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Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

February 05, 2014 03:36PM avatar
I was born in Derby, and lived my childhood years (until 8 years old) in a village nearby (Chellaston). We often went to the Manifold Valley on picnics, & walked along the old right-of-way (which was paved & became a "rail trail" long before there were such things). You will note if you look carefully that the river/stream they travel next to has no water - it was diverted to the next valley over (through a pipe/tunnel) to go into a dam, where it provided water for Derby & area. We picnicked in the steam-bed several times (I have photos).

Oddly enough, if I recall correctly, the headlights were never used, and were basically decorative. The engineer of the railway had an appreciation for the colonial railways, and ordered the engines & coaches with a colonial flair. The coaches even had open platforms, American style!

The "piggyback" you referred to are standard gauge wagons or box vans being delivered to various dairies & stations along the line, which had isolated standard gauge sidings (note that the conductor & brakemen had to push the wagons on & off!). As they push the van off the siding onto the wagon, note the standard gauge covered (tarped) open wagon already on a narrow gauge wagon to the left. Also note the wagons filled with milk cans from various stops for delivery to the dairies. If you look carefully & pause the video @ 3:35 (during the "high speed" section, almost at the end), you will see one such siding on the left at a station, where the narrow gauge dead-ends at the standard gauge siding. Also note that the wagon they are shooting over is actually one of the "transporter wagons" (as they were called) that carried one of the standard gauge cars.

Here is a site with photos & more info:
[www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk]
If you click on the photos under the tile, you will see the stations at the beginning (Waterhouses) and end (Hulme End) of the line, plus the locos & a coach. The Hulme End station is still there, along with some other buildings. The "next page" link will take you to a lot of information, maps, photos, surviving buildings, & even modeling info. Enjoy!!!
Subject Author Posted

Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

BillD February 05, 2014 02:28PM

Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

Chris Walker February 05, 2014 02:45PM

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Johnson Barr February 05, 2014 02:53PM

Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

Dave Peterson February 05, 2014 03:00PM

Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

BillD February 05, 2014 03:36PM

Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

Phil Raynes February 05, 2014 03:36PM

Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

Brack February 07, 2014 04:45PM

Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

snowtownbob February 08, 2014 01:12AM

Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

Eugene Blabey February 08, 2014 05:08PM

Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

bcp February 08, 2014 05:33PM

Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

Chris Walker February 08, 2014 10:24PM

Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

Don Newing February 09, 2014 03:11AM

Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway Attachments

jameswaite February 10, 2014 09:21AM

Re: Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway

Gavin Hamilton February 11, 2014 03:22AM



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