Peak Rail
Encyclopedia
Peak Rail is a preserved railway
in Derbyshire, England, which operates a steam service for tourists and visitors to both the Peak District
and the Derbyshire Dales
.
The railway is currently 5 miles in length and, as of November 2011, operates trains between Matlock station
(shared with Derwent Valley Line
services from Derby
via Ambergate
) and Rowsley South.
However Peak Rail intends to extend its operations northward to Bakewell as time and resources allow. The first stage of this extension may be a short length of line to a proposed new station at Rowsley North.
The Bakewell extension project would include full restoration of both the old Haddon tunnel and Coombs Road viaduct as well as the reinstatement of numerous bridges along the way. Bakewell station remains largely intact.
Although the railway could operate (single track) alongside a part of the Monsal Trail (just like the Avon Valley Railway in Gloucestershire), once safety checks for that could be resolved.
itself. A new station was constructed next to the site of the former loco shed at Rowsley South. The station was capable of holding long incoming charter trains, with a car park large enough to accommodate a large number of cars and other vehicles. The station at Rowsley South has also been utilised for local charity events and cycle races, as well as steam and vintage vehicle rallies.
Due to its location on the edge of the Peak district, the railway joins other attractions in the area, including Bakewell
, Haddon Hall
, Chatsworth House
, the Rowsley shopping village, the village of Rowsley and the Cauldwell's Mill museum.
This is likely to happen after either 2013/14, once finances could possibly allow; within the future Peak Rail could allow its heritage railway services go directly for "The Bakewell Show", an event which has taken place each and every year in August since 1819.
A restaurant service, appropriately called "The Palatine" operates on given days throughout the season, whilst at Darley Dale there is a museum of the line's local history.
With the Bakewell extension project (currently being intended) the railway could also go directly for The Bakewell Show by providing a vintage bus service from the bakewell station site to the show itself in the future.
via a possibly proposed Haddon Halt.
Now that the Peak Rail/Network Rail reconnection project is complete, work on extending via Rowsley North and Haddon Halt towards Bakewell is likely to begin once finances allow. This would include restoring the old Haddon tunnel and Coombs Road viaduct to their former use (Plus, disinfilling the platform whole in which to reallow trains to enter the site when the railway reaches the site) once planning permission is soon granted.
For further details see .
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Class_44_loco.jpg
There are currently three signal box
es on the route. Two boxes control the only two level crossings on the old Midland Railway
main line route from Manchester to London St Pancras. The crossings are both in the Darley Dale
area on the Peak Rail line. The third signal box is currently out of use, and came from Bamford
in the Hope Valley
. There are plans to move this structure to Rowsley South railway station
for refurbishment and future operational use.
branch.
Church Lane operates the only current example of preserved "Josslock" motor points. This is an electro-hydraulically worked electro-pneumatic point machine
, whereby a standard electro-pneumatic point is driven by a hydraulic power pack.
at Darley Dale is crossed using the Absolute Block method, with the signal box at the other end releasing the signal of the opposite signal box to allow trains to enter the applicable up or down loop line.
It is possible to run two trains at a time on the railway, passing in the loop at Darley Dale station. Each section of the railway is worked by a train staff, each with a key to operate the ground frames and electrical signal releases at the signal boxes and the ground frames at Rowsley South, Rowsley North, Darley South Yard sidings and Matlock Riverside.
). It was originally located there when the railway first reopened to work the level crossing at Station Road, but for several reasons it was not brought into use (limited box to public highway visibility being amongst them). There are ongoing plans to remove this signalbox to Rowsley South, where the twenty nine lever frame will be reconditioned to initially control the loco shed sidings and yard as a shunt frame, before going on to encompass the station area and any alterations to the track layout to the station's northern end when the line extends towards Rowsley village.
Over the years, many signal boxes have either been recovered, donated or sourced for the railway from such locations as Gorsey Bank, Lymm Station, Lymm Lane crossing and Hindlow. Lever and ground frames were sourced locally from the Midlands and North Western regions from places such as Whaley Bridge and Dunford Bridge. Not all structures were obtained complete; some were acquired with the cooperation of other heritage railways along joint recoveries.
