Prospective 2010 Operating Dates

2010-year-planner.pdf

MEMBERS DAY - NEW YEARS DAY 2010

We are starting off our 25th anniversary year with a Members Day.

This is an opportunity for our members, friends and family to have some fun, to catch up on progress and look forward to our special 25th anniversary year.

We also welcome any potential new members to see what it is all about and join in with all activities on the day.

All 5 of our currently operational locomotives will be running together with a variety of manriders and wagons.

If you simply fancy a ride on our unique line, we shall be please to accommodate you for a donation !

http://www.steeplegrange.co.uk/

07852 759588

Goodbye to 2009 – Looking forward to 2010 – our 25th Anniversary Year

As 2009 comes to a close…..

Sunday 13th December was the second day of our very successful Santa Specials weekend and our last passenger operating day of 2009. Despite the difficult financial times facing many, we have enjoyed sharing our unique narrow gauge railway throughout the year with our usual volume of visitors.

To all who have visited us, supported us and volunteered throughout 2009, our sincere thanks. We know that many of you come to see us time and time again and we are very grateful for your continuing support, comments and encouragement.

Again in 2009 we have striven to improve the railway, it’s environment and facilities. Our achievements have been very rewarding for all involved but doubly so when we hear that our efforts are acknowledged by our visitors and our local friends, many of whom see the railway on a daily basis!

This year we have completed the extension of the Branch Line, further extended the main line, erected a toilet and moved tons of material to expose the fascinating geological features alongside the railway and to improve the condition, tidiness and appearance of our structures and lineside. Our major project of the year has been the installation of our very own electricity supply, completed in December.

Looking forward to 2010…….

2010 is our 25th Anniversary and in addition to our usual events starting at Easter we are planning some special features to celebrate this milestone.
Having established agreements with the adjacent National Stone Centre and our neighbouring land owner, we shall continue to extend and improve the railway and the experience that we offer.
Whilst we consider ourselves to be a charitable enterprise, with all monies raised put back into the improvement of our heritage preservation and educational experience, we are not currently a ‘Registered Charity’ but plan to achieve this in 2010.
Having our own 3-phase electricity supply opens up the opportunity to become an energy producer as well as a consumer. With a good geographical location for both Wind and Solar energy, if we can attract suitable grants to assist, the prospects of even becoming a net producer is a real possibility, delivering global benefits and reducing operating costs. It is hoped that we can make a start with this ambitious project in 2010.
Serious consideration is being given to the planning and erection of a workshop and museum building. If this goes ahead it will be principally due to a generous donation from a regular SGLR benefactor.


All the good work done in 2009 is dedicated to our dear friend and regular member, Geoff, who has been battling with illness throughout the year and to other members, friends, supporters and visitors who are facing their own challenges. Our very best wishes for 2010 and we hope that a visit to SGLR will provide you with a treat in our 25th year.

SANTA SPECIAL EVENT 12th &13th DECEMBER 2009

We are again pleased to announce our Santa Specials. Take a unique train ride directly into Santa's Grotto.

Fares are £4.00 for children and £4.00 for adults. A family ticket costs £16.00 for 2 adults and 3 children.

Fares include the Santa Special Train Ride and the Elf Train Ride into Steeplehouse Quarry. A present from Santa for every child and refreshments for all.

Trains will operate from 11am to 4pm on both days. There is no need to book - This year we will be operating a boarding card system which will guarantee you a place on a specific train which will be identified by letter Train A, Train B....etc, thus eliminating the need to queue at busy times !

Download our poster here............

STEEPLEGRANGE2.pdf

Looking forward to seeing you

Thanks to all who have supported us in 2009 and we hope to see you all again in 2010, our 25th anniversary year!, to see further changes, extensions and improvements to our unique industrial narrow gauge railway and its fascinating surroundings with 330 million years of geology and hundreds of years of industrial archaeology.

ZM32 'Horwich' Operating Dates

In response to numerous requests for us to publicise specific dates when our famous little diesel locomotive will be operating our main passenger service, we are pleased to announce the following......

ZM32 will be operating as the main traction on the following dates....

Sunday 3rd May
Sunday 7th June
Sunday 5th July
Sunday 2nd August
Sunday 30th August
Sunday 6th September
Sunday 4th October

On Saturday 12th December and Sunday 13th December, ZM32 will act as a banking locomotive, assisting Greenbat up the incline on our popular Santa Specials.

We will endeavour to meet special requests to see ZM32 in action at other times.

ZM32 was built by Ruston and Hornsby of Lincoln in August 1957, an 18" gauge example of the 20hp LAT Class and worked for British Railways until 1966 when the internal narrow gauge network at the Horwich Works was finally abandoned.

