Peak Rail

Peak Rail
Commercial operations
Original gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Operated by Peak Rail
Stations 3
Length 4 miles (6.4 km)
Preserved gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Commercial history
Opened 1863
Closed 1968
Preservation history
1987 Peak Rail acquires Darley Dale and Track Relay work begins
1991 Peak Rail, Granted Light Railway Order
1992 Peak Rail Re-opens, Train Rides officially begin
1997 Rowsley South reached, PR extended
2 July
2011		 Peak Rail reaches Matlock (Platform 2),
Services extended,
First ever steam through service since 1968
Headquarters Matlock

Peak Rail is a preserved railway in Derbyshire, Central England, which operates a steam and heritage diesel service for tourists and visitors to both the Peak District and the Derbyshire Dales.

The preserved railway line is over three and a half miles (5.6 km) in length and, as of April 2016, operates train services from Matlock station (shared with Derwent Valley Line services from Derby via Ambergate) via the site of Matlock Riverside and Darley Dale to Rowsley South.

Peak Rail intends to extend its operational services northward to Bakewell when resources allow, extending to a total of 4.25 miles (6.84 km). Beyond Bakewell the railway trackbed is used by the Monsal Trail, but a restored line could operate single track alongside (as is done by the heritage Avon Valley Railway) once safety issues are resolved.

History

First preservation attempts with the Buxton Steam Centre

The Buxton Steam Centre of the Peak Railway Preservation Society as it was in March 1990 before closure

Peak Rail

Legend
 Miles
148.43
Monsal Trail
(proposed extension to Bakewell)

Rowsley Yard

148.29 Rowsley South
147.47 Church Lane Crossing
 147.26
147.15 Darley Dale
 Station Road Crossing
South Yard (shunter depot)
 146.75 Bridge 40 (Warney Brook)
Old Road
 145.39 Bridge 35 (River Derwent)
145.32 Matlock Riverside
Peak Rail
Network Rail
boundary
Cawdor Way
 Network Rail run-around loop
Matlock National Rail
 Derwent Valley Line
Matlock (Network Rail) station with a Peak Rail train hauled by Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST 68013, 21st July 2012. The platform on the right is the one used by trains on the national network.

In 1975, the Peak Railway Preservation Society was established and opened a site at the now closed 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

In the 1980s Peak Rail relocated its headquarters to Darley Dale and by 1991 the railway had reopened the section of line between Matlock Riverside and Darley Dale.

In 1997, the line was extended within a half-mile south of the Derbyshire village of Rowsley 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 and had a car park 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. With 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.

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.

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 extension to Matlock (NR) was finally re-opened on 2 July 2011.

Future developments

In 2004, Derbyshire County Council published a study which concluded that reopening the former 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.

Expansion towards Bakewell

An extension towards Bakewell would include moving Rowsley station into the village, with full restoration of the former Rowsley Station site to its former condition, and expansion towards Bakewell via Haddon Halt:

Negotiations for the lease of the mile of trackbed to the north have resulted in the offer of a 99-year lease, from Rowsley South to Rowsley village. However, the extension is unlikely to happen before 2016–17 or until finance becomes available.

Monsal Trail

Derbyshire County Council and the Peak Planning Board support a scheme to develop the trackbed from Bakewell to Blackwell Mill as a cycle track, the Monsal Trail. With a stated aim to extend to Matlock in the long term, this part of the plan is currently subject to a planning application showing a cycle path broadly following the trackbed as far south as Darley Dale.[1][2] These plans acknowledge the existing railway as well as phase one of the extension project but make no mention of the proposed extension beyond Rowsley village toward Bakewell.

Special events

The railway operates special events as well as the normal timetabled services. These include "Santa Specials" for children and families, and 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 called "The Palatine" operates on given days throughout the season, whilst at Darley Dale there is a museum of the line's local history.

Operating groups at the railway

Several railway preservation groups are based at the railway, often working in support of and cooperation with Peak Rail. These include:

For further details see Rowsley South.

Motive power

Steam locomotives

No. 68013 'Royal Pioneer' in service in 2012

Operational

Undergoing overhaul

Stored

Diesel locomotives

Operational

Undergoing overhaul/restoration

Stored

Diesel Multiple Units

Undergoing overhaul/restoration

Signalling on the railway

Signalling diagram for the Darley Dale and Church Lane area
Ex-Luffenham signalbox at Matlock Riverside
Redundant signal box being recovered from the old Buxton Steam Centre

There are four signal boxes 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 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. The fourth is also being commissioned and came from Luffenham. It will control the Matlock area.

Two train running

In late February 2007, the railway's 'Two-Train Running' project was completed and approved by 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 Darley Dale. 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.

Darley Dale footbridge

In mid-2009, the original ex-Midland Railway Darley Dale footbridge was purchased from the Midland Railway - Butterley with an aim towards restoration and eventual repositioning at its original location at Darley Dale. Part of this project requires the removal of the unused signal box structure to facilitate the erection of the footbridge. Fundraising for this ambitious project began in late 2009 and remains continuously.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "DerbyshireCC: Monsal Trail - Bakewell to Rowsley" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "DerbyshireCC: Monsal Trail - Rowsley to Darley Dale" (PDF).
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Coordinates: 53°09′37″N 1°35′39″W / 53.1603°N 1.5941°W / 53.1603; -1.5941

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