, and was officially opened by Pete Waterman
.
Negotiations for the lease of a further mile of trackbed to the North have resulted in the offer of a 99-year lease on the trackbed from Rowsley South to (a proposed Rowsley North) at Rowsley
village, and the site of the former station. Discussions regarding access to the Matlock
down platform have resulted in an agreed 50-year lease, including the re-connection of the Network Rail
and Peak Rail metals. The rails were originally disconnected due to a rearrangement of Network Rail track as a part of other redevelopments in the area south of the present Matlock Riverside station. The Peak Rail/Network Rail track reconnections project is now complete.
In late February 2007, the railway's 'Two-Train Running' project was completed and approved by the HM Railway Inspectorate
. Through improvements to infrastructure and signalling, this project allows two trains in steam on the line, utilising a refurbished and extended passing loop at . This enhancement has allowed the working of freight and passenger services on special event days, with multiple passenger services to follow in future operating seasons.
The signalling engineers are currently working on several projects:
The former Manchester main line can be considered in four sections:
From London via Derby to Ambergate
Junction as the Midland Main Line
Overlapping this from Derby to Ambergate and on to Matlock as the Derwent Valley Line
.
Peak Rail operates a section from Matlock to Rowsley and has an interest in the line through Bakewell
to Buxton station
. From there, the line could follow the former London and North Western Railway
(LNWR) line to Manchester
(although through trains would have to reverse), or extend from Millers Dale
on its original route to join the still-existing line to on the Hope Valley Line
.
In 2004, the Derbyshire
County Council published a study which concluded that reopening the line for a local service was technically feasible and that the track bed should remain clear of development, but it was not an economic possibility in the near future.
The Derwent Valley Line
, which connects with the railway at Matlock, has reportedly been allowed to deteriorate both in infrastructure and quality of service. In 2005, a document was published by the Friends of the Derwent Valley Line with the assistance of the County Council. The document argued for improvements to the current service. Network Rail
carried out the necessary strengthening of three bridges on the branch, resulting in an improvement of route availability. This potentially allows the line to be traversed by locomotives hauling charter trains on Sundays when there are available paths.
A more recent development with significant implications for Peak Rail's future was the decision by the Derbyshire County Council and the Peak Planning Board to support a scheme to develop the trackbed from Bakewell to Blackwell Mill
as a cycle track. This development would be similar to the Tissington Trail
and the High Peak Trail, with the presently closed tunnels on route being opened to the public as rights of way. The plan would advance with significant government funding, along with a stated aim to extend to Matlock in the long term (although developments regarding this latter section have yet to emerge). Negotiations were underway between all parties to ensure a solution that benefits the aims of all concerned as of 2011.
With the extension into Matlock's mainline station (interchanging with Derwent Valley rail services) now complete, work on extendind towards Bakewell via both proposed Rowsley North and Haddon Halt is likely to begin once possible funding could be made over about a period of the next couple of years.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
in Derbyshire, England, which operates a steam service for tourists and visitors to both the Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
and the Derbyshire Dales
Derbyshire Dales
Derbyshire Dales is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. Much of the district is situated in the Peak District, although most of its population lies along the River Derwent....
.
The railway is currently 5 miles in length and, as of November 2011, operates trains between Matlock station
Matlock railway station
Matlock Railway Station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains. It is located in the Derbyshire town of Matlock in Derbyshire, England. The station is now currently the terminus of both the Derwent Valley Line from Derby and Peak Rail who operate heritage...
(shared with Derwent Valley Line
Derwent Valley Line
The Derwent Valley Line is a railway line from Derby to Matlock in Derbyshire.The line follows the Midland Main Line as far as Ambergate Junction, which is just south of Ambergate railway station, continuing to Matlock, following the course of the River Derwent.*Derby*Duffield**Former branch line...
services from Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
via Ambergate
Ambergate
Ambergate is a village in Derbyshire, England, where the River Amber joins the River Derwent.Until the early nineteenth century it was known as Toadmoor, with no more than a few artisans' cottages. The southerly half of the village was still shown as such on the Ordnance Survey's maps.It is about ...