Special Events 2009

( Normal opening times are 12.00 to 17.00 )

Easter: 10th-13th April
The Railway is open for 4 days from Good Friday to Easter Monday. It is hoped that our Railway in model form will be on display. All available locos and stock will be in use or on display.

Regular Sunday running from 19th April

Volunteer Day: 26th April
Come and join in some of the tasks involved in running the Railway. See behind the scenes. If you want to join in come prepared strong shoes and gloves will be useful. Parents MUST accompany any children at all times.

Railway Painting Competition:
Following the success of our train face-painting event last year we invite you to submit paintings or photographs of our railway over the coming months. All ages, single or in groups. Ask or send for details. See exhibition date below.

May Day Holiday: 2nd –4th May
A display in the Engine House of interest to all.

Spring Bank Holiday: 23rd-25th May
3 days of trains during Wirksworth Well Dressings.

Father’s Day: 21st June
Accompanied Fathers enjoy a free train ride and a chance to drive their own train!

Teddy Bears’ Picnic Weekend: 25-26 July
Start the school holidays with a visit to the Railway with your teddy bears. Free rides for under 12’s with their bears. Sale of bears new and old. Bears to be seen everywhere. Picnic with your bears and watch the trains

August Bank Holiday: 29th-1st September
Four days of trains for the last Bank Holiday

Railway Painting and Photograph Competition: 5th/6th & 12th/13th September:
Exhibition of your paintings and photographs of our Railway. Prizes for the best entries all ages both groups and individuals. Submit your entries by 15th August.

October:
The Railway will be open every Sunday and Saturday17th for Wirksworth Model Railway Exhibition.

Santa Specials: 12th –13th December
Our ever-popular weekend with Santa gets better each year!
Travel on the train right into Santa’s Grotto.
A present for the children and refreshments for all. Call for details from late November. No need to book: Just turn up and ride to see Santa in his Grotto. Real Value for Money at just £4.00 each. FAMILY TICKETS ALSO AVAILABLE

If finding us by a Sat-Nav System our Post Code is DE4 4LS

Operating Days & Events 2009

The normal operating times are from 12.00 to 17.00


Friday 10-Apr Good Friday
Saturday 11-Apr Easter Saturday
Sunday 12-Apr Easter Sunday
Monday 13-Apr Easter Monday
Sunday 19-Apr Regular Sunday Running commences
Sunday 26-Apr Volunteer Day
Saturday 02-May May Day Holiday weekend
Sunday 03-May May Day Holiday weekend
Monday 04-May May Day Holiday
Sunday 10-May Normal Services
Sunday 17-May Normal Services
Saturday 23-May Spring Bank Holiday weekend
Sunday 24-May Spring Bank Holiday weekend
Monday 25-May Spring Bank Holiday Monday
Sunday 31-May Normal Services
Sunday 07-Jun Normal Services
Sunday 14-Jun Normal Services
Sunday 21-Jun Fathers' Day
Sunday 28-Jun Normal Services
Saturday 04-Jul Regular weekend running commences
Sunday 05-Jul Normal Services
Saturday 11-Jul Normal Services
Sunday 12-Jul Normal Services
Saturday 18-Jul Normal Services
Sunday 19-Jul Normal Services
Saturday 25-Jul Teddy Bears' Picnic Weekend
Sunday 26-Jul Teddy Bears' Picnic Weekend
Saturday 01-Aug Normal Services
Sunday 02-Aug Normal Services
Saturday 08-Aug Normal Services
Sunday 09-Aug Normal Services
Saturday 15-Aug Normal Services
Sunday 16-Aug Normal Services
Saturday 22-Aug Normal Services
Sunday 23-Aug Normal Services
Saturday 29-Aug August Bank Holiday Weekend
Sunday 30-Aug August Bank Holiday Weekend
Monday 31-Aug August Bank Holiday Monday
Saturday 05-Sep Normal Services
Sunday 06-Sep Normal Services
Saturday 12-Sep Special Event Weekend - TBA
Sunday 13-Sep Special Event Weekend - TBA
Saturday 19-Sep Normal Services
Sunday 20-Sep Normal Services
Saturday 26-Sep Normal Services
Sunday 27-Sep Regular weekend running finishes
Sunday 04-Oct Normal Services
Sunday 11-Oct Normal Services
Saturday 17-Oct Wirksworth Model Railway Exhibition
Sunday 18-Oct Wirksworth Model Railway Exhibition
Sunday 25-Oct Regular Sunday Running finishes
Saturday 12-Dec Santa Special weekend
Sunday 13-Dec Santa Special weekend