Eden Valley Railway (heritage railway)

The Eden Valley Railway (EVR) is a standard gauge heritage railway in Cumbria, England. It runs over a 2.2 miles (3.5 km) section of the original Eden Valley Railway in a north-westerly direction from the line's base at Warcop station. The line is run by the Eden Valley Railway Trust, formerly the Eden Valley Railway Society.[1][2]

Eden Valley Railway
The line west of Warcop seen from a brake van
Coordinates54.535°N 2.381°W / 54.535; -2.381
Preserved operations
Operated byEden Valley Railway Trust
Stations1
Length5.8 miles (9.3 km) - available
2.2 miles (3.5 km) - in use
Commercial history
Opened1862
Closed1962 - to passengers
1989 - to freight
Preservation history
1995Eden Valley Railway Society formed
2004Granted Light Railway Order
2006Opened from Warcop to Sandford
2013Extended Sandford to Southfields
HeadquartersWarcop

The railway operates passenger trains from March to September on the weekends and Bank Holidays and some weekday workings in summer.[3][4]

History

The original Eden Valley Railway opened in 1862, linking Penrith and Kirkby Stephen via Appleby-in-Westmorland. Passenger traffic ended in 1962 and the line was reduced to the track between the junction at Appleby station with the Settle-Carlisle Line and Kirkby Stephen which served a quarry. By 1976 all that was left was 6 miles (9.7 km) of track between Appleby in Westmorland and Flitholme. It was used by infrequent British Army services to Warcop Training Area until 1989.[2]

In 1995 the Eden Valley Railway Society was formed with the primary objective of restoring the Warcop to Appleby section of the line, and a secondary object of, if possible, extending it to Kirkby Stephen once the initial section was in operation. On 3 August 2004 the Eden Valley Railway Order 2004 came into action, allowing the trust to undertake railway operations (excluding non-self generated electrical railways) on the 9.3 kilometres (5.8 mi) track from Appleby to Flitholme near Warcop.[2][5]

Heritage railway services resumed in 2006 between Warcop and Sandford, with an extension of 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) to Southfields being opened in 2013, giving a current running line of almost 2+1⁄4 miles (3.6 km).[2]

Rolling stock
Battery powered former BR Class 419 750 V DC Motor Luggage Van at Warcop

The Eden Valley Railway has mostly ex-British Rail built rolling stock, including British Rail Class 205 diesel-electric multiple unit no. 205 009, British Rail Class 411 electric multiple units nos. 2311 and 2315 and British Rail Class 419 units nos. 9003, 9005 and 9010. The railway also operates a British Rail Class 37 English Electric diesel-electric locomotive, no. 37 042, and Brush Traction Type 4 Class 47 diesel-electric locomotive, no. 47799, which sometimes hauled the British Royal Train from 1990 to 2004, during which time it was named Prince Henry. Also on site are several ex industrial shunters: Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn 8343 (0-6-0DH "Darlington"), Fowler 4220045 (0-4-0DH), Hunslet 2389 (0-4-0DM), Thomas Hill 130c (0-4-0DH) and Drewry Cars 2181 (0-4-0DM) in addition to a number of freight wagons and a 15-ton railway crane.[6][7][8]

The Railway does have a steam locomotive, in the form of industrial 0-4-0ST "Askham Hall". The former Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway locomotive is currently at Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum having asbestos removed.

References
  1. "Eden Valley Railway Warcop". Eden Valley Railway Society. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  2. "A Brief History of the Eden Valley Railway". Eden Valley Railway Society. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  3. "Eden Valley Railway Timetable and Fares for 2016". Eden Valley Railway Society. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  4. "Eden Valley Railway Timetable and Fares for 2018". Eden Valley Railway Society. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  5. The Eden Valley Railway Order 2004, Statutory Instruments, 2004 No. 1817, Office for Public Sector Information, www.opsi.gov.uk
  6. "Motive Power". Eden Valley Railway Society. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  7. "Coaching Stock". Eden Valley Railway Society. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  8. "Wagons and Vans". Eden Valley Railway Society. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
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