) and Rowsley South.
However Peak Rail intends to extend its operations northward to Bakewell as time and resources allow. The first stage of this extension may be a short length of line to a proposed new station at Rowsley North.
The Bakewell extension project would include full restoration of both the old Haddon tunnel and Coombs Road viaduct as well as the reinstatement of numerous bridges along the way. Bakewell station remains largely intact.
Although the railway could operate (single track) alongside a part of the Monsal Trail (just like the Avon Valley Railway in Gloucestershire), once safety checks for that could be resolved.
First preservation attempts with the Buxton Steam Centre
In 1975, the Peak Railway Preservation Society opened the Buxton Steam Centre with restoration facilities and a 300 yard operating line. They also operated a successful restaurant ("The Palatine") in two railway carriages on site. Proposals were put forward to extend the operating line onto the single track freight line towards Peak Forest, but were not met with success.Closure of the Buxton Steam Centre and relocation to Darley Dale
By 1991, the railway had reopened the section of line between and . In 1997, the line was extended within a half-mile of the Derbyshire village of RowsleyRowsley
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:...
itself. A new station was constructed next to the site of the former loco shed at Rowsley South. The station was capable of holding long incoming charter trains, with a car park large enough to accommodate a large number of cars and other vehicles. The station at Rowsley South has also been utilised for local charity events and cycle races, as well as steam and vintage vehicle rallies.
Due to its location on the edge of the Peak district, the railway joins other attractions in the area, including Bakewell
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
, Haddon Hall
Haddon Hall
Haddon Hall is an English country house on the River Wye at Bakewell, Derbyshire, one of the seats of the Duke of Rutland, occupied by Lord Edward Manners and his family. In form a medieval manor house, it has been described as "the most complete and most interesting house of [its]...
, Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House is a stately home in North Derbyshire, England, northeast of Bakewell and west of Chesterfield . It is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, and has been home to his family, the Cavendish family, since Bess of Hardwick settled at Chatsworth in 1549.Standing on the east bank of the...
, the Rowsley shopping village, the village of Rowsley and the Cauldwell's Mill museum.
Extension to Matlock (Network Rail) station
With the construction of Matlock by-pass and the new Sainsburys supermarket in the former Cawdor Quarry a new track alignment and track layout was installed between Matlock Riverside and Matlock (Network Rail) station to provide a new connection to the National Network. At Matlock Riverside a newly refurbished signal box is also being erected to facilitate movement between Peak Rail and the restored former down platform at Matlock (Network Rail) station. The extension to Matlock (NR) was oopened on 2nd July 2011.Future expansion towards Bakewell
Peak Rail are currently intending work on extending the railway towards Bakewell; "this would include a new Rowsley North (a proposed north equivalent of Rowsley South) and Haddon halt (located between the proposed Rowsley North and old Haddon tunnel) serving the nearby Haddon estate" along the way. (Plus disinfilling the trackbed whole of the platforms to allow trains to pull into the site properly once the line reaches the site, and requiring a few bridge "replacements/re-instatements" along the way.)This is likely to happen after either 2013/14, once finances could possibly allow; within the future Peak Rail could allow its heritage railway services go directly for "The Bakewell Show", an event which has taken place each and every year in August since 1819.
Special events
The railway operates special events as well as the normal timetabled services. These special events include themed "Halloween" and "Santa Specials" for children and families; the "Warring Forties" event, with battle re-enactments of World War Two skirmishes involving military vehicles and re-enactors on the site; Diesel Galas; and local music festivals.A restaurant service, appropriately called "The Palatine" operates on given days throughout the season, whilst at Darley Dale there is a museum of the line's local history.
With the Bakewell extension project (currently being intended) the railway could also go directly for The Bakewell Show by providing a vintage bus service from the bakewell station site to the show itself in the future.
