Derbyshire
Peak Rail
Address: Darley Dale Station, Darley Dale, Derbyshire DE4 2EQ
Telephone: 01629 580381 Email: peakrail@peakrail.co.uk
Line Length: 4 miles Gauge: 4ft 8½ inches
Route: Rowsley South to Matlock Riverside Journey Time: 20 minutes
Service: Sunday 24 January - 7 November / Saturday 20 March - 30 October / Bank holidays / extra days April - October / Saturday & Sunday - December
Tickets: Adults £6.50, Child £3.50, Family £19.50 (2 adults and 3 children) unlimited travel on day of issue
Parking: Rowsley South station large free car park, Darley Dale station limited free parking
Website: www.peakrail.co.uk YouTubevideo location map
Darley Dale Station: Refreshments, shop
Rowsley South Station: Refreshments, shop, picnic area
Peak Rail is a small part of the former Midland Railway line that ran from Manchester to St. Pancras, it was built in the 1860s. The section between Buxton and Matlock was closed in 1968.
In 1975 the Peak District Preservation Society was formed, they opened a steam centre in Buxton of the site of the former Midland Railway station. There was 300 yards of track, restoration facilities and a signal box. Efforts to extend the rail track at Buxton were not successful but permission was granted in 1988 to re-open the track from Darley Dale to Matlock. A great deal of renovation and undergrowth clearance was required as no trains had run for 20 years.
The first passenger services ran in December 1991 from Darley Dale for one mile towards Matlock. Work continued with the construction of a temporary station in Matlock by the River Derwent. Full operation to the new station started in May 1992, giving the railway a length of 2 miles. The final stage to Rowsley South was completed in 1966.
Future plans are in hand to extend the extra ½ mile to Matlock main line station and to expand in the other direction to Rowsley village. A passing loop has now been installed which means a two train service can be operated.
Peak Rail has one steam locomotive in service which is No.7136 Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn 'Royal Pioneer' 0-6-0ST there are number diesel locomotives also available.
Further photos of Peak Rail can be found in the Gallery section.
Midland Railway
Address: Butterley Station, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 3QZ
Telephone: 01773 747674 Visitor Information: 01773 570140
Email: data@midlandrailwaycentre.co.uk
Line Length: 3½ miles Gauge: 4ft 8½ inches
Route: Hammersmith to Riddings Journey Time: 60 minutes (round trip)
Service: Saturday & Sunday all year / Bank holidays / school holidays / every day 24 July - 5 September
Tickets: Adult £10.95 Family £29.70 (2 adults and 3 children)
Parking: Butterley station DE5 3QZ
Website: www.midlandrailwaycentre.co.uk YouTubevideo location map
Butterley Station: Refreshments, shop, two model railways
Swanwick Junction Station: Refreshments, miniature railways, museum (extra details in the text below)
In 1844 the Midland Railway was created by amalgamating the Midland Counties, North Midland and Birmingham and Derby Junction Railways. This major organisation was ranked third in terms of track length, its trains travelled to all parts of the country. After 1923 the Midland merged into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.
A project to celebrate the Midland Railway and its successors started in 1969. The idea was to have a working line with a museum where the history and development of the railway could be shown. A search for a suitable site around Derby began. Eventually part of the ex-Midland Railway line from Ambergate to Pye Bridge proved to be suitable. Originally the track served the iron foundries, collieries and tar works in the area. Butterley had the only station which opened on 1 May 1875 and closed on 16 June 1947. All rail traffic ended on 23 December 1968. The work required to fulfill the project was immense. All track had been removed and the station at Butterley had been demolished. At Swanwick a 100ft high slag heap dominated the area.
A station at Butterley was constructed by moving a building identical to the original, brick by brick from Whitwell, North Yorkshire. By 1975 Steam Open Days were being held by the Midland Railway Trust. Finally a passenger service commenced on 22 August 1981 from Butterley station along one mile of track. Line length increased later to Ironville then onto the present termini at Hammersmith and Riddings. Two new stations were built at Swanwick and Hammersmith.
When visiting the Midland Railway - Butterley a stop at Swanwick Junction station is essential. Many organisations and attractions are located at the 57 acre museum site, listed below are some of them.
In the largest building, occupying 42,000 sq. feet, is the Matthew Kirtley Museum which is named after a well respected Midland Railway locomotive and carriage designer. There is an outstanding display of locomotives, carriages, rolling stock dating from 1860 to the present.
The Golden Valley Light Railway is a 2ft gauge line that has one mile of track running through the adjacent country park. Operating at weekends through the summer, an extra charge is applicable.
There are many other exhibits at Swanwick including: a demonstration signal box; Broom station building; Richard Levick Workshop; Diesel Depot; Princess Royal Locomotive Trust Depot; Static Power Display; Syston station building and the National Forklift Truck Centre.
Three steam locomotives are available for use on the railway No.47327 LMS 0-6-0T, No.6233 LMS 'Duchess of Sutherland' 4-6-2, No.92214 BR 2-10-0.
Further photos of the Midland Railway Centre can be found in the Gallery section.