Station Project
Work began in earnest in the new year after planning consent had been given with the removal of the trees that were adjacent 
to the station. The trees were all felled and logged up in a day, the roots proving a little more stubborn. The roots were all 
dug out with the aid of a mini digger, along with the preparation work for the footings for the new access path retaining wall
and the new platform face. The ready mix concrete for the footings was laid last week and the next part of the project will see
the erection of the walls. The project has benefited from generous donations, much of the supply of construction materials
being donated by W.Birch and Sons of York

             



Locomotives and Rolling Stock
Churchill - Work has continued on the overhaul, with many parts now ready or being refitted. 

Jim - Work has started on the removal of some parts of the bodywork for cosmetic repair as part of the larger job to see the 
loco return to operational condition.

Pluto - This loco has had its vacuum exhauster fitted, tested, and has worked it's first passenger services over the DVLR on
Sunday 8th April. Sadly the loco failed to start last Sunday (15th) and diagnosis and repair are outstanding.

  


Sylvia - The interior has been fully completed, and is now awaiting a repaint before going to the National Railway Museum for
their Railfest event

North Eastern Coach - Work has begun on restoration of the wooden body. This has been helped by the donation of scaffolding
that has allowed us to build a temporary shed around the coach. This still requires cladding to keep the weather out, but
is intended so that we can attempt to restore the vehicle to a much higher standard.

Wickham Trolley - The engine has also been overhauled and will soon be refitted. Overhaul work on the body continues.

Vital Rail
We have been approached by, and agreed to form a partnership with Vital Rail to establish a training school to offer 
apprentiships to 16-19 year olds. This follows on from similar partnerships Vital Rail have formed with other preserved
railways around the country. They will be advertising locally for interested people to join a six month training programme 
tailored to suit railway maintenance with a view to offering full time work on contracts within the rail industry.

Santa Specials
We operated our usual Santa Special event throughout December, which proved to be another popular year. All services were
diesel hauled, and all locomotives behaved faultlessly. The absence of any real cold or snowy weather this year helped make
operating the trains much easier, especially getting the engines started.

2012 Winter Projects
We have been granted planning permission for the station project where we are constructing a new public entrance/access to the 
staion area and the extension of the platform by the removal of the ramp at the western end of the platform. This will also include
the extension of the siding up to the station area and the creation of a cattle dock area in typical DVLR style. Some work had already
started on this project, scroll down to see the pictures. More updates will be given here as the work proceeds.

Locomotives & Rolling Stock
Churchill - Work on the engine overhaul is moving forward, with the engine totally stripped, the heads have been overhauled, new 
valves and gaskets obtained. The engine will be rebuilt over the next couple of months and once back working, attention will be 
given to finding the fault in the gearbox.

03079 - Work this winter will include the replacement of a leaking oil seal on the gearbox.

Sylvia - Revonation of the interior is almost complete. The seating requires cleaning and fitting, and a new roof sheet is in place ready
to be fitted when better weather arrives. Sylvia will be going to the National Railway Museum for the Railfest event in June 2012, so 
work needs to be complete by then, including a full repaint.

The York Press 
We have recently featured in the York Press with a full page article. Follow this link to read!

Work has been continuing apace, and preparations are being made now for our popular Santa Special event. 

The new access path to the station is still underway, with the bridge over the land drain now complete. Work will begin in earnest in
the new year to get the project completed as soon as possible.

Locomotives & Rolling Stock
We currently have 5 diesel locomotives available for traffic, D9523, 03079, British Sugar York, 97088 and Pluto. All locos
will be in use at the Santa Specials. We will not be able to offer steam this year as Barclay No8 is still undergoing repairs but we
are hopeful of a return to service during 2012. Churchill has had its engine stripped down for assessment, and repairs are to 
begin soon.

Sylvia is in the process of having a new roof sheet fitted to stop the leaks, the internal refurbishment is almost complete with
the new anti-slip flooring been fitted. All seating and tables are still to be refitted. No work has been done to the NER coach, 
which is in need of bodywork repairs. The Shell tank wagon is almost complete.

The Wickham trolley is also undergoing overhaul, and the JAP engine has been removed and dismantled, and is undergoing
repairs. The bodywork is being restored and repainted.

