Railway Restoration Team Wins National Award

Class 119 vehicle W51073 as it emerges from the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway’s restoration

A team of volunteers from the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway has won the prestigious Railcar of the year award for their work in restoring a rare class 119 Diesel Multiple Unit. Diesel railcar enthusiasts throughout the UK have bestowed the accolade on the team following an annual competition that has restorers from other heritage railways throughout the country entering the highly respected contest.

In November 2008 the small team of volunteers decided to take on the mammoth task of restoring the unit to its former glory. The unit was withdrawn from service in 1993 and was an empty shell when it arrived at the railway in 2006.

The project represents the first full restoration that has taken place at the railway. The skills and expertise of the restoration team have been further…