Matlock Station

At Ambergate, the line leaves the Midland Main line and travels to Matlock Bank, with branch line trains from Derby to Matlock still operating over this stretch. Ambergate was formerly a triangular junction, but is now reduced to the southern chord. Whatstandwell is the first station, and is still open for passengers on trains from Derby, though the original buildings have been demolished. At Cromford, the next stop, the original buildings, footbridge, and famous waiting room with pointed clock tower still survive. This village is also home of the wharf on the Cromford canal, and the Leawood pumping engine, built to top up the canal with water from the River Derwent. The station at the famous spa town of Matlock Bath is still extant also, and perches at the side of the River Derwent, with high cliffs, and a cable car system above it. The buildings are different from the architecture used for on rest of the line, perhaps in keeping with Matlock Bath’s image as a ‘Little Switzerland’.

The last station of the branch is Matlock Bank. Peak Rail occupy some of the buildings here, which include a comprehensively stocked bookshop. Peak Rail services start from Matlock Riverside station at present, a short walk away…

Darley Dale Station

The Gothic architecture of Darley Dale station contrasted with the other stations on the line. Originally named Darley, the Dale was added to give the station more appeal to potential visitors! The first station was at the other side of the road, but was soon replaced, and found use as the station nasters house. Darley Dale was Peak Rail’s first station, and houses most of the facilities, whilst Rowsley is being developed. Businesses next to the station, such as coal yards, animal feed mills, and wood yards, that grew up with the railway, and were served by it, are still there.

The up platform buildings, formerly waiting rooms, have been restored and augmented by a new toilet block built with material recovered from the second Rowsley station when it was demolished. The down platform buildings are owned by Peak Rail, but require restoration. The signal Box here was recovered from Bamford, on the Hope Valley line.

Rowsley Station

Rowsley was formerly a locomotive depot built to provide engines for trains being assembled in the adjacent sidings for the long climb over the hills to Manchester. The first depot was built slightly further north, but was replaced by the LMS due to conjestion in 1926 by a depot just south of the marshalling yard used for preparing trains for the trip up the hill to Manchester, Buxton or wherever. This is the northern base for Peak Rail at present.

Much work has been done by Peak Rail at this site, the former turntable pit has been excavated, and a turntable from Mold Junction is being prepared for installation, projected in 2002. Ashpits and Inspection pits have been excavated and repaired, and a new shed is now being erected over these inspection pits. A carriage shed is being constructed. Much track has been laid, to reccreate some of the original layout, with turntable road, arrival and departure roads, four roads through the shed, and a complaex of sidings for carriage storage, carriage repair, and S&T and civil engineering use.

Bakewell Station

The station buildings still survive, perched high above the town due to the alignment that the railway was forced to take. This station could be particularly busy, particularly on the famous Bakewell agricultural show day. A camping coach also used to be sited at the station, this later saw service at Aberystwyth with the Vale of Rheidol Railway (Static use!) until the 1980s. Ridged canopies existed over the platforms, and a goods shed and cattle dock.

Hassop Station

A minor station on the line, built, it is said to serve the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth House, as the Duke of Rutland in Haddon Hall had a station at Bakewell! Closed for passengers early in 1942. The station is still in existence, used as a bookshop.

Great Longstone Station

‘Tudor style’ buildings, built to serve the local village, which still survive. Originally called Thornbridge, after the nearby Hall, a residence of a one time Midland Railway Director, but near the village of Great Longstone.

Monsal Dale Station

Made famous by Ruskin, who rued its construction poeticaly, an elegant, though much repaired, viaduct spans the gorge of the River Wye, just after the railway emerges from the 533 yard Headstone Tunnel.

Millers Dale Station

Millers Dale station was an interchange, and had two up and two down platforms for mainline trains going through to Manchester, or south to Derby, and a platform for branch line trains from here to Buxton. In later years these were operated by a push pull service, to save running round.

Buxton Midland Station

Twin terminus station helped to put this town on the railway map, the Midland and London North Western Railway Stations being side by side. The line from Millers Dale to Buxton was operated as the branch, with through trains going to Manchester. Motor trains were introduced by the LMS, to avoid having to run around the train, BR later introduced DMUs. There were also trains consisting of single ‘through coaches’, to be joined to expresses to London St. Pancras. Peak Rail has an LMS coach of the type that was used for this service, it may have even seen use here! The Midland station was unfortunately demolished when the line from Matlock to Millers Dale was taken up, the short section into the station was removed also, the line for Millers Dale being from then for freight only from the Tunstead Quarries. Peak Rail own enough land for another station at Buxton, and have already replaced the missing bridge to get from the station back onto the old formation. Buxton is still served by the LNWR station.

The Peak Rail site with much more fascinating info can be found at Peak Rail website