Alanko
Member
This came to mind when visiting the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway over half term. I'm sure they're doing their best, but it's not much of a day out. One trip there and back again on a fairly tatty DMU, and you've done it all.
Not one I'd ever heard of, but their Wikipedia page indicates that they have quite an impressive roster of diesels in working order.
I get disheartened when I see the list of locos at a preserved railway and it reads:
Steam loco 1 - boiler certificate set to expire in 2014
Steam loco 2 - stored out of use
Class 37 - stored out of use
Class 37 - awaiting restoration
Class 40 - awaiting overhaul, due back in service (three years ago)
Class 47 - on long term loan to another railway
What they do have working is a couple of boring wee diesel shunters, a Hunslet Austerity, and some mis-matched, faded mk1s. All the interesting stuff is dead and left to rot next to the tracks, or part of some wildly ambitious restoration attempt.