Train Graveyard

The Midland Station, Butterley seems, on first entering, the sort of place that anorak-clad train spotters, clutching notebooks and a thermos of tea might get excited over - and in part, it is. However, if you venture down a path alongside the museum, you come to the "train graveyard" which was the part that interested me and would probably send the anoraks into mild hysteria at the sight of the rusting, rotting locomotives and carriages! I came here with a train spotting photography pal. He was in his element in this part . . .

 

 

It's like stepping back in time . . .

 

 

Indeed, their website boasts that . . .

“There’s plenty to see and do for all of the family, including a wonderful train ride across Butterley and into our bordering Derbyshire countryside.”

 

On the midweek day that we visited, there were no trains running and no other visitors for that matter, which suited me just fine.

 

 

 It all looks quite respectable at this point . . .

 

 

 

There are plenty of volunteers around this part of the railway, lovingly tending to the trains.

 

 

 

 

                                                            Then it gets interesting . . .

Along the path to Swanwick Junction you can spot trains, looking almost like they have been trapped and ensnared by nature!

 

 

Peeling paint, rust and nature fighting back reigns . . .

 

The photos can speak for themselves . . . years of neglect are in evidence . . . it was my turn to be in my element!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent quite some time walking around and could easily have spent longer but time was pressing. It's not often that my train spotting pal and myself can achieve an equal amount of pleasure from a train-based photo shoot but this one fits the bill! Shame it was such a drive to get there, otherwise I would be back in a flash!