Midland Railway Butterley

I sent Geoff a photo of a signal box from Butterley through the week and this was this weeks destination. When i set off this morning at 06:50 the temperature gauge in my car read 11 degrees, for January that's just incredible. A quick chat before we set off and Butterley was decided. It was still quite dark when we got to the car park there and no one about. We walked along the platform crossed the tracks and did a few pics with Geoff at the signal box. He's been in that box when it was in the original location when it was operational. We just wandered along the footpath which was very muddy in places. We ended up at Swanwick Junction and had a good wander around and ended up at the West Shed checking out the Duchess of Sutherland. We had breakfast there and then we were invited into the shed to have a look inside. Some great stuff going on in there and some very historic engines and carriages. Carriage 45000 was used in 1944 by Churchill and other leaders to plan the D Day landings, Geoff gave a donation for our look around. We came out of the shed and retraced our steps back to the car park.

Butterley Railway Station

Geoff on the signal box

There used to be millions of these.

Geoff in the mud

Carriages need a bit of TLC

Abandoned wheels and axles

We don't know what the wire was for, anyone know?

Swanwick Junction signal box

Tin chapel

Massive diesel engine

The Duchess of Sutherland with 2 of the volunteer workers.

Geoff, Rob & Ike

Geoff

Royal Carriage 45000 was thought to be the used where Churchill and other VIP's made decisions about the D Day Landings 

More mud on the way back

This is only 20 minutes drive for us just the other side of Ripley and the walk itself was only under 3 miles but very enjoyable. Its a very large and historic complex and well worth a visit.

See you next week