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The Heart of a Peak District Community
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> Derbyshire Railway - Images From The Past < In the beginning...
When the railways came to Buxton during
1863, two companies, The London and North Western, whose line arrived
from Manchester to the north, and The Midland Railway, which came from
Derby in the south, had stations which were similar in layout, each
having a magnificent, yet identical window arched in stone and bearing
the names of these proud companies. |
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The third of Buxton's
stations consisted of a single platform to the north of Lightwood Road,
and just beyond the old railway sidings along the L&NWR line. This
was known as Fairfield halt, and was constructed to serve the golf
course on Fairfield common. Long after these companies came to Buxton, the L&NWR decided that it would take its own line southwards, in order to connect up with the North Staffordshire Railway Company at Ashbourne, and thence to London. This line is marked by the viaduct that crosses Spring Gardens, plus a further magnificent feat of engineering, the viaduct that spans Duke's Drive, to the south-east of the town. Just before the line crosses Dale road, Buxton had a fourth station, Buxton South. The site of this is opposite the new housing where St Anne's School once stood on Pevril road. This line to Ashbourne was closed to passenger traffic after only 50 years of use, although for quarry freight, it continues to be used taking diesel hauled trains along the track that climbs towards the quarries at Hindlow, which is a few miles to the south of the town. |
However, this does not mark the beginning of the railways coming to
Buxton. Long before the L&NWR and Midland railway companies brought
their visitors into the area, one railway existed almost solely for the
purpose of moving stone from the quarries in the south of the region,
to their customers elsewhere in the north of the country.
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This was the Cromford and High Peak Railway. This steeply inclined line
ran all the way from the canal wharfe at Cromford, some 17 miles to the
Southeast of Buxton, right through Ladmanlow and on to Whaley Bridge in
the north-west, where traffic joined the Peak Forest canal basin within
the town.
Tickets from the 60's |
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The line skirted around Buxton at Ladmanlow, to the west. For a very short time, this railway did carry passenger traffic on a limited scale. Unlike the two major railway companies, the C&HPR faced very steep gradients along certain sections of its line. The visitor can still see where these gradients were, today. The Sheep Pasture incline, at the Cromford end, forms part of the C&HP Trail, but during the line's working life, this incline was accessible by rail traffic where it utilized a cable and chain gravity system. At the Middleton incline, an impressive steam driven winding engine helped to bring wagons laden with stone up and down this particular section of this line. Further towards the north-west, and just above the Goyt valley, there is another very steep incline. |
 London and North Western Railway Boundary Stone |
During the 1960s, this part of the route was coverted into a road, allowing vehicular and pedestrian access into the Goyt valley itself. This is the Bunsall incline, and as any walker will testify, it is rather steep going when climbing back up towards Buxton. On the approaches to Whaley Bridge, the line was confronted by a further incline at Shallcross |
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Not so long ago, plans were laid to reinstate the rail link from Buxton to Matlock, Derby and beyond. It was hoped to run passenger steam hauled trips over the course of the old Midland Railway company track bed. Although still in situ part of the way, it first runs along Ashwood Dale towards Blackwell Mill Junction, then as the track bed through to the tiny village of Millers Dale and on towards Bakewell and finally Matlock. Despite the huge amount of money and human resources spent on trying to re-open this line, it appears that those in charge, felt that it would be best to do more for the southern-most end, since their attempts to re-open the line were hampered by British Railways, who owned the track at that time. And so, once more, Buxton's old Midland Railway site, owned by Peak Rail, was cleared of the engines, rolling stock and rails that stood there patiently awaiting restoration, then slowly thereafter, nature decided to take hold of this now empty yard. |
The Lines Today
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Recent news states, it is intended to have yet another feasibility study of the possibilities of re-opening the Buxton to Matlock railway line. Once again, the powers that be have decided against re-opening this truly beautiful railway route through the Peak District. Although those busy days of Buxton's rail scene are long over, it none the less plays host to interesting rail traction that visits the town now and again. Steam specials have visited the town more recently (2007), a sign that steam may yet play a more important role in Buxton's railway future. Freight trains still run along what remains of the line through Ashwood Dale and on to the ICI quarries near Peak Dale. |
 45057 seen on shed at Buxton during summer 1981. This class of engines has now all but disappeared. One or two remain in the hands of preservation. |
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It's here, that the line forms the old route to London from Manchester Central Station during the final years of use. Continuing, the line passes Peak Forest station, through the Dove Holes tunnel and the picturesque town of Chapel-en-le-Frith, and on towards Manchester via Chinley. Passenger traffic continues to link Buxton with Stockport and Manchester, along the L&NWR route to the north of the town. Photographic contributions to the rail community are always welcome, and may consist of scenes modern and old. Please e-mail me beforehand to say what you have to offer. All images will be fully credited to the photographer concerned. |
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 Buxton Railway Station Link : RCN Gallery of Railwayana |
 Buxton Railway Station - August 2007 |
 Information Board - February 2008 |
 LNWR Brackets |
 LMS Button |
 Railway Pot |