The locomotive situation has changed once again at Murton with the departure of ex-WD Drewry WD72229 which has been 
replaced by FC Hibberd Planet loco 'Pluto'. This is an exchange between two of Andrew Briddon's locos. Pluto is vac fitted
but does require some work to finish the system before the loco can be used on its own on passenger trains. The loco can be 
viewed by clicking on the picture below. The loco exchange took place on Friday 29th July.

OTHER LOCOMOTIVE NEWS:

D9523 is currently undergoing work to solve long standing coolant leak problem and is expected to be back in traffic soon.

03079 is fully operational

British Sugar York is fully operational

97088 is fully operational

Churchill has started to recieve some work to its power unit and work is to begin soon on the gearbox problem

Jim has moved under its own power for the first time in over fifteen years. Mechanical works nearly complete, cosmetic
restoration will begin soon

No 8 work is continuing on its running gear/axleboxes. 

The project to enhance the entrance to the station is continuing at a steady pace, with the abutments built for the new bridge
over the land drain, and much of the fencing having been erected. The larger part of the project is to extend the platform height
so that it is full height to the end of the current ramp, so that we can accomodate the Mk1 coach in the platform much easier.

Click on the photos to enlarge

      

The third picture shows the current platform, and how much the usable length could be increased by the removal of the ramp.
The ramp is currently the only access we have to the platform.


Mk1 E3805 Repaint

The Mk1 coach that we have on loan from the North Yorkshire Moors railway has been repainted (currently on one side only!) from
its shabby blood and custard livery to all over maroon. This has smartened the appearance greatly, and will ensure the coach is
in good kept protected and in a smart condition.

      

The other side of the coach will be painted in due course.


'British Sugar York' (Ruston & Hornsby DS165) back in service

Ruston & Horsby DS165 'British Sugar York' has returned to service after a much needed engine overhaul. The locomotive has yet to
prove its reliability (poor reliability is something it has always suffered from) but its return to service means we are now up to back
up to strength with 4 diesel locomotives available for traffic.











Shell Tank Wagon Repaint

Another project that has been on the go for a while now is the repaint and restoration of our Shell BP Tank by its new owner. Much 
of the woodwork has been or is in the process of being replaced with new, and repaint into the Shell Yellow colour scheme is 
underway.

D9523 was used for the first time in passenger service on the afternoon of Sunday the 24th April, alternating services with 03079.
YouTube footage can be seen here:





D9523 will be in service again this Sunday (1st May) on the same timetable, alternating services with 03079. 
Usual disclaimers apply.

Class 14, D9523 arrived at Murton today having being purchased by two members of our society. The arrival of the class 14 makes the 
first arrival of an ex-BR locomotive at Murton since the arrival of 03079. The loco which was previously at the Nene Valley Railway,
along with D9516, which has since moved to the Wensleydale Railway. Click on the photos for a larger image.

		

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

This is a new page designed to let you know what is going on at the Derwent Valley Light Railway.

Current projects include extending a siding to eventually create a cattle dock, and the creation of a new entrance to the station area. 
Completed so far is the fencing in the paddock, and we are now in the stages of constructing a bridge over the land drain to allow access 
to a new footpath which is to be built up to the station. Pictures below show the work completed this winter. 
Click on the picture for enlargement

	

Work continues on the overhaul of our Ruston DS165 (British Sugar York). The loco is not yet ready for service as problems keep arising. 
Here is video footage of the loco undergoing a recent test run.





Work is also been taking place on the renovation of 'Sylvia', our four wheeled observation car. The carriage suffered water ingress which 
damaged the interior paneling. This has all been replaced and it is hoped this coach will be back in traffic this year.

The latest item of rolling stock to arrive at Murton is a Wickham Trolley. This has been loaned to us by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, 
and is owned by the NYMR York Group. A photograph of its arrival is here.



Work on Barclay No8 continues, but it is unlikely that the loco will be in steam this summer. We are always interested in hearing from 
steam locomotive owners who would like a railway to operate their locomotive on. Please contact us

The extension of the yard headshunt into the paddock adjacent to the station has taken place. We are now awaiting planning permission 
to remove the trees and this will allow the siding to be extended to the station to allow the future construction of a cattle dock. 
See above for pictures.