We are pleased to announce that Class 47 No. 47292 will be joining our fleet of diesel locomotives for an initial loan of 5 years. Due to arrive in the next few weeks, the locomotive will join 33102 and 33021. 47292 built as D1994 in 1966 at Crewe Works entered service on the 16th April that year. The locomotive retired from the main line on the 31st December 2003 and entered preservation on the 12th June 2007.
For the first time in several years, we have a scheduled diesel service which will operate on Saturdays in June, July & August. The 1030 service will operate a full round trip from Froghall to Ipstones diesel hauled. Long before coal supply problems came into being, we had decided this model of operation would benefit crew familiarisation, and also give a good opportunity for regular turns for our diesels.
As we progress our extension to Leek, regular diesel hauled service will once again return to the Churnet Valley Railway. We are actively engaged in building our own steam heat van to enable such operations to occur during the winter months, whilst also given us more flexibility when a steam locomotive fails.