IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Nether Lane, BELPER, DE56 4AP

Heading north.

Hazelwood Station on the Duffield to Wirksworth branch of the Midland Railway, now know as the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. The station closed in 1949 (after services were suspended in 1947) and lost its goods facilities in 1953. The station became a riding stables in 1963 and a timber business took over the premises c. 2002. During the 1970s, the platform was removed, probably in association with the renewal of a culvert under the track near the centre of the image. The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is scheduled to reopen for passenger services in October 2010. There is no firm date to reopen Hazelwood as an operational passenger station but there remains an objective to provide a halt at a point opposite the station buildings.

Our Driver Instructor, Richard Buckby, says, "This is the remains of Hazelwood station facing south. The Road/Rail Land Rover and yellow trolley are used by the 'Vegetation Clearance Team' or VCT. They are busy pruning trees and hedges on this stretch of line and also upgrading fencing and foot crossings. They used to be based at Shottle, but because Peak Oil occupy the buildings there and only work Monday - Friday office hours, road access is rather restricted. There is 24 hour road access here. EVR has a medium term plan to install a siding here." At Shottle, I was able to change over from riding the Class 20, to riding the brake van and took this photograph on it, as I travelled south to Duffield.

We are about to pass under Nether Lane road bridge. Unfortunately the brick arch is reflected across the 'drivers' face. This is the view you get of a Class 20 if you are fortunate enough to get a brake van ride from the front of one. Although I'm on the 'Drive A Diesel Train Experience', I opted to ride on the brake van from Shottle to Duffield. The other three 'drivers' can be seen seated in the cab, along with our Instructor who is standing at the rear. We have with us, Tom Tait and Richard Preedy - two railway volunteers and they are standing either side of my granddaughter at the front of the brake van and looking after her. Keeping warm inside the van is my wife and she is with the wife of one of the other 'drivers'. We are the first passengers to travel the line, for many years.

Opened in 1867 by the Midland Railway on the line from Derby to Wirksworth, this station closed to passengers in 1947 and completely in 1964. View south east at the station building from a passing Ecclesbourne Valley Railway train.

Heading east.

Closed to passengers in 1947. On the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (heritage line).

View NW, towards Wirksworth: ex-Midland Duffield - Wirksworth branch. This was before the line was acquired by the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, which since 8/4/2011 has restored a through service; but the track was still there in 1995 as it had been used by BR as a test track for DMUs until 1989. Freight services had run to Wirksworth until 1/4/1968, although passenger trains had ceased since 1/1/1949. Hazelwood station had been closed to passengers since 16/6/1947, to goods since 5/1/1953, Cf. Image