Old Railways around Ashbourne

The Derbyshire Peak District is known for its railways which have a very interesting history. The existence of the railways have helped to shape the landscape, open up the area to mass tourism, and really push forward the local economy for almost two hundred years. They have also benefited the area in terms of providing an environment which is perfect for interior walking and cycling trails for the benefit of future generations.

Derbyshire is the only place in the UK where trains are still being built - but the county also has a fascinating railway history. One local link to the bygone age of the railways comes via the world renowned Derbyshire-born engineer Sir Nigel Gresley, who designed both the Mallard and the world famous Flying Scotsman.

Another comes via the man known as the `Father of the Railways', George Stephenson. The famous inventor of `The Rocket' - the world's first commercial steam-engine - lived the final ten years of his life at Tapton House near Chesterfield until his death in 1848, and is buried beneath the chancel of the town's Holy Trinity church.

The Cromford & High Peak Railway, is hailed as “one of the most extraordinary feats of 19th century railway engineering”, which opened in June 1830.A decade earlier, a proposed canal link across the southern part of the Peak District was abandoned owing to lack of water and vast engineering problems, and so Josiah Jessop, whose father had engineered the construction of the Cromford Canal, turned to the new steam engine technology of the coming age and built this early rail link instead.

Originally 33 miles long, horses were used to haul the carriages along the level sections of the line and stationary winding engines pulled the wagons up several steep inclines. The line was five years in the building. It was mainly used for local freight such as limestone. Sometimes passengers travelled in a carriage attached to the rear of the goods train between Middleton Top and Parsley Hay during the summer months, but they had to get off and walk up Hopton Incline

The last section from Fridon to Parsley Hay finally closed in 1967, when it had become very unprofitable. This disused line is now the High Peak Trail, which provides some seventeen and a half miles of walking and cycling trail through the spectacular limestone countryside of the White Peak, with some of the old stations providing toilet and washroom facilities, refreshments and cycle-hire.

The Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway was a narrow gauge line opened in 1904 and known locally as the `Milky Way' and carried mainly freight, including thousands of gallons of milk every day to and from the large dairies at Ecton and Hartington for thirty years until closure in 1934. The line ran from Hulme End to Waterhouses, and there was once a station at Thor's Cave for adventurous tourists! This is now a wonderful walking trail which runs through the spectacularly scenic Manifold Valley.

The London & North Western Railway from Ashbourne to Buxton was opened on June 4th 1899, but was never a commercial success. The line was used only for `local traffic' carrying milk to large towns, especially from the dairy herds at Hartington & Tissington, and limestone from local quarries to the crushing plants and kilns at Buxton. The line closed in 1967 and was acquired by the Derbyshire County Council and Peak National Park who turned in into the 13 mile long Tissington Trail, which runs through the spectacular limestone country of the White Peak from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay where it joins the High Peak Trail.

Peak Rail was founded by a group of local enthusiasts in Matlock during the 1980's and has been hugely successful in re-opening the old Midland Line from just north of Matlock Bridge to Rowsley, with its H.Q. in between the two at Darley Dale.

Peak Rail run special themed steam-train journeys at weekends throughout the year, with folk trains, poetry, drama, music and entertainment, and trains for special occasions, complete with refreshments available in the authentic buffet car, all of which makes it a special excursion for children and steam enthusiasts alike.

Judging by the number of people thronging the Monsal, Tissington, High Peak and Manifold Valley Trails - and the success of the adventurous and ambitious Wyvern and Peak Rail projects, the future of the old railways in the Peak seems assured!