Fact . There was infact a Erewash Valley railway which was opened in 1847. I am looking into the history of the real line at the moment, but information is a bit thin on the ground , however I did find a auction site that had a smashing plate on, which sold for £1100 ! This also brings in the link with Stanton iron works which opened in 1845 and used the line at this time. The 16mm E.V.L.R. is nothing more than a about 12 foot square oval[if that makes sense], with a passing loop for a steam up area. Thankfully , membership of the 16mm association and Butterley garden railway gives us the chance to let loco's and stock stretch their legs on many different railways. [see Erewash valley stock visits to other railways for many pictures. http://ngon30.weebly.com/erewash-valley-on-tour.html ] Fiction. From the fictional side of things, the E.V.L.R. was formed for the same purpose, with a few add on's for fun and a reason for the freight traffic and there is no set time period, with the railway running as a sort of freight carrying preserved railway , with both steam and semi modern diesal loco's running side by side. The fictional route of the line is from Nottingham to Stanton. Starting your journey at a small station close to the town centre ,which has exchange sidings, the first station out is Basford , with conecting lines to Shipstones brewery and the nearby gas works. Nuthall is next, which is linked to the Stanton sand pits close by followed by Kimberley , with sidings for Kimberley brewery. The line then passes through Awsworth , the company headquaters and main loco shed , plus the Awsworth mining co's colliery. Ilkeston is the lines largest station, containing a small goods yard which is the main delivery point for all the beer ! The end of the line is Stanton iron works, which has a small halt for the workers, but is the main source of freight traffic both in and out.
Planing granted, construction begins !
August 2010. With the patio and planter built, i could make a small start on the first section of trackbed so that the first sections of track could be laid. The contractors temporary track is seen in place with a couple of big big train skips. The guttering has had a large number of holes drilled in it , so that the track should drain off ok.
Erewash valley stock visits to other railways
Click on the photo to the left to see photo,s of other garden railway's that the Erewash valley stock has visited. There are now over 600 photo's in the galleries on this page as of july 2011.
#1 "WILLI"
#1 "Willi" is a freelance vertical boilered loco, with a single oscillating side mounted cylinder and is a live steam engine. She is fitted with a vertical centre flue boiler which is fueled by gas and is convertable from 32mm gauge upto 45mm gauge. [O gauge to gauge 1] " Willi " was the first live steam loco that we have owned and was purchased through ebay and collected from Shrewsbury station in june 2010. On her first steaming at Butterley, all was not well, but after the purchase and fitting of a English style gas valve, the 2nd steaming session was perfect. She runs really well and has never failed to pull anything we have put behind her, and being a geared loco, can be set running without the fear of her running away down hills and will take hills at the same speed. In june 2011 she was loaned out to Bob Newton , manager of Newton light rly and whilst on loan was kindly fitted with a multi height coupling.
She has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly. Westfield light rly [Andrew Mitchell] Newton light rly [Bob Newton] Ashfields light rly [ Ian Shields ] Sherwood oaks light rly [ Matt Acton ]
No 2 "Lady Carol" is a Merlin Minstrel 0-4-0 st , named after my better half !. She was a ebay purchase in 2010. She is a very good steamer, but is a bit "flighty" on the regulator and takes a bit of time to get her set up right. On our very first outing with her to Butterley, she ran a treat on the first steaming, but on the second , we managed two high speed derailments , despite careful controlling. At this time, she is fitted with radio control [but not on the regulator] , but this is not working , so we are running her by hand. After suffering burnt fingers on the knurled wheel regulator whilst running on the Westfield light rly, she was taken into the Berry Hill works of Matt Acton[ http://www.wix.com/berryhillworks/16mm ] and was fitted with a new regulator and had her radio control re instaled, plus a repair to a gas pipe and was returned in time for the 16mm monthly meeting at Butterley in june 2011, where she was tested with sucess on the upper leval line, happily pulling a four coach train.
