Magnette numbers were slightly down on last year for our traditional season opener, due to mechanical and other mishaps suffered by several owners. Nevertheless we had 7 Zs and a Farina Magnette at Wirksworth station on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. As well as regulars (some returning after several years absence), Alan Bell brought an interesting green ZB which had featured in early episodes of the TV series 'Call the Midwife'.  We enjoyed cool but dry spring weather and a very warm welcome from the railway volunteers, and were given the use of a covered area for our regalia, saving the usual performance putting up the Register gazebo.

 

The line runs for about 9 miles from Wirksworth to Duffield, with a round trip of an hour and a half hauled by a steam engine. Apart from the train ride there was much chat, catching up and comparing notes around the parking area at the station entrance, then most headed off by about 4pm. I enjoyed the drive up the winding valley road which made a nice contrast to the preceding couple of hours of motorway driving.