New Mills Central railway station
Encyclopedia
New Mills Central railway station serves the town of New Mills
in Derbyshire
, England
. It is on the Hope Valley Line
between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield. The locality is also served by New Mills Newtown
station on the Buxton to Stockport and Manchester line.
ran as far as Rowsley
, and was extended by the Midland Railway
to Buxton
, in its aim to run as far as Manchester
. The MS&LR
also wished to extend southwards from its main line through Woodhead Tunnel
to Sheffield
, and had built a branch to Hyde
. The London and North Western Railway
meanwhile had constructed their own line to Buxton from Whaley Bridge
(with a station at Newtown
) which effectively blocked the other two.
An agreement was reached whereby the MS&LR would build their proposed "Marple, New Mills and Hayfield Junction Railway", while the Midland would extend its line to New Mills from Millers Dale
via Chinley
. Passenger services began to Hayfield
in 1868 and the line came under joint control as the Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee
in 1870, while the Midland's line opened in 1867.
Whilst the Hayfield branch
is now closed, as is the tunnel, you can still travel most of its route, along what is now known as the Sett Valley Trail
.
The buildings on the down side still exist, as does the stationmaster's house built in 1864. The London line from Millers Dale
closed in 1967 and the Hayfield branch closed in January 1970, but the station still supports the Hope Valley Line
local service from Sheffield to Manchester. Stopping trains from Sheffield formerly terminated here and those passengers wishing to travel onwards to Manchester had to change trains (most express services from Sheffield to Manchester ran through without stopping). This practice ceased, however, when through trains were diverted via Hazel Grove and Stockport
in 1986. The station does, however, remain a terminus for many services from the Manchester direction — these can now return directly from the eastbound platform following signalling alterations in 2007 that also saw the remaining semaphore signals at the station replaced by colour lights.
On Saturdays there is an hourly service to both Manchester & Sheffield. Sundays see a two-hourly service each way.
New Mills
New Mills is a town in Derbyshire, England approximately south-east of Stockport and from Manchester. It is sited at the confluence of the rivers Goyt and Sett, on the border of Cheshire. The town stands above the Torrs, a deep gorge, cut through Woodhead Hill Sandstone of the Carboniferous period...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is on the Hope Valley Line
Hope Valley Line
The Hope Valley Line is a railway line in England linking Sheffield with Manchester. It was completed in 1894.From Sheffield, trains head down the Midland Main Line to Dore, where the Hope Valley Line branches off to run through the Totley Tunnel .It emerges in the stunning scenery of the Hope...
between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield. The locality is also served by New Mills Newtown
New Mills Newtown railway station
New Mills Newtown railway station serves the town of New Mills in Derbyshire, England. The station is 23 km south east of Manchester Piccadilly on the Manchester to Buxton line...
station on the Buxton to Stockport and Manchester line.
Buxton Line
The Buxton Line is a railway line in northern England, connecting Manchester with Buxton in Derbyshire. Passenger services on the line are currently operated by Northern Rail and most continue through Manchester from Blackpool North.-History:...
The history
In the mid-eighteenth century, the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction RailwayManchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway
The Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway ran from a junction with the Midland Railway at Ambergate to Rowsley north of Matlock and thence to Buxton....
ran as far as Rowsley
Rowsley
Rowsley is a village on the A6 road in the English county of Derbyshire.It is at the point where the River Wye flows into the River Derwent and prospered from mills on both.-Overview:...
, and was extended by the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
to Buxton
Buxton railway station
Buxton railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Buxton in Derbyshire. It is managed and served by Northern Rail. The station is 25¾ miles south east of Manchester Piccadilly and is the terminus of the Buxton Line.-History:...
, in its aim to run as far as Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. The MS&LR
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway was formed by amalgamation in 1847. The MS&LR changed its name to the Great Central Railway in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension.-Origin:...
also wished to extend southwards from its main line through Woodhead Tunnel
Woodhead Tunnel
The Woodhead Tunnels are three parallel trans-Pennine 3-mile long railway tunnels on the Woodhead Line, a former major rail link from Manchester to Sheffield in northern England...
to Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, and had built a branch to Hyde
Hyde Central railway station
Hyde Central railway station is the main station serving Hyde, Greater Manchester, England.Originally simply Hyde, it was built by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, opening in 1858 as a branch from its main line through Penistone to Sheffield. From 1862 the branch was extended to...
