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 - 07/06/01.....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.