Proposed (future) stations
There has been a proposal for Peak Rail to extend the line north to the Rowsley village proper "to a proposed Rowsley North", and then to Bakewell railway stationBakewell railway station
Bakewell railway station was a railway station built to serve the town of Bakewell in Derbyshire, England by the Midland Railway on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway line from Rowsley.-History:...
via a possibly proposed Haddon Halt.
Now that the Peak Rail/Network Rail reconnection project is complete, work on extending via Rowsley North and Haddon Halt towards Bakewell is likely to begin once finances allow. This would include restoring the old Haddon tunnel and Coombs Road viaduct to their former use (Plus, disinfilling the platform whole in which to reallow trains to enter the site when the railway reaches the site) once planning permission is soon granted.
Bakewell Extension Phases
- Phase 1 (of the Bakewell Extension project) is restoring the section of track (Rowsleys South & North) and extending to Rowsley North.
- Phase 2 would be reinstating old bridge above a road, restoration of track to as far as (a proposed Haddon Halt) and then extending to Haddon Halt.
- Phase 3 would then be on restoring both the old Haddon Tunnel and Coombes road viaduct before relaying track to as far as a few metres clsoe to the edge of the Bakewell station site.
- Phase 4 might then see removal of infill between the platforms and then relay into the old station site and then restoring the site to its former use and glory.
Operating groups at the present railway
Several railway preservation groups are based at the railway, often working in support of and cooperation with Peak Rail, such as:- The Heritage Shunters TrustHeritage Shunters TrustHeritage Shunters Trust is a trading name of The South Yorkshire Railway Co. Ltd. which was founded in 1989. HST is a railway preservation society and is the only preservation society that solely specialises in the preservation of diesel shunters in the UK...
, which has a large collection of former British Railways and private company shunters - The Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge RailwayDerbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge RailwayThe Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway is a short, railway located at Rowsley South at Peak Rail. It operates ex-industrial diesel locomotives and carriages similar to the Golden Valley light railway at Butterley....
, which operates narrow gauge trains over a short running line by the picnic ground at Rowsley - The London Midland and Scottish Carriage Association, which restore examples of L.M.S and other coaching stock
- The Renown Repulse Locomotive Group, responsible for the restoration of two former British Rail Class 50 locomotives
- Andrew Briddon, who has several of his locomotives based upon the railway
- Other locomotive and stock owners who are restoring wagons and stock upon the line
For further details see .
Operational
- RSHRobert Stephenson and HawthornsRobert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd was a locomotive builder with works in North East England.-History:The company was formed in September 1937 when Robert Stephenson and Company, which was based in Darlington took over the locomotive building department of Hawthorn Leslie and Company, based in...
0-6-0ST No. 7136 (Carries No. 68013 "Royal Pioneer". Previously No.WD150)
Undergoing overhaul
- RSHRobert Stephenson and HawthornsRobert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd was a locomotive builder with works in North East England.-History:The company was formed in September 1937 when Robert Stephenson and Company, which was based in Darlington took over the locomotive building department of Hawthorn Leslie and Company, based in...
0-6-0T No. 7597 "Zebedee" - Work ongoing at Rowsley South Yard, boiler in very good condition.
Operational
- BRBritish RailBritish Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
0-4-0 Class 01British Rail Class 01The British Rail Class 01 diesel locomotive was a short wheelbase 0-4-0 diesel-mechanical design intended for use in areas with tight curves and limited clearance.-History:Four examples were built by Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. of Kilmarnock in 1956...
no. D2953 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:D2953_Peak_Rail.JPG - BR 0-6-0DM Class 03British Rail Class 03The British Rail Class 03 locomotive is, together with Class 04, one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2199 and D2370-D2399...
nos. 03099 and D2199 - BR 0-6-0DM Class 04British Rail Class 04The British Rail Class 04 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunting locomotive class was built between 1952 and 1962 and was the basis for the later Class 03 built in the British Railways workshops. The Class 04 locomotives were supplied by the Drewry Car Co., which at the time had no manufacturing...