She has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly Westfield light rly [Andrew Mitchell ] Ashfields light rly [ Ian Shields ] Nedrag light rly [ Dale Gamble ]
no 3 Lady Helene
No 3 "Lady Helene " is a rare "Helene " 062t built by Roundhouse in about 1988-90 and is built using the Beck parts they aquired, but using Roundhouse cylinders and other parts. She was aquired in may/june 2011 from a advert placed in the Associationof16mmModellers yahoo group site by Paul Abbott ,General Manager of the Goginan & Glan Rheidol Light Railway http://www.flickr.com/photos/ggr_rly/ and group Secretary of the Salisbury & South Wilts area group. She was aquired at a very good price [ thanks again Paul ], requiring work and was missing her smokebox door and front lights. She was checked and test steamed at Butterley and had a few circuits around the line light engine, followed by a visit to Bob Newtons, where she was handed over to local expert , Matt Acton [ http://www.wix.com/berryhillworks/16mm ] for repair as and when he can fit her in. july 2011, after her first exam by Matt, it seems that the axle's are badly worn and need replacing, the problem with this is that the Beck wheels are prone to breakage when trying to remove them. Also most of the valve gear is badly worn and will require replacing. Roundhouse no longer have any Beck spares, so she is with Matt until something suitable comes up for her major rebuild.
Lady Helene has run on the following railways Butterley garden rly.
No 4 "Lady Margaret "
No 4."Lady Margaret" formely known as "Peter Sam" is a Accucraft Excelsior which is based on a Kerr Stuart Brazil class 0-4-2 saddle tank. She was aquired from Robert Ellis of Ipswich and ran on his Llandegai Quarry Railway,which is based on the Penrhyn Quarry Railway. She is fitted with radio control. Preserved examples can be found on the Whipsnade Zoo railway, Statfold Barn railway, and the Sittinbourne and Kemsley light railway. . http://www.pps-steam-models.co.uk/acc/excelsior.htm
She has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly. Westfield light rly [Andrew Mitchell] Newton light rly [Bob Newton] Ashfields light rly [ Ian Shields ]
No 5 "Spitfire"
No5 "Spitfire " is a Accucraft Edrig 040 tank loco[ like no 12 ] and was aquired in 2011 from Gordon Ennis and was formaly no 11 on his now closed CoombePark railway ,arriving with no 29 and the E.V.L.R,'S 2nd rake of three coaches [ the green rake ] rejoining Ford railbus no 41 . Coombe park modifications were to add a bunker and cab roof, deeper buffer beams and fit boiler ejectors and to name her "Spitfire ", a name she has retained on the E.V.L.R. The E.V.L.R. have added a Swiftsixteen safety valve cover and brass nameplates. Upon arrival she ran very well and did so for a number of steaming's, but got slowly worse, until she would hardly run at all. Matt Acton , yet again came to the rescue and after a visit to the works, http://www.wix.com/berryhillworks/16mm , she was returned , running perfectly after he had reset the timing.
She has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly. Newton light rly [Bob Newton]
No 11 "Andrew"
No 11 " Andrew " is a 040 tram loco and is battery powered . She/he was built in 2010 by W.Bramley engineering of Maidstone Kent and is works no 1. http://bramwood1.weebly.com/ She was built from plans drawn up by Bill himself from a single photo and is built using running gear from IP engineering. She is based on a 0-4-0 Tram Engine Built by Kitson & Co. Leeds in 1891 for the Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway and became their No.3. and was scrapped in 1928. . Named after her/his owner and was a present to Andrew , christmas 2010.
Andrew has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly. Westfield light rly [Andrew Mitchell] Newton light rly [Bob Newton]
12 " Stephanie "
No 12 "Stephanie" is a Accucraft Edrig 040 tank loco. She was purchased from Michael Leckenby and ran on his former railway , the" NHLR , the New Herrington light railway. [ http://www.mvlbridges.co.uk/ ] She was presented to Andrew , christmas 2010 and was his first steam loco.
Stephanie has run on the following railways Butterley garden rly. Westfield light rly [Andrew Mitchell] Newton light rly [Bob Newton] Ashfields light rly [ Ian Shields ] Nedrag light rly [ Dale Gamble ]
No 13 "Jess"
No 13 "Jess" is a Mike Chaney "Kitten". she is a meths fired 040 with oscillating cylinders and was purchased from Stoneleigh 2011 from Simon Whenmouth of Anything Narrow Gauge. A birthday present for Andrew in may 2011. She was already named " Jess " on purchase, which was quite nice, as my late grandad's name was Jess. When purchased , she was said to have a steam leak , but on bench testing , she ran like a dream. On track test, it was a different matter , she refused to go forward and was very poor when put in reverse. Thankfully , she was taken back to the Berry Hill works [ http://www.wix.com/berryhillworks/16mm ] and Matt sorted her very quickly, and she now runs like a dream, if a tad fast , and will pull four coaches on the upper line at Butterley.
Jess has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly. [un named line] [ Roger Coleman's ] Newton light rly [ Bob Newton ]
No 14 "Duke "
Currently in build in 2011 by W.Bramley engineering of Maidstone Kent and is works no 6. For delivery to Andrew christmas 2011 !
