Hazel Grove to Buxton D1645

Every year, Network Rail operate RHTT (Rail Head Treatment Trains) around the UK network during the leaf fall season that blast leaf residue off the line with high pressure water.. They are driven largely by freight train drivers who need to refresh their routes. In July 2023, Freightliner drivers operated a hired in Class 47 (D1645) to refresh several routes around Manchester. We follow the run to Buxton where the loco gets stabled. We follow the stopping passenger service so it’s a steady run which allows you to take in the scenery. Oh, and some of you might appreciate the soundtrack ;-)
Addendum
That didn’t take long! It’s the Macclesfield Canal on top of Middlewood Tunnel not the Peak Forest!

[@bobbrooks266]

What a truly beautiful ride. Breathtaking scenery. What a pleasure to be asked to come for a ride. Once again thank you Don and to our driver for this wonderful journey. Regards to you both ❤

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you enjoyed it Bob. The guys will see your comments.

[@mattcherry276]

Nice little video thank you, starting from my local station. Always good to see a different angle on such familiar territory.

[@doncoffey5820]

My local line too Matt. I live at Chapel.

[@Martin_Adams184]

A delightful run, Don. Thank you. I know this line well, because my sister lives in Whaley Bridge. (The roof-line of her house is briefly visible on the left, above the embankment at 20.01.) It's good to see it from the cab perspective, partly because that view, rather more than from the windows of a Class 150, underlines just how rural so much of the route is. I hadn't realised that the Norbury Crossing was manually operated. Thanks!

[@doncoffey5820]

I live in Chapel Martin. Call for a brew if you’re passing. You can get me on messenger.

[@gzk6nk]

Very interesting, Don. Thanks. Looks like the Buxton line is well overdue for a visit by that weedkiller train! Middlewood Tunnel is under the Macclesfield Canal, by the way, not the Peak Forest Canal (which the Macc Canal joins at Marple, a couple of miles north of Middlewood).

[@doncoffey5820]

So it is. I’ll put a correction in the description.

[@dilwyn1]

Great video Don ... -5c here where I am in Wales, thought about getting my garden railway running, but took the more pleasant option of watching this vid by the log burner

[@doncoffey5820]

I think I’d take that option too although I did wash the car while the sun was shining 😳😉

[@taffboyslim]

So many things to enjoy.. I used to go to Cardiff Central in the 70s/80s and, to me, the sound of a 47 going from idling to line speed is music. I now live on the edge of the Peak District and it's an absolutely beautiful place, whatever the season

[@doncoffey5820]

You and me both. I live in Chapel en le Frith.

[@michaelritchie5303]

A Christmas present from Don. Thank you so much. Love this route.

[@doncoffey5820]

Our pleasure Michael.

[@christopherwright8388]

Just lovely. Perfect weather too. If I were ever to move back home to England I'd want to live in the area, near one of the stations, and volunteer some of my time keeping it up. Heavenly.

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks Christopher. I made all the signs and hanging basket posts at Chapel en le Frith - my home town.

[@stevenewton6360]

Another great production and as you say, glorious scenery

[@doncoffey5820]

Oh yes, it is nice and I’m lucky to live at Chapel en le Frith.

[@cliverobinson8421]

What an excellent start to the New Year 👍Many thanks again Don. Kings Cross to Hull next!

[@doncoffey5820]

Drink and snacks are required Clive! All the best.

[@Deepak-wr9pt]

Apart from the interesting scenery and commentary, great soundtrack from a classic diesel.

[@doncoffey5820]

It is. We’re very lucky to have it.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Great video! Lovely line!

[@PeteWilding]

Very interesting video….40 years ago I worked at BREL Crewe rebuilding class 47 traction motors,very heavy work

[@doncoffey5820]

I bet it was Pete. They were iconic but needed a lot of work to keep them running.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

Excellent video! I’m surprised the track and signalling at Buxton hasn’t been modified by now. It really needs a scissors crossover so trains can directly enter platform 1 at Buxton. Also, another crossover, to allow direct access to/from the Hindlow and Peak Forest lines, would be very convenient.