no. D2284 - BR 0-6-0DM Class 05British Rail Class 05The British Rail Class 05 is a class of 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters built by Hunslet Engine Company from 1955 to 1961. They were used on the Eastern and Scottish Regions of British Railways. Initially they were numbered 11136-11176 and, later, D2550-D2619....
no. D2587 - BR 0-6-0DH Class 14British Rail Class 14The British Rail Class 14 is a type of small diesel-hydraulic locomotive built in the mid-1960s. Twenty-six of these 0-6-0 locomotives were ordered in January 1963, to be built at British Railways Swindon Works. The anticipated work for this class was yard shunting, trip work and short distance...
no 14 901 (D9524) (until late 2010) - BR 0-6-0DH Class 14British Rail Class 14The British Rail Class 14 is a type of small diesel-hydraulic locomotive built in the mid-1960s. Twenty-six of these 0-6-0 locomotives were ordered in January 1963, to be built at British Railways Swindon Works. The anticipated work for this class was yard shunting, trip work and short distance...
no. D9525 - BR A1A-A1A Class 31British Rail Class 31The British Rail Class 31 diesel locomotives, also known as the Brush Type 2 and originally as Class 30, were built by Brush Traction from 1957-62.- Description :...
no. 31270 - BR Co-Co Class 37British Rail Class 37The British Rail Class 37 is a diesel-electric locomotive. Also known as the English Electric Type 3, the Class was ordered as part of the British Rail modernisation plan....
no. 37152 - BR 1Co-Co1 Class 44British Rail Class 44The British Rail Class 44 or Sulzer Type 4 diesel locomotives were built by British Railways' Derby Works between 1959 to 1960. They were named after British mountains, and consequently nicknamed Peaks.-Description:...
no. D8 "Penyghent"
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Class_44_loco.jpg
- BR Co-Co Class 47British Rail Class 47The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British...
no. 47635 - BR 0-6-0DE Class 97/6British Rail Class 97/6The British Rail Class 97/6 0-6-0 diesel shunting locomotives were purpose-built for departmental duties by Ruston & Hornsby at Lincoln in 1953 or 1959...
no. 97654 - Thomas Hill Vanguard 4wDH "Charlie" (No. 265V of 1976) regular works train loco.
Undergoing overhaul/restoration
- BR 0-6-0DM Class 03British Rail Class 03The British Rail Class 03 locomotive is, together with Class 04, one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2199 and D2370-D2399...
nos. D2118, 03113 and D2139 - BR 0-6-0DM Class 04British Rail Class 04The British Rail Class 04 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunting locomotive class was built between 1952 and 1962 and was the basis for the later Class 03 built in the British Railways workshops. The Class 04 locomotives were supplied by the Drewry Car Co., which at the time had no manufacturing...
no. D2229 and D2237 - BR 0-6-0DE Class 11British Rail Class 11The British Rail Class 11 was applied to a batch of diesel shunting locomotives built from April 1945 to December 1952, based on a similar earlier batch built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway between 1939 and 1942.-Numbering:...
no. 12061 - BR Co-Co Class 37British Rail Class 37The British Rail Class 37 is a diesel-electric locomotive. Also known as the English Electric Type 3, the Class was ordered as part of the British Rail modernisation plan....
no. 37188 - BR Co-Co Class 50British Rail Class 50The British Rail Class 50 is a diesel locomotive built from 1967-68 by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry Works in Newton-le-Willows. Fifty of these locomotives were built to haul express passenger trains on the, then non-electrified, section of the West Coast Main Line between Crewe,...
no. 50030 "RepulseHMS Repulse (S23)HMS Repulse was a Resolution-class ballistic missile submarine of the Royal Navy.Launched on 4 November 1967, she was the last of her class remaining in service with the navy, decommissioning in 1996....
