow Hill Roundhouse.	Midland Railway Maroon	National Railway Museum	1866
"Gladys"	Markham & Co.	A static display	Dark Green	Midland Railway Trust	1894
"Victory"	Peckett	A static display	Dark Green	Midland Railway Trust	1919
"Stanton 24"	Andrew Barclay	A static display	Dark Green	Midland Railway Trust	1925
Boots No. 2		A static display	Boots Blue	Midland Railway Trust	1955	~

Golden Valley Light Railway

The Golden Valley Light Railway is a narrow gauge line. Laid on the trackbed of a former ironworks railway, this line runs for just under from the Swanwick Junction site to the far end of the country park adjacent to the former site of Newlands Inn. The terminus is just above the eastern portal of the Butterley Tunnel, which forms part of the Cromford Canal. The Swanwick Terminus gained a new engine shed in 2007, which specifically houses GVLR stock.

Railway stock

In addition to the standard gauge stock on the Midland Railway, the Golden Valley Light Railway, a separate organisation altogether, owns a collection of locomotives, ex-colliery manriders, Ashover coach no.4 and ex industrial wagons, many of which are being restored to work on the line.

Number and name	Description	Current status	Train brakes	Livery	Owner
TDA CIVIL No.1 "JOAN"		Stored, awaiting overhaul	Single Pipe Air	SDJR Blue	Private owner
O&K 7529		Operational, restoration completed in 2021	Single Pipe Air	Red underframes and wheels, Black boiler, Green cab	Private owner
60SD364 "Campbells"	Simplex	Operational	Single Pipe Air	CBW yellow	GVLR
101T020 "Ellison"	Simplex "T" Class	Operational	Single Pipe Air	Blue	Private owner
"Hunslet Husky" HE7178/71		Stored, pending restoration	None fitted	N/A	GVLR
222068 "Berry Hill"	20HP	Operational	None fitted	Brunswick Green	GVLR
3753 "Darcy"	Baguley Drewry 70HP	Operational	Single Pipe Air	Purple/pink	Private owner
10249	Deutz 11.8HP	Operational	None fitted	Blue	Private owner
3742/31	Lister/Blackstone petrol engine	Under restoration	None fitted	N/A	Private owner
53726	Lister/Blackstone 15HP	Operational	None fitted	Lister Green	Private owner
40SD 529	"Simplex" 40HP	Operational	Single Pipe Air	Simplex yellow	Private owner
8739 "Pioneer"	"Simplex" 40HP	Operational	None fitted	Green	GVLR
11177 "Holwell Castle"	Motor Rail 60HP	Under restoration – Dorman engine to be replaced	Twin Pipe Air, will be converted for GVLR use	Blue	GVLR
11246/63	Motor Rail	Stored	None fitted	N/A	GVLR
RH191646/38 "Lyddia"	Ruston	Out of traffic, with major oil leak	None fitted	Dark Green	GVLR
MR8667/41 "Tubby"	28HP Simplex	Operational	Single Pipe Air	Dark Green, with yellow warning stripes	GVLR
3703 "NG24"	Baguley Drewry battery loco	Operational	None fitted	MOD Green, with wasp stripes	GVLR
WR5 "Baby Jane"	BEV	Requires significant components	None fitted	Yellow	Private owner