No 15 "Cyril"
No 15 "Cyril " is a battery 242t , based loosely on the sadly scrapped Lynton & Barnstaple "Lyn " which was built by Baldwin U.S.A. in 1898 and withdrawn and scrapped on the closure of the line in 1935. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyn_locomotive for details. She/he was built in 2010 by W.Bramley engineering of Maidstone Kent and is works no 2. http://bramwood1.weebly.com/ She was built from plans drawn up by Bill himself and is built using wheels from IP engineering , with the rest being scratchbuilt by Bill himself. She/he is fitted with a large powerful 12 volt motor , with speed control and is fully rechargeable. Named after my late father, also Andrew's middle name , this was the third engine he got for christmas 2010..
Cyril has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly Westfield light rly [Andrew Mitchell ]
No 16 "Billy"
No 16 "Billy" is a 040t made by Mamod and this one realy does run , honest ! She is Andrew's first locomotive purchase with his own money , which he has saved for with birthday money, etc. Purchased from the Butterley members sale stand at the annual exibition in july, she was put straight to work and hauled the 3 coaches around the top circuit without a problem. Modifications include a meths burner, water top up valve, regulator, inline lubricator, side tank overlays, cylinder covers, wooden buffer beams and a Mike Chaney chimney.
Billy has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly. Newton light rly [ Bob Newton ] Ashfields light rly [ Ian Shields ]
No 21 "Emma Lynn"
No 21 "Emma Lynn" is a battery powered freelance 040 with short side tanks. She was aquired in november 2010 from the now lifted Stalybridge & Mossley district railway company , which Incorporated the Friezland tramway which was a mining branch off the main line. See also 24 & 45.
Emma Lynn has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly
NO 22
NO 22 ..................... is a four wheel basic looking battery loco. The body has been scratch built from steel, and spot welded together. The chassis is an IP engineering unit, set up to power one axle . It runs on 2 AA batterys which sit under the bonnet and is fitted with a forward/off/reverse switch in the cab. . Multi-height couplings are fitted front and rear.
No 22 has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly
23 "PAUL"
No23 [formaly no10] "Paul" is a IP engineering Rapier 4w diesal loco kit , that was built by Bill Bramley, this being the first loco he built, which led to the construction of a number of scratchbuilt battery powered locos in both 16mm and O scale. Named "Paul", for 2 reason's , after Bill's son , and also Lincoln coast's Motor rail 3995.
Paul has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly
No 24 " Mossley "
No 24 "Mossley" is the 2nd engine purchased november 2010 from the Stalybridge & Mossley district railway . She is a 4w battery powered diesal loco and was named to remember her previous railway. See also 21 & 45.
Mossley has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly.
No 25
No 26
No 27
No 27 ............ a Ruston 040 diesal loco, battery powered from the Triang Big Big train range. Once the mainstay of garden railway battery engines, it is quite rare to see one running today.
No 27 has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly.
No 28 "Duncan"
No 28 " Duncan" .................. Aquired from the G.M.R. [ Graeme Monk's Railway ] in november 2010. On purchase she was regauged to 32mm , and had sadly suffered in the post, which has resulted in her having to be rebuilt and repainted.
NO 29 " Cymortin "
No 29 " Cwmorthin " is a powerful 4w battery powered diesal loco aquired in 2011 from Gordon Ennis and was formaly no 9 on his now closed CoombePark railway ,arriving with no 5 and the E.V.L.R,'S 2nd rake of three coaches [ the green rake ] rejoining Ford railbus no 41 . She is fitted with sound and a diesal horn. Despite her small size, she is still capable of pulling a fair load.
Cwmorthin has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly. Newton light rly [Bob Newton] Ashfields light rly [ Ian Shields ] Nedrag light rly [ Dale Gamble ]
NO 30 " Wolverhampton Wanderers "
No 30 "Wolverhampton Wanderers" built in 2011 by by W.Bramley engineering of Maidstone Kent and is works no 5. She is a freelance version of the Festiniog's " Vale of Festiniog " Funkey rebuild and came about after I had purchased a Locolines Funkey loco kit , which I sent down to Bill . He dismissed it straight away, as not being strong enough, compared to the chassis he was going to build for it, and redrew plans for his own version. The cabs were extended to fit in the motor , sound and radio control equipement.
