The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway and museum complex at Butterley, near Ripley, in Derbyshire, England.
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 and gateway to the Swanwick Junction site. 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 (no. BG 80590), 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:
+Butterley Park Miniature Railway Stock0Number and nameDescriptionCurrent statusLivery15801GWR 5800 Class "5" ReplicaOperationalGWR Green270038 "Robin Hood"BR Standard Class 7 "5" ReplicaOperationalBR Lined Green3"Lion""Lion" 0-4-2 ReplicaOperationalGreen
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 (late July-early September) Halloween Events Firework Night Santa Specials (late November until Christmas Eve).
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 (BR) 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.
Steam locomotives Number and name Description History Current status Livery Owner(s) Year built PhotographNo. 1163 "Whitehead"Peckett Built in 1908, "Whitehead" was used in the major Welsh industries. On withdrawal, it was purchased by the Great Western Society and moved to the West Somerset Railway. Arrived at the Midland Railway – Butterley in July 1999.Under repairUnlined Brunswick Green with the BR crest.Private owner1908No. 3597 "Falmouth Docks No. 3"Hawthorn Leslie Under repair Lined GreenPrivate owner1926No. 47327(23)LMS Fowler Class 3F On display in the museum awaiting overhaul.Under repairS&DJR Prussian Blue.Derby City Council1926No. 47357 (16440) "Uncle Albert"LMS Class 3F JintyLast operated in 2004. Being reassembled at Swanwick, after work on the chassis at the East Lancashire Railway and the boiler at the North Norfolk Railway. Made first post overhaul moves in October 2023 with re-entry to service planned to take place in December 2023. Planned to be outshopped in maroon livery as 16440.OperationalLMS MaroonDerby City Council1926No. 47445LMS Class 3F JintyUnder major restoration with work currently focused on the frames off site at the East Lancashire Railway.Under repairN/ADerby City Council1927~No. 46203 "Princess Margaret Rose"LMS Class 8PCurrently on display in the West Shed, Stored.On static displayBR MaroonPrincess Royal Class Locomotive Trust1935No. 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland"LMS Coronation ClassCertified for main line running. Returned to service in September 2018 after an overhaul. Regularly used for rail tours. Operational LMS Crimson LakePrincess Royal Class Locomotive Trust.1938No. 3883 "Lord Phil"Hunslet Austerity Originally built for use with the War Department at Donnington. Based at Butterley since 2019. Boiler ticket expired in December 2021 and undergoing ten-yearly overhaul.Under repairLined GreenPrivate owner1943No.7214 "George"RSH from British Celanese Works at SpondonAt PRCLT West Shed.Under repairDark GreenMidland Railway Trust1945~No. 2111 "Lytham St Annes"Peckett At PRCLT West Shed.Under RepairLined BluePrivate owner1949No. 80080BR Class 4MT80080 worked on the old London, Tilbury and Southend Railway branches. Upon withdrawal, it was sent to Barry Island in the 1960s. 80080 was first sent to Peak Rail, along with 80098 also at Butterley, and they were moved to their current location in 1983. They were soon restored to work on main line railtours.On loan to the Ecclesbourne Valley RailwayBR Lined Black with early crest.Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust. 1954No. 80098BR Class 4MTBoth 80080 and 80098 shared similar histories during their services with BR, both worked on the old London, Tilbury and Southend Railway branches; they were later allocated to other sheds and later sent to Barry in the 1960s. Its boiler ticket expired in late 2009 and it quickly moved into the workshop.Under overhaulBR Lined Black with late crest.Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust. 1954No. 7817 "Castle Donington Power Station No. 1"RSH One of the last steam locomotives in regular industrial use in Great Britain. Stored, awaiting overhaul.Dark Blue.Midland Railway Trust.1954No. 73129BR Standard Class 5On display in the Exhibition Hall at Swanwick Junction, awaiting major overhaul.Under repairBR lined Black with the early crest.Derby City Council1956
Static or dismantled Number & Name Description History & Current Status Livery Owner Date PhotographBrown Bailey No. 4Nasmyth, Wilson and Company Permanently plinthed outside gates at Swanwick Junction. Previously was the trust-created character "Oswald the Talking Engine"Light BlueMidland Railway Trust1894No. 47564LMS Class 3F Jinty Stored, dismantled.BR BlackDerby City Council1928~
Diesel and electric locomotives
Number and name Description Current status Livery Owner Photograph"Andy" 16038Fowler 0-4-0DMUnder restoration, possible conversion to diesel hydraulic.Railfreight Grey (coal sector) Private Owner"Albert/Emfour 9" D1114Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 ShunterUndergoing restoration back to operational use.GreenMidland Railway TrustNo. 416 "Needlesnoot"Andrew Barclay