The Monsal Trail, 30th July 2023

No trains, until Peak Forest later in the day, but a look at a walk along this former Midland Railway main line in Derbyshire. The railway was opened in 1863, and closed in 1968, now the Monsal Trail.

Millers Dale former station and post office, now a café.

There were five platform faces after the station was widened in 1905, this was platform 1, looking toward Peak Forest Junction, Chinley, some via Stockport Tiviot Dale, and Manchester Central. Buxton branch trains left from platform 5, lost in the undergrowth on the left.

The twin viaducts at Millers Dale, looking towards Bakewell and Matlock. That being walked on is from 1863, the second is from the 1900-1905 widening.


A narrow lane or track the line.


Inside Litton Tunnel, one of three walked through, each about 400 metres, and reopened in 2011. Lighting is only provided when there is daylight outside.

Having made an exit from Litton Tunnel, Cressbrook Tunnel is approached. 

Exit from Cressbrook Tunnel.


View of Upperdale Farm in Monsal Dale, taken from Headstone / Monsal Dale Viaduct.

Back to Millers Dale, mostly along the riverside, this being another view of the twin viaducts.

Peak Rail Diesel Gala, 16th April 2023 Part 5: In the Yards

 

08830 of the Waterman Locomotive Heritage Trust. Delivered new as D3998 from BR Derby in October 1960 to 84E Tyseley. In 1971 it went to the Southern Region at Ashford, and still has the high level brake pipes from this time. It was in Wales at the time of privatisation, and then fell into the hands of LNWR at Ctewe. Moved under Waterman Railway Heritage Trust auspices in 2015 to Peak Rail.

14901 of the Andrew Briddon Collection, at Darley Dale. New as D9524 from BR Swindon, in December 1964, withdrawn in May 1969. In industrial service at BP Grangemouth from 1970, it was re-engined with a Roll Royce unit.

37310 British Steel Ravenscraig, was  new as D6852 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry in July 1963, allocated to Landore. Renumbered  37152 in September 1974, and as 37310 from March 1986 to September 1989. Withdrawn in December 1999, and sold in June 2005, initially at Carnforth from January 2006 and moved to Peak Rail in June that year. where it worked some trains up until 2010, and was recorded starting up, in 2019.

46035 Ixion, of Waterman Railway Heritage Trust, which was delivered new from BR Crewe as D172 in July 1962. Renumbered 46035 in January 1974, and then ran as 97403 when a test locomotive from December 1984, until withdrawn in 1990.

50030 Repulse - for more details, see my 2015 visit.


73138 last appeared on a SW lines test train in April 2016, and is in storage for Network Rail.

Peak Rail.

Peak Rail Diesel Gala, 16th April 2023 Part 4: 47402

The mighty 'Generator' Class 47.of the ECML. The second Brush Type 4, D1501 was delivered to Finsbury Park in November 1962. Renumbered to 47402 in February 1974. Withdrawn in June 1992, and entered preservation in 1993 at the East Lancashire Railway, under the ownership of Pete Waterman. In 2013, it visited the Mid-Hants Railway Diesel Gala. Moved in 2022 to Peak Rail, to join more items in the Waterman Railway Heritage Trust.

Standing between trains at Rowsley South.


Coupling up for a train to Matlock.

At the platform end at Matlock.

Pushing a departure away from Matlock, to run around at Matlock Riverside.

Running into Darley Dale, alongside D7659 (25309).

Peak Rail.

Peak Rail Diesel Gala, 16th April 2023 Part 3: 25309

D7659 was built as a Class 25 with the revised ventilation, by Beyer Peacock in Manchester, entering traffic on the London Midland Region in July 1966. Renumbered to 25309 in April 1974, and then 25909 in December 1985, before withdrawal in September 1986. Now in the ownership of the Waterman Railway Heritage Trust, it spent 23 years out of traffic until a comeback in 2021.

Derby Sulzers loco history.

D7659 arriving at Matlock.

At the platform at Matlock.

An arrival at Rowsley South.

Running around at Rowsley South.

Peak Rail

Peak Rail Diesel Gala, 16th April 2023 Part 2: 03901

I really was not aware that there is an 03901, but all was revealed upon this visit. Originally delivered as D2128 in January 1960 from BR Swindon, and allocated to 83D Laira, it became 03128 in February 1974 and was withdrawn in July 1976 at Bristol. There then follows a long story of removing its Gardner engine for usage elsewhere, replacement for work in Belgium, and a return to the UK. Eventually it has joined the Andrew Briddon Collection, and now sports a 350 bhp Cummins engine, with hydraulic transmission, leading to the '03901' numbering. Further updates at Weekend Rails.

Leading a southbound train into Darley Dale.

A more detailed angle.

Two pictures on a run-around at Rowsley South.

At the end of its working day, over the pit at Rowsley South.

Peak Rail

Peak Rail Diesel Gala, 16th April 2023 Part 1: D8 PENYGHENT

'Peak'' D8 PENYGHENT was built at BR Derby, entering traffic on 18th December 1959, as part of the pilot scheme Type 4 requirement, later uprated and extended into Class 45 and 46. As a Class 44, it was renumbered to 44008 in March 1974, and withdrawn in November 1980, following display at the Liverpool & Manchester 150 event. It then entered preservation at the Strathspey Railway, via Glasgow Works, although it saw no use, and was moved to Peak Rail in 1987 into the care of the North Notts Locomotive Group.

Preparing for a departure from Matlock.

PENYGHENT nameplate.

Another pre-departure view.

Awaiting departure from Darley Dale.

Making an approach to Rowsley South.

A short pose at Rowsley South.

Peak Rail

Peak Rail Diesel Gala, 16th April 2023: Video

 

Peak Rail

More to come.