Travelling in a Restored, Original Ashover Light Railway Coach

Today we're following up our Ashover Light Railway series by going to have a look at one of the very few original remaining coaches that were used on the line between 1925 and 1936. Coach number 4 has been beautifully restored by the Golden Valley Light Railway in Derbyshire and currently runs on selected dates. The Golden Valley Light Railway is within the grounds of the Butterley Midland Railway Centre at Swanwick Junction.
We visit on the heritage railway's Victorian Weekend Gala and have a ride on some vintage carriages. Spefically of interest is the LDECR original carriage, which is a line we have covered in the past. We set off from Butterley hauled by a steam locomotive and have a look around the shed and attractions at Swanwick Junction.
There were originally 4 passenger coaches on the Ashover Light Railway. These were built by the Gloucester Carriage and Wagon Company and entered service on the line in 1925. Passenger services ceased after 11 years in 1936 and the carriages thought they had seen their last days.
Number 4, which we see here today was initially put into storage at Clay Cross works. The other 3 carriages were less fortunate and used as storage and a canteen, later becoming stands at the companies sports ground.
One of the coaches was scrapped in 1960, a further two were rescued by the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway at Humberstone. These are still in service at the railways new home in Skegness.
We ride from the light railways Butterley Park station as far as Newlands, around a mile in length. Just above the eastern portal of the Butterley Tunnel of the Cromford Canal.
A quick mention for the steam engine pulling us today. O&K 7529, which has undergone extensive overhaul at the railway. Built in 1914 by Orenstein and Koppel of Germany, it spent most of its early life working in France, before arriving in the UK in 1967. It arrived here in 1995 and after 20 years of restoration, it was operational again in 2021.
Some videos of interest:
Ashover Light Railway P1 - • What Remains of the As...
Ashover Light Railway P2 - • What Remains of the As...
Ashover Light Railway P3 (Clay Cross) - • The Ashover Light Rail...
• Lost Derbyshire Railwa... - Butterley to Ambergate disused railway
• The Cromford Canal Dis... - Cromford Canal Disused Section from Ambergate to Butterley
• Abandoned Cromford Can... - DIsused Cromford Canal, Butterley eastwards
www.gvlr.org.uk...
www.midlandrai...
‪@goldenvalleylightrailway‬
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[@ALRS_Official]

Massive credit goes to Mr Barry Lynam and the rest of the GVLR team for the restoration and conservation efforts on that carriage. It has helped introduce countless people to the history of the Ashover Light Railway over the years since it was completed.

[@WobblyRunner]

Well said 👍 That reminds me, I've got to get back up to Rowsley to have a look around your project too.

[@ALRS_Official]

@@WobblyRunner We’re still slowly working away in the background, week by week. I’m sure one of our volunteers would be glad to give you a tour round once we’re all up and running!

[@nidgesmith797]

Fantastic video, big fan of the narrow gauge. When can we see you do a video of the miniature/ narrow guage railways of cleethorpes, there used to be 3. One remains in cleggy the others now in skeggy as you showed

[@WobblyRunner]

Oooh good shout on Cleethorpes. Couple of disused sections and deviations on there too. Incidentally, I did use to work on the CCLR in the summer when I was a teenager

[@nidgesmith797]

@@WobblyRunner used to camp at weekends there , bet it was you hanging off the horn handle as you went past the tents 1st thing in a morning 😂 . As for some of the locos and stock that used to be at Wonderland I believe it's now at Grimsby model engineering club track at Waltham windmill

[@chrischapman7514]

Great one again Paul.

[@boblovell5789]

You have this knack of personally connecting with the viewer. The style is relaxing as well as informative. My first 'visit' to this site. That tin chapel was a surprise! Keep up the good work.

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks ever so much for the kind words Bob. Glad you're enjoying them as much as I like making them. 👍

[@paulketchupwitheverything767]

Thanks for another excellent video. Was that an infamous Pacer in the background from 15:58 ?

[@WobblyRunner]

Sure was. They've got a collection of them. If you'd have told me 30 years ago people would be paying to ride them on heritage railways...

[@wideyxyz2271]

It's an amazing place I visited back in the late 80s, early 90s. It's on the site of the old Iron works.

