A proposal to commemorate the role of the Midland Railway in the industrial history of Derby led to a decision in 1969 by Derby Corporation to create a working and static museum dedicated to the history and development of the Midland Railway, its predecessors and successors. This project was supported from its earliest days by the Midland Railway Project Group which was a voluntary labour force set up to collect and restore exhibits and operating equipment. In particular the Group collected semaphore signalling equipment which was then being replaced by the modern multiple aspect lighting system. The Corporation arranged to purchase from Woodham's scrap yard at Barry 2 Jinties (3F 0-6-0T) numbered 47327 and 47357. Another Jinty (47445) was purchased from the National Coal Board who had acquired it direct from British Rail.

After several false starts a site for the museum was identified along part of the former Pye Bridge - Ambergate line which had closed in 1968. Only part of the line was available because the track west of the A38 had vanished with the realignment of the A610. Therefore it was only the 31/2 miles from Hammersmith to Pye Bridge which was available. The line had been lifted, the station at Butterley had been removed and the only 'structure' at Swanwick was a 100' slag heap!

The Midland Railway Company Limited on 20th February 1973 after the council had been forced to pull out of the scheme. The company changed its name to the Midland Railway Trust on 9th December 1976. It was decided to make Butterley the base of the project with the museum at the Swanwick site. The original station at Butterley had been demolished so an identical one was moved from Whitwell in North Derbyshire and rebuilt on the site of the original station. By 1975 sufficient progress had been made to run a steam open day when locomotives were steamed and interesting items were placed on display to the public.!

Efforts were then made to restore and preserve items of historic interest to the Midland Railway as well as providing the basic facilities for train operation. A Light Railway Order was applied for in January 1980 with permission to run passenger services being granted in July 1981. The first passenger train to run along the 1 mile of track left Butterley at 11.30 a.m. on 22nd August 1981 - 81/2 years after the Trust started
 

Note - Locos that show as resident may be based here but loaned to other sites, click on 'Loco' to view the most recent location

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