" - Yorkshire Engine Co 0-6-0DH no. 2940 of 1965 "Libby"
Stored
- BR 0-6-0DM Class 03British Rail Class 03The British Rail Class 03 locomotive is, together with Class 04, one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2199 and D2370-D2399...
nos. 03027 and 03037 - BR 0-6-0DM Class 04British Rail Class 04The British Rail Class 04 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunting locomotive class was built between 1952 and 1962 and was the basis for the later Class 03 built in the British Railways workshops. The Class 04 locomotives were supplied by the Drewry Car Co., which at the time had no manufacturing...
nos. D2272 and D2324 - BR 0-6-0DE Class 07British Rail Class 07The British Rail Class 07 diesel locomotive is an off-centre cab dock shunter used in Southampton Docks, to replace SR USA Class steam locomotives. It is a 0-6-0 diesel-electric shunter built by Ruston & Hornsby in 1962...
no. 07013 - BR 0-6-0DH Class 14British Rail Class 14The British Rail Class 14 is a type of small diesel-hydraulic locomotive built in the mid-1960s. Twenty-six of these 0-6-0 locomotives were ordered in January 1963, to be built at British Railways Swindon Works. The anticipated work for this class was yard shunting, trip work and short distance...
nos. D9500 and D9502 - BR Co-Co Class 50British Rail Class 50The British Rail Class 50 is a diesel locomotive built from 1967-68 by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry Works in Newton-le-Willows. Fifty of these locomotives were built to haul express passenger trains on the, then non-electrified, section of the West Coast Main Line between Crewe,...
no. 50029 "RenownHMS Renown (S26)HMS Renown was the third of the Royal Navy's Resolution-class ballistic missile submarines.Built by Cammell Laird and launched on 25 February 1967, she was decommissioned in 1996.- External links :*...
" (Cosmetically restored) - North British 0-6-0DH 27932 of 1962
- Brush Traction 0-6-0DE BT803 of 1979 (formerly with Tyne & Wear Metro and Channel Tunnel construction)
Signalling on the railway
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
es on the route. Two boxes control the only two level crossings on the old 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....
main line route from Manchester to London St Pancras. The crossings are both in the Darley Dale
Darley Dale
Darley Dale, also known simply as Darley, is a town in Derbyshire, England, with a population of around 6,000 people. It lies north of Matlock, on the River Derwent and the A6 road.- History :...
area on the Peak Rail line. The third signal box is currently out of use, and came from Bamford
Bamford
Bamford is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District, England, close to the River Derwent. To the north-east is Bamford Edge, and to the south-east the location of the water treatment works covering the Ladybower, Derwent and Howden Reservoirs. Though locally Bamford is described as being in the...
in the Hope Valley
Hope Valley
Hope Valley could refer to:*The Hope Valley, Derbyshire*The Hope Valley, Shropshire*Hope Valley, Rhode Island, a village*Hope Valley, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth*Hope Valley, South Australia, a suburb of Adelaide...
. There are plans to move this structure to Rowsley South railway station
Rowsley South railway station
Rowsley South railway station lies approximately a mile short of Rowsley village, the location of the settlement's previous stations. This makes Rowsley South the third station to be built in the area, constructed as it was by Peak Rail volunteers in the latter part of the 1990s.Opened to...
for refurbishment and future operational use.
Church Lane Crossing
The Church Lane Crossing Box controls the section from Darley Dale to Rowsley South under the one train staff key method, as well as the level crossing at Churchtown. Originally, this signal box came from Gorsey Bank level crossing on the nearby WirksworthWirksworth
Wirksworth is a small market town in Derbyshire, England, with a population of over 9,000.The population of the Wirksworth area including Cromford, Bolehill and Middleton-by-Wirksworth is about 12,000. Wirksworth is listed in the Domesday Book in 1086. Within it is the source of the River...
branch.
Point machine
A point machine is a device for operating railway turnouts especially at a distance.-Overview:In the earliest times, railway turnouts were operated manually by simple levers...
, whereby a standard electro-pneumatic point is driven by a hydraulic power pack.
