Train carriage gutted by fire restored to glory

The carriage has been fully restored after more than 15,000 hours work

A train carriage badly damaged by a fire in 2011 has been restored to its former glory and is back running on a Derbyshire heritage rail line.

The third class London, Midland and Scottish Railway carriage has been refurbished after more than 15,000 hours of work by volunteers at Wirksworth station.

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway chairman Neil Ferguson Lee said the fire had been caused by welding work.

"It was that repair work that caused something to smoulder. To see all that beautiful work suddenly turn, in a matter of minutes, to ashes was just heart-wrenching," he said.

Despite being badly damaged by fire in 2011 the train carriage is now back and running

Now the carriage has re-entered service on the heritage line between Wirksworth and Duffield, and will be used for a range of special events including afternoon teas, murder mysteries and Santa specials.

The work was carried out by volunteers from the London, Midland and Scottish Carriage Association (LMSCA).

Lead trustee David Tillet said: "This project is a true testament to the passion and resilience of our volunteers.

"They have faced every challenge with unwavering dedication and immense skill. This coach is a credit to them all and we can't wait for the public to see this beautiful piece of history back on the rails."

The carriage first arrived in Wirksworth in 2009. After the fire of 2011 major restoration work was mothballed until 2020 to allow funds to be gathered.

Tom Tait, commercial director at Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, said: "Everyone at the railway was devastated when the carriage was severely damaged by fire in 2011.

"To see the carriage back in service is a testament to the sheer hard work and dedication of the LMSCA, and we are sure that our passengers will share our delight to see such a meticulous restoration and to enjoy being on board such a fabulous carriage."

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Neil Ferguson-Lee is pleased the carriage is back in service

Janet Beckett, from Cromford, took a trip on the carriage with her husband Jeremy and her grandchildren.

She said: "It is absolutely fabulous. It [the restoration] has been done so beautifully and with so much care and attention to detail it is exquisite.

"I grew up with trains like this so it is lovely to be able to bring the grandchildren and explain that this is what trains looked like when I was a child."

The fire gutted the carriage back in 2011 but in the last five years volunteers have restored it