She has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly. Newton light rly [Bob Newton]
No 31 "The Proffesor"
No31 " The Proffesor " is a Smalltown [?] battery powered model of a Alan Keef K12 loco , which was re imported back from the U.S.A, in 2011. She was previously owned by Professor Martin Ball, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Upon arrival she was only painted in grey primer , but after visiting the E.V.L.R. workshop, she emerged in two tone green livery and will be named " The Proffessor " after her former owner and carry U.S.A. & British flags.
The Proffesor has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly.
No 32 ruston
could be scrapped !
No 33 fendyke
No 33 ................... She has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly.
No 34 " Yvonne "
No 34 " Yvonne " is a Narrow gauge simplex loco scratch built using Brian Clarke cast parts, made over 20 years ago by Ian Roper of Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex and is battery powered . Prior to purchase by E.V.L.R. She has sat as a static model almost since completion.
She has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly.
No 41 Ford railbus
No 41 Ford railbus , aquired in 2010 and was the first item of stock purchased from Gordon Ennis and was formaly no 7 on his now closed CoombePark railway ,she has since been rejoined by no 5 and no 29 and the E.V.L.R,'S 2nd rake of three coaches [ the green rake ] .
She has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly.
No 42 " Lafayette "
No 42 "Lafayette" is a 4 wheel battery railbus made from a Smalltown [?] kit. She was previously owned by Professor Martin Ball, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After visiting the E.V.L.R. workshop, she emerged carrying U.S.A. & British flags. When the nameplates arrive , she will be named " Lafayette "
Lafayette has run on the following railways Butterley garden rly.
Railcar #43
NO 43 a Cambrian models railcar. A ready built model . battery powered , which is 8" long and 3" wide. This model was the first item of SM32 stock purchased.
She has run on the following railways. Butterley garden rly.
No 44
No 44 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
She has run on the following railways. Butterley garden railway.
No 45 "Grasshopper"
No 45 "Grasshopper " arrived in 2011 and is the 3rd item aquired from the now closed Stalybridge & Mossley district railway [see 21 & 24 ]. She is a battery powered railtruck and although a runner, she arrived minus bonnet and radiator, both of which will require attention, before she can be used by the permanent way dept. Apart from the required repairs, there is no plan to repaint her fully. Her name was given to her by the staff of the S.M.D.R.
No 46 "The Bubble " !
Project "JACK"
" JACK " is a project loco, which is a long term build, as time and money can be spent on her. What I am hoping for , is a freelance version of the Barclay 040t locos, like 1871 " Jack " , or 2207 " Dougal " . The project came about after the purchase of two boilers from ebay, one of which is a high pressure Dream steam boiler, fitted with regulator.. She will use the smokebox , frames , reverser and probably the wheels from Mamod no 00 , below. items purchased to date. Buffer beams and multi height couplers. Upgrade cylinders. Brass smokebox and cab handrails. Cylinder covers.
Despite stripping down, rebuilding , adding new parts etc, these mamods are just rubbish, maybe yours run great, but mine are 3 bags of crap. maybe one day I will have another go at getting one or more running, but at the moment they are all in one box , awaiting a "how far can you throw a mamod competion " !
No 00
Rebuilt, new parts added and still crap ! This one was to have been our Andrews first steam loco, but despite playing around with her for quite a while, adding new, or borrowing parts from other's, she would never run right. Was to have been named "Billy" , but the plates will go onto another loco one day. [plates now fitted to another Mamod ! , no 16 ] Thankfully we saw the light before christmas and got him a Edrig instead. August 2011, loco totaly stripped down , the frames and wheels are to be used in a project loco , of which parts are now being collected.
No 000
At least this one started out as rubbish, it still is and will remain in the reserve , when i get around to it box for some time to come.
The E.V.L.R. takes to the road.
As with all railways, the need to deliver and collect goods to and from the railway was needed. Also the movement of locomotives and stock was proving expensive, using hired in transport. It was decided by the board to purchase the required suitable vehicles , as and when they became available on the 2nd hand market. The first vehicle purchased was a .... chassis cab [triang] which will be refurbished and fitted with a new body. The second lorry purchased [but the first to arrive] is a Diamond T box van [Marx] , which requires attention to the back doors and a total repaint before entering service.
The third lorry is a Ford Thames Trader low loader [Triang] , which is used to transfer loco's and stock around the country.
IP engineering , excellent cheap entry level kits for garden railways. Also home builder parts , loco's 11 ,15 and 23 are all built with parts fom IP. http://www.ipengineering.co.uk/index.html
Butterley garden railway
click on the picture to the left to go to Butterley gallery page