Darley Dale Crossing
The Darley Dale signal box controls the section from Darley Dale to Matlock Riverside under the one train staff key, as well as the other level crossing at Station Road. This signal box is based on an L.M.S. ground level design, and was erected in 2007 to replace the older Midland style cabin which had become life-expired.Darley Dale station and passing loop
The passing loopPassing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
at Darley Dale is crossed using the Absolute Block method, with the signal box at the other end releasing the signal of the opposite signal box to allow trains to enter the applicable up or down loop line.
It is possible to run two trains at a time on the railway, passing in the loop at Darley Dale station. Each section of the railway is worked by a train staff, each with a key to operate the ground frames and electrical signal releases at the signal boxes and the ground frames at Rowsley South, Rowsley North, Darley South Yard sidings and Matlock Riverside.
Other signal boxes and ground frames
Another unused signal box at Darley Dale is located on the up platform (originally located at BamfordBamford
Bamford is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District, England, close to the River Derwent. To the north-east is Bamford Edge, and to the south-east the location of the water treatment works covering the Ladybower, Derwent and Howden Reservoirs. Though locally Bamford is described as being in the...
). It was originally located there when the railway first reopened to work the level crossing at Station Road, but for several reasons it was not brought into use (limited box to public highway visibility being amongst them). There are ongoing plans to remove this signalbox to Rowsley South, where the twenty nine lever frame will be reconditioned to initially control the loco shed sidings and yard as a shunt frame, before going on to encompass the station area and any alterations to the track layout to the station's northern end when the line extends towards Rowsley village.
Recoveries
Ongoing projects
As of December 2011, the structure for the engine shed project was finished externally, with only small internal additions required to some areas, including the workshop. On 1 May, the former Mold Junction turntable was brought back into use at Rowsley SouthRowsley South railway station
Rowsley South railway station lies approximately a mile short of Rowsley village, the location of the settlement's previous stations. This makes Rowsley South the third station to be built in the area, constructed as it was by Peak Rail volunteers in the latter part of the 1990s.Opened to...
, and was officially opened by Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
.
Negotiations for the lease of a further mile of trackbed to the North have resulted in the offer of a 99-year lease on the trackbed from Rowsley South to (a proposed Rowsley North) at 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:...
village, and the site of the former station. Discussions regarding access to the Matlock
Matlock railway station
Matlock Railway Station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains. It is located in the Derbyshire town of Matlock in Derbyshire, England. The station is now currently the terminus of both the Derwent Valley Line from Derby and Peak Rail who operate heritage...
down platform have resulted in an agreed 50-year lease, including the re-connection of the Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
and Peak Rail metals. The rails were originally disconnected due to a rearrangement of Network Rail track as a part of other redevelopments in the area south of the present Matlock Riverside station. The Peak Rail/Network Rail track reconnections project is now complete.
In late February 2007, the railway's 'Two-Train Running' project was completed and approved by the HM Railway Inspectorate
HM Railway Inspectorate
Established in 1840, HM Railway Inspectorate was the British organisation responsible for overseeing safety on Britain's railways and tramways...
. Through improvements to infrastructure and signalling, this project allows two trains in steam on the line, utilising a refurbished and extended passing loop at . This enhancement has allowed the working of freight and passenger services on special event days, with multiple passenger services to follow in future operating seasons.
The signalling engineers are currently working on several projects:
- Token machines between Rowsley south and Church Lane signal box, to allow the locomotive shed at Rowsley to be used to full potential. Only a ground frame remains to be connected to a trap point on these works.
- Moving the redundant ex Bamford signal box to Rowsley South, to be used initially to control the exits from the sidings and locomotive shed. Then, when the line extends northwards, the track alterations to the north of the site can be incorporated within the signalling needed here. This will replace three ground frames which would need to be altered for the extension works. In the future, the shunt frame could be signalled if required to act as another passing loop signal box to add capacity.
- Plans for working into Matlock National Rail station are nearly complete. A method of signalling these operations is progressing to its conclusion and will be in place soon. The ex Midland "Luffenham Junction" signal box is being restored for use at Riverside as a shunting frame to control the loop. Structural timberwork is currently being replaced and restored so that it can go into place as a completed unit when needed.
