The day after our Derby to Whitby 'Second Bite' railtour (not coincidental), 26 members met up at the fairly new Ashover Light Railway (ALR). They are now based at Peak Rail's Rowsley (very) South Terminus. Demonstrating the popularity of our Minor Railway fixtures, the day fully booked very quickly and we were honoured by the presence of Mr Minor Railways himself - Peter Scott. As a result, there are updated track plans of both railways on http://bit.ly/3nQQlk2 Peter's website, including the route of the former Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway, closed in 2014 and lifted, as well as the relationship to Peak Rail.

Arrival was mostly by car for the 10.00 start. However, for those who rely on other forms of transport, there was a conveniently timed Trent Barton 6.1 bus service which passed the main entrance soon after 09.30. This left Derby at 08.05 and carried at least three members (including myself, who had an even earlier start 'on the buses' leaving Nottingham at 06.33!) After the obligatory hot drinks and bacon rolls etc from the van in the car park, it was over to our locally based fixture organiser, Neil Lewis, who led us across to the ALR headquarters, located almost adjacent to the Peak Rail workshops.

Their band of volunteers was ready and waiting with the train, a fully enclosed substantial coach 'top & tailed' by diesel hydraulic loco 'Linby' and battery electric 'Spondon'. We split into two groups for the main line run on this 2ft gauge line. Boarding was by a set of steps adjacent to the main shed complex. There is no platform yet and the railway had only run for the public on one day previously. The group has progressed well in laying an extension from their previous limit and we reached almost to the end of the current line, near the site of the original Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway, set up many years ago. A triangle has been partly laid out this end and ballasted, to replicate the original layout of the Ashover Light Railway at its Ashover Butts terminus. The second main line run was rather eventful.

Then it was on to the rarer track elements of the morning! Using the locos and coach, the headshunt was successfully 'Red Penned', as was the main shed through road up to the stabled wagons beyond. After this, a rather worn looking wooden flatbed truck (ex MoD?) was commandeered, as were willing volunteers to push/pull it! It was then loaded with perhaps ten grown men securely and safely sitting/ standing/crouching on it! Everyone in our merry party survived to tell the tale and, more importantly, to claim the two other stabling sidings beyond the main shed (again, as far as possible, given the stock stabled there), the crossover between two of them and the short spur up to two containers as far as the doors. In an excellent display of cooperation and foresight, the ALR sales stand which, until then, had been set up on another flat wagon occupying the approach road to the dead end shed road, was moved enough to allow us to traverse this and claim almost 100% coverage of available track!

Another excellent and enjoyable fixture came to a close, in bright and warm early spring weather to boot! Thanks were extended to the volunteers here, who clearly had a lot more on their (fish) plate to deal with today than usual in more ways than one (!). Most of the participants then moved on, by car and car sharing (although there was a bus available that, by pure chance, was timed perfectly!) to...

The 18'' gauge Steeple Grange Light Railway (MR p15) just north of Wirksworth. Again, a new track plan is available on Peter Scott's website. On arrival, we were greeted with the usual offering of 'teas, coffees, light refreshments...' before riding began, using a variety of engines including Battery Electrics Nos16, 17 & 18, named 'Peggy', 'Linda' and 'Hazel' respectively. As well as this, pride of the fleet ZM32 'Horwich' was also employed during the afternoon's proceedings. To start, shuttles ran down the 150yd Steeplehouse Quarry Branch from its dedicated platform at Steeplehouse station, using the fully open 4-seat manriders. On their return our trips reversed in the dead end platform (as you do!), covered the two shed roads to the doors and the crossover. Next up was the headshunt to just past the gates, stopping a little short of the very end of the line, which was nearly on the trackbed of the spectacular Cromford & High Peak Railway (towards Cromford). This attracted much attention from passing 'Normals' out walking and cycling on it this reasonably sunny afternoon. Importantly, we covered the connection (used by ECS and not by 'Normals') between the two separate public runs.

With this all achieved, the trains were re-marshalled into two 'standard' main line formations. In two groups (one on each train), we headed up (it was steeply graded) the main passenger line, now with a public run of 780yds - although it seemed rather longer. First stop on the way was at Dark Lane Quarry (short of the former terminus of Killer's Dale Halt, now out of use with platform and run round loop removed). Here we had a brief stop while the large shed was opened to allow brief viewing of the stabled stock etc and to let our train shunt part way inside on the left most road, facing the end of line.

Continuing onward up the 1:28 (occasionally 1:14) incline, one train at a time did the section beyond Lawson's Loop to Middleton by Wirksworth, to use its full name, terminus. They passed each other in the loop and movements were made to ensure that everyone did both sides and had directionality here! After Sandy Lane Level Crossing (flagmen operated), passing through woods on a slope, the simple terminus at Middleton is reached. Traversal of the short Shed Road there wasn't possible. Those interested in doing the extremity without a loco in the way should do a normal passenger run as the coach is propelled right to the end of line (where there is no run round loop) and hauled back.

All that was left was to return down the hill, reconvene and conclude the fixture slightly early. For your reporter, it was then a case of accepting a lift into Derby, thanks to Tom Gilby, a train to Leicester and two buses home to Daventry, reached by 20.30. Making use of the daylight, your BLN Editor and GS walked 3 miles of Cromford & High Peak trackbed (thoroughly recommended) from Longcliffe (to see if the newly installed underbridge there had opened yet - it had) to Minnginglow Car Park and back.

All in all, a great day out. Thanks to the ALR and SGLR volunteers who went above and beyond, to our organiser Neil Lewis for all the background legwork in the first place, to Tom Gilby for the fairly short notice lift and to the members who attended and made it a genuinely convivial atmosphere all day.