[@WobblyRunner]

👍 huge area isn't it. Fascinating history.

[@martinmarsola6477]

A nice looking interior and exterior on the train. A mesmerizing experience for sure. Thanks for the ride this day. See you on the next, Paul! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Martin. See you on the next one

[@Living_Life_RN]

When the carriage was first restored, a ‘Restoration Diary’ was compiled from various articles in the ALRS and GVLR magazines which documented the process. As far as I know the GVLR still sells them. Well worth the read if you can pick one up.

[@WobblyRunner]

👍 nice one. I'll keep an eye out for one on my travels.

[@MalacdenValleyModels]

Great video Paul, really enjoyed this one. Good to see so many things have been saved from the scrap heap! The old main line carriages and coach number 4 look fantastic. Restoration done right ☺️👍 many thanks for sharing 👍

[@WobblyRunner]

👍 well said. A lot of love and effort on show.

[@andrewmaurerandrew6801]

Quality as always absolute legend top man 👍👍

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Andrew 😄

[@Carolb66]

Thanks for the memories Paul! ❤

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks Carol

[@DYLINGTONMODELRAILWAY]

They certainly made a great job of restoring it, another great video Paul.... cheers James 🙂👍

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers James 👍

[@gilesestram]

Id have had a ride with you if i was around that day as i went the whole hog on the previous 3 !....feel like im missing a chunk !

[@WobblyRunner]

I'd still like to have a proper look around Swanwick and that. I didn't even get time to nip into the diesel shed

[@gilesestram]

@@WobblyRunner Maybe if you come down ere next time we could rustle up a walk near there.

[@andreacoates5732]

Thanks

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks ever so much Andrea

[@maestromanification]

Great video Paul. That's a big coach for 2ft gauge, obviously not Welsh Highland big but still a fair size. Amazing 3 of them survived That Gloucester class100 dmu is a rare thing now. I think they are the sole surviving vehicles now , hope it gets a proper restoration soon

[@WobblyRunner]

Was that the green DMU with Llangollen?

[@maestromanification]

@@WobblyRunner I think it had Llangollen on the front. I remember driving the one that was painted like a sprinter when I learnt Tinsley in 89

[@Carolb66]

I'm sure I've been to Butterly Station years ago Paul.Those LDEC carraiges are lovely even 3rd class! It's so intersting from steam to diesel locos a trip back in time. The best one for me was the Ashover light railway carriage its been lovingly restored just beautiful. OMG I've just remembered I've had loads of trips on the other restored one at Humberstone it was a blue one! We would catch it with suitcases in tow down to our caravan site for our holidays! I've never knew it was from Ashover. This has made my day Paul. ❤🥰🚂🚃👍

[@WobblyRunner]

Hahaha it's a small world isnt is Carol. I remember going to Humbertsone in the 90s a lot, but I dont remember the railway. I need to get down to Skegness to see them. You know, I didnt even realise those were 3rd class untill I was editing the video. Far too comfy to be 3rd.

[@Carolb66]

@@WobblyRunner yes the railway had gone by then Paul. Nostslgic day today its 15yrs ago since I lost mum today so I'm in a reflective mood today! See you on the next one Paul. 🥰😍👍

[@WobblyRunner]

😞

[@Dilbert-o5k]

Is the pub at the bottom end still open? There is also an Interesting old canal tunnel at the botto end

[@James-pf5fw]

Sadly not, Newlands Inn was demolished and been replaced by housing. Canal tunnel's still there, though abandoned since early 20th Century due to subsidence.

[@Dilbert-o5k]

@@James-pf5fw thanks. Shame about the pub it was a bit of an attraction because there wasn't really much to do at the bottom end when I went. A long time ago mind you, so it might be Vegas 2.0 by now.

[@WobblyRunner]

Ooooh I've got a video on the canal. I did nip down to the portal but the train was going straight back

[@johnhopkinson4096]

My parents actuually travelled on the ALR from Clay Cross to Asover maybe even in this carraige in the mid 1930s. I can just remember the ALR trains at Ashover the Baldwin Locomotive puffing up the track, just before the track was closed. Keep up the good work

[@WobblyRunner]

Great stuff John 👍 thanks for sharing the memories. It makes all the history relatable 😊