Darley Dale footbridge
In mid 2009, the original ex-Midland Railway Darley Dale footbridge was purchased from the Midland Heritage Railway at Butterley with an aim towards restoration and eventual repositioning at its original location at Darley Dale. Part of this project will require the removal of the currently unused signal box structure to facilitate the erection of the footbridge. Fundraising for this ambitious project began in late 2009 and continues onward till further notice.Future developments
From London via Derby to Ambergate
Ambergate railway station
Ambergate railway station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains Train operating company . It serves the village of Ambergate in Derbyshire...
Junction as the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
Overlapping this from Derby to Ambergate and on to Matlock as the Derwent Valley Line
Derwent Valley Line
The Derwent Valley Line is a railway line from Derby to Matlock in Derbyshire.The line follows the Midland Main Line as far as Ambergate Junction, which is just south of Ambergate railway station, continuing to Matlock, following the course of the River Derwent.*Derby*Duffield**Former branch line...
.
Peak Rail operates a section from Matlock to Rowsley and has an interest in the line through Bakewell
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
to Buxton station
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:...
. From there, the line could follow the former 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...
(LNWR) line to 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...
(although through trains would have to reverse), or extend 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....
on its original route to join the still-existing line to 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...
.
In 2004, the 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...
County Council published a study which concluded that reopening the line for a local service was technically feasible and that the track bed should remain clear of development, but it was not an economic possibility in the near future.
The Derwent Valley Line
Derwent Valley Line
The Derwent Valley Line is a railway line from Derby to Matlock in Derbyshire.The line follows the Midland Main Line as far as Ambergate Junction, which is just south of Ambergate railway station, continuing to Matlock, following the course of the River Derwent.*Derby*Duffield**Former branch line...
, which connects with the railway at Matlock, has reportedly been allowed to deteriorate both in infrastructure and quality of service. In 2005, a document was published by the Friends of the Derwent Valley Line with the assistance of the County Council. The document argued for improvements to the current service. Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
carried out the necessary strengthening of three bridges on the branch, resulting in an improvement of route availability. This potentially allows the line to be traversed by locomotives hauling charter trains on Sundays when there are available paths.
A more recent development with significant implications for Peak Rail's future was the decision by the Derbyshire County Council and the Peak Planning Board to support a scheme to develop the trackbed from Bakewell to Blackwell Mill
Blackwell Mill
Blackwell Mill is a location in Derbyshire, near to the village of Blackwell near Buxton, but not part of it.There was once a corn mill on the River Wye which may have dated from 1066. Most of it has disappeared, apart from the weir. What is left is marked as an Ancient Monument.It stands at the...
as a cycle track. This development would be similar to the Tissington Trail
Tissington Trail
right|thumb|200px|The Trail at the site of the former Tissington station, now a picnic site.The Tissington Trail is a bridleway and walk/cycle path in Derbyshire, England...
and the High Peak Trail, with the presently closed tunnels on route being opened to the public as rights of way. The plan would advance with significant government funding, along with a stated aim to extend to Matlock in the long term (although developments regarding this latter section have yet to emerge). Negotiations were underway between all parties to ensure a solution that benefits the aims of all concerned as of 2011.
With the extension into Matlock's mainline station (interchanging with Derwent Valley rail services) now complete, work on extendind towards Bakewell via both proposed Rowsley North and Haddon Halt is likely to begin once possible funding could be made over about a period of the next couple of years.
External links
- The Peak Rail website
- Today's Railways February 2007 article on Peak Rail, by kind permission of Platform 5 Publishing
- The Peak Rail Volunteering website
- Peak Rail's Signalling Department website
- Friends of the Derwent Valley Line
- County Council Feasibility Study Derbyshire County Council (2004) Derby to Manchester Railway Matlock to Buxton / Chinley Link Study. Main Report, Volume 1A: Version: Final. This report also has detailed plans of the line.
- The Andrew Briddon loco collection