Passengers on the Churnet Valley Railway are in for a rare treat when the heritage attraction runs Enthusiast Specials on four days later this month.
The special trains will offer the chance to travel along the line south of Froghall to Oakamoor as well as making a return trip to Cauldon Lowe, a 30-mile journey in total. The CVR’s resident heritage Dieseul Multiple Unit (DMU) will be used for the excursions offering unrestricted views of the line.
The excusions will be operated over two weekends, Saturday & Sunday May 19 & 20, and May 26 & 27, with the special trains departing Kingsley & Froghall Station at either 10:10or 13:25 each day.
CVR Chairman Anthony Hancock said the excursions were being organised to give shareholders and visitors the chance to experience the full extent of the Railway’s current track. “Our services normally terminate at Kingsley & Froghall although the track continues down the valley towards Oakamoor. This is a very rare opportunity to enjoy quite a secluded part of the Churnet Valley – very few people have seen that section of the track and certainly not travelled along it.”
After Oakamoor section, the excursions will head up through the Churnet Valley to Leekbrook and then join the recently restored Cauldon branch to take the comparatively steep incline onto moorland towards Ipstones and finally Cauldon Lowe.
“It will be the longest round-trip the Railway has offered and a taster for even bigger things to come in the future,” Mr Hancock added.
Churnet Valley Railway’s normal passenger timetable will also operate over both weekends, including stops at Consall and Cheddleton Stations.
Ticket prices for the special excursions are adults £20, children £12 (no concessions.