Successful Train Pull at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

Successful Train Pull at the

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

A team of volunteers from Derby’s Network Rail Branch successfully undertook a train pull challenge in aid of Sport Relief at Wirksworth Station.

The team of 28 participants hauled 27 tonne ‘Iris the Railcar’ for approximately 500 yards uphill into Wirksworth Station to the cheers of a packed platform of well wishers.

The event was the brainchild of Michael Nicholl from Derby, who started planning last year for the train pull attempt after watching a plane pull effort at Gatwick Airport. Michael contacted the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for their help in hosting the challenge and it was fitting that that a Derby built DMU was chosen for the challenge.

Tom Tait the Railway’s Commercial Manager commented, “We were very happy to host this special event and congratulate the Network Rail Team in successfully completing the train pull which took a tremendous effort.”

The spotlight will be upon ‘Iris’ again in the near future with plans in place for her to be exhibited at Derby as part of the ‘Celebrating 175 Years of Derbyshire Railways’ events scheduled for September this year.