. The London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
meanwhile had constructed their own line to Buxton from Whaley Bridge
Whaley Bridge
Whaley Bridge is a small town and civil parish in the High Peak district of Derbyshire, England, situated on the River Goyt. Whaley Bridge is approximately south of Manchester, north of Buxton , east of Macclesfield and west of Sheffield, and had a population of 6,226 at the 2001 census. This...
(with a station at Newtown
New Mills Newtown railway station
New Mills Newtown railway station serves the town of New Mills in Derbyshire, England. The station is 23 km south east of Manchester Piccadilly on the Manchester to Buxton line...
) which effectively blocked the other two.
An agreement was reached whereby the MS&LR would build their proposed "Marple, New Mills and Hayfield Junction Railway", while the Midland would extend its line to New Mills from Millers Dale
Millers Dale railway station
Millers Dale railway station was a station situated in Millers Dale in the Peak District. It was built in 1863 by the Midland Railway on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway from Rowsley....
via Chinley
Chinley railway station
Chinley railway station serves the village of Chinley in Derbyshire. The station is 28 km south east of Manchester Piccadilly....
. Passenger services began to Hayfield
Hayfield
Hayfield is a village and civil parish in the Borough of High Peak, in the county of Derbyshire, England. The village lies approximately east of New Mills, south of Glossop and north of Buxton by road....
in 1868 and the line came under joint control as the Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee
Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee
The Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1869 as a joint venture between the Midland Railway and the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway.-Origins:...
in 1870, while the Midland's line opened in 1867.
Whilst the Hayfield branch
Hayfield branch
The Hayfield Branch was a single-track branch line that ran along the Sett Valley from the Hope Valley Line near to via one intermediate stop, .-History:...
is now closed, as is the tunnel, you can still travel most of its route, along what is now known as the Sett Valley Trail
Sett Valley Trail
The Sett Valley Trail is a cycle- and bridleway in Derbyshire, England, linking the village of Hayfield and the town of New Mills . It runs along the lower valley of the River Sett and follows the trackbed of a former branch railway line from to , which opened in 1868 and closed in 1970...
.
The station
The station lies at the junction of what was the Hayfield branch and the Midland line, the two appearing through tunnels, on a ledge blasted out of the cliff face, some forty feet above the River Goyt.The buildings on the down side still exist, as does the stationmaster's house built in 1864. The London line from Millers Dale
Millers Dale railway station
Millers Dale railway station was a station situated in Millers Dale in the Peak District. It was built in 1863 by the Midland Railway on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway from Rowsley....
closed in 1967 and the Hayfield branch closed in January 1970, but the station still supports the Hope Valley Line
Hope Valley Line
The Hope Valley Line is a railway line in England linking Sheffield with Manchester. It was completed in 1894.From Sheffield, trains head down the Midland Main Line to Dore, where the Hope Valley Line branches off to run through the Totley Tunnel .It emerges in the stunning scenery of the Hope...
local service from Sheffield to Manchester. Stopping trains from Sheffield formerly terminated here and those passengers wishing to travel onwards to Manchester had to change trains (most express services from Sheffield to Manchester ran through without stopping). This practice ceased, however, when through trains were diverted via Hazel Grove and Stockport
Stockport railway station
Stockport railway station is in Greater Manchester, England, 8 miles south-east of Manchester Piccadilly station on the West Coast Main Line from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. It was opened on 15 February 1843 by the Manchester and Birmingham Railway, following completion of the large...
in 1986. The station does, however, remain a terminus for many services from the Manchester direction — these can now return directly from the eastbound platform following signalling alterations in 2007 that also saw the remaining semaphore signals at the station replaced by colour lights.
Services
From New Mills Central there is now a half-hourly daytime service to Manchester Piccadilly northbound on weekdays (hourly in the evenings) and generally a two-hourly service stopping service to Sheffield.On Saturdays there is an hourly service to both Manchester & Sheffield. Sundays see a two-hourly service each way.