Midland Railway Centre Butterley

5580 / 31162 – Midland Railway Centre Butterley

31162 arrived at the Midland Railway Centre following tyre-turning at Toton on Friday 14th January 1994 , and thus commenced our association with this major railway site , see 31162 Preservation Story . The line itself is part of the Ambergate – Pye Bridge section of the Midland Railway however all that remains is the 3 1/4 miles section between Codnor Pk Jct and Hammersmith.The line is still connected to the national network at Codnor Pk ( Ironville ) and along the route there are 3 stations…..Swanwick Jct , Butterley and Hammersmith. Unfortunately there is no station at Ironville , therefore trains terminate in the loop there , run-round and head back up to Swanwick. Whilst the line is short , there is a reasonable climb from Ironville to Swanwick Jct where the railway’s engineering workshops and Museum are located.The facilities at Swanwick are incredible ie 5 Cranes with lifting capacity ranging from 4 tons – 76 tons , 3 pit roads , 2 road undercover shed , fully kitted Workshop and lifting Jacks. As well as all this , the long awaited diesel ‘storage’ shed is also now complete . There is no doubt that without these facilities , together with the assistance from key MRC volunteers / employees the major restoration of 31108 , 31162 , 31271 and currently 31418 would not have been possible.

The railway operates trains on most days however nowadays , there are few turns given to the diesel locomotives of which there are 19 mainline locos based on the line. Not all of these however are in service and some ( including A1A’s fleet ) are on loan to other railways.Throughout the year the diesel fleet operates a handful of Diesel & Steam Weekends along with 2 Diesel Galas and other special events. All the Diesel loco owner groups are members of the Midland Diesel Group and bi – monthly meetings are held . The Midland Railway – Butterley’s website can be found at www.midlandrailwaycentre.co.uk .

31162 pauses in Golden Valley for a photo-stop during the Shareholders day..30/04/94.

31162 paired with 46045 at Swanwick with a Hammersmith train . Diesel Gala..23/07/94.

31162 engaged in some carriage shunting at Butterley ….23/07/94.

5580 crosses Butterley Reservoir with a Hammersmith bound train..12/10/97 photo M Skidmore.

31162 departs Butterley dragging the Class 114 DMU. 5580 approaches Swanwick from Riddings..04/04/98

18/05/95

5580 awaits ‘the tip’ from Riddings . Diesel Gala ..20/09/97.

5580 paired with 25321 await departure from Butterley with a Riddings service which includes the through steam piped milk tanker..10/02/01.

5580 (31162) with 31163 , 31166 & 31188 at Riddings awaiting departure during the ‘Goyle Gala’..16/09/00.

photo D Cross

Another photo-stop in Golden Valley during the Class 31 40th anniversary specials..13/11/97.

MRB OPERATING DATES FOR 5580 / 31162.

  1. A1A Group members only special , first run of 31162 – 30/04/94…..4 trips.
  2. Diesel Gala – 23/0794 – 24/07/94.
  3. Diesel Gala – 18/03/95 – 19/03/95.
  4. DMU Drag – 18/05/95……5 trips.
  5. Diesel & Steam Weekend – 17/06/95 – 18/06/95……4 trips Saturday , 5 trips Sunday.
  6. Diesel Gala – 21/07/95 – 23/07/95.
  7. Diesel & Steam Day – 17/09/95……5 trips.
  8. Diesel Gala – 14/10/95 – 15/10/95.
  9. Diesel Gala – 20/09/97 – 21/09/97 ( 5580’s inaugural runs following overhaul).
  10. Diesel & Steam Weekend – 11/10/97 – 12/10/97……2 trips Saturday , 5 trips Sunday.
  11. Fireworks shuttles – 01/11/97…..14 trips Swanwick – Butterley Top and Tail.
  12. A1A Locos Ltd members only Class 31 40th anniversary specials – 13/11/97…..6 trips
  13. Diesel Gala – 28/03/98 – 29/03/98.
  14. A1A Locos Ltd AGM specials – 04/04/98.
  15. Diesel & Steam Weekend – 16/05/98 – 17/05/98…..3 trips Saturday , 5 trips Sunday.
  16. Diesel Gala – 12/09/98 – 13/09/98.
  17. Halloween Night shuttles – 31/10/98…..13 trips Swanwick – Butterley Top and Tail.
  18. Fireworks shuttles – 07/11/98……17 trips Swanwick – Butterley Top and Tail.
  19. Steam Heat Weekend – 06/02/99 – 07/02/99 …..4 trips ( 5580’s inaugural runs with Boiler)……Steam Heat provided.
  20. Thomas Event – 06/03/99 – 07/03/99…..5 trips……Steam Heat provided.
  21. Steam Loco failure – 21/03/99……4 trips…..Steam Heat provided.
  22. Diesel Gala – 27/03/99 – 28/03/99……Steam Heat provided.
  23. A1A Locos Ltd AGM specials – 17/04/99…..Steam Heat provided.
  24. Class 50 Crew shortage – 24/04/99…..5 trips…..Steam Heat provided.
  25. Diesel Gala – 26/06/99 – 27/06/99.
  26. Diesel Gala – 18/09/99 – 19/09/99.
  27. Pennine Railway Society Charter – 09/10/99…..2 trips Steam Heat provided.
  28. Fireworks shuttles – 06/11/99…..15 trips Swanwick – Butterley Top and Tail.
  29. Steaming Day – 21/11/99…..5 trips…..Steam Heat provided.
  30. Steam Locomotive failure – 05/12/99…..2 trips….Steam Heat provided.
  31. Goyle Gala – 16/09/00 – 17/09/00 ….( 5580 ( 31162 ) , 31163 , 31166 & 31188 in use all weekend ).
  32. Running Day – 08/10/00…..5 trips ( running in multiple with 31108 ).
  33. Fireworks shuttles – 04/11/00…..15 trips Swanwick – Butterley Top and Tail.
  34. Shareholder’s Birthday Charter – 17/01/01….10 trips Top and Tail with 31163…..Steam Heat provided.
  35. Running Weekend – 20/01/01 – 21/01/01….4 trips….Steam Heat provided.
  36. Running Weekend – 10/02/01 – 11/02/01..4 trips..( 1st in tandem & rest in multiple with 25321 )..Steam Heat provided.
  37. Thomas Event – 03/03/01 – 04/03/01….5 trips…( in tandem with 25321 on final 2 trips,low fuel on 5580 ).
  38. Diesel Gala – 31/03/01 – 01/04/01.
  39. A1A Locos Ltd AGM specials – 09/06/01 …( shared with 31108 ).
  40. Diesel Gala – 23/06/01 – 24/06/01…( 1 trip in multi with 31108 each day ).
  41. Diesel & Steam Weekend – 06/10/01 – 07/10/01…..2 trips Saturday , 7 trips Sunday….Steam Heat provided.
  42. Fireworks shuttles – 03/11/01…..15 trips Swanwick – Butterley Top and Tail.
  43. A1A Locos Ltd AGM specials – 20/04/02…..( shared with 31271 making debut ).
  44. Round trip following an exam – 12/05/02.