[@doncoffey5820]

It does and they keep talking about it but the cancellation of HS2 didn’t do it any favours.

[@georgedyson9754]

I am amazed the semaphore signals are still in operation.

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, there’s still quite a lot about George. You’ll see them in quite a few of our videos.

[@Kivetonandrew]

A bit shorter than your last marathon video but no less interesting. A lovely run through lovely countryside. Looking forward to your next one.

[@doncoffey5820]

Boxing Day so not long!

[@Keikdv]

Chapel-en-le-Frith is much more unique than you 'say' in the comment-line: It sounds French but was founded by people from Norway; the stationsign at 26:06 is not a commercial but Ferodo absolutly is and it is most unique to have remains of a crash, shown out to the public on the platform, knowing that it killed 2 people... (Yess, I did use the time you stop there, to look it all up 🙂 )

[@doncoffey5820]

I live there and I’m on the station adopter group! 👍

[@matthewaisthorpe3706]

Great video as always, love the purr of a 47. Any chance of a class 50 next ? Cheers, Matt.

[@doncoffey5820]

I’m game if anyone is willing. I think GBRf has one???

[@Isochest]

It's a pity when Disley signal box was closed intermediate signals weren't provided

[@doncoffey5820]

It’ll come one day but we’re dreading the remaining signal boxes closing.

[@mikecarroll6358]

Wondering what god you have to pray to inorder to be employed as a signalman on this line. After a lifetime working in IT I could cry.

[@doncoffey5820]

They often recruit if you fancy a room with a view Mike.

[@davidj.powell4748]

Hello Don: Yet another very interesting & well-done vid. It'll take me quite a while to view all these vids and am thoroughly enjoying each one; well captioned as well. I've a question: Why are trainmen called drivers? (as they don't "drive" a locomotive like one drives a car). Here in the "unrefined" US, we call them engineers.

[@doncoffey5820]

Good question David. I guess it’s just terminology like hood and bonnet etc. I truthfully wondered why you call us engineers when we don’t manufacture anything! If you find a solution let me know and I’ll do the same.

[@rninrvr]

Is this 47 running light or have some sort of train behind it? Well, you answered the question close to the end as you spoke about the driver being careful with the friction brakes since he didn't have a train behind him/her.

[@doncoffey5820]

No, light engine 👍

[@josephinebennington7247]

I suspect your subtitle about the visit from a killer-train knew what was coming and as a sly joke, it hadn’t been that way for ages….

[@doncoffey5820]

Well I kind of anticipated the questions and comments. I had the weed killing fella from Network Rail with me one time and he was saying how complicated it can be. They can’t use aggressive chemicals in case it gets into water courses and there is an ideal time to treat them or it’s just a waste of time.

[@tonydodds5207]

If at all possible, would love to see a "speedo" and possibly "Distance travelled?"

[@doncoffey5820]

No I can’t Tony, sorry. My software doesn’t allow it but in any case I’m not allowed to show anything related to driving so the best you’ll see is an odd clip.

[@robertrussell7388]

What a load of brake squeel

[@doncoffey5820]

Cast iron brake blocks on steel wheels Robert.

[@adam_s2k]

Freightliner don’t hire out 47830, they own it

[@doncoffey5820]

Fair enough Adam thanks.

[@andrewpalm2103]

Riding a classic loco on a semaphore signalled line through beautiful country. It just doesn't get any better, eh? Cheers from Wisconsin!

[@doncoffey5820]

I passed out as a driver up there Andrew and never got bored of it.

[@bxmachine]

The beat of a twin bank Sulzer and the crow of a 47 horn. Beat that😂

[@doncoffey5820]

Not possible 👍

[@stue9391]

That's a nice Saturday Suprise!

[@ianr]

Excellent video again Don! Thanks to all involved. 👍🙂

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you enjoyed it Ian.

[@MattyEngland]

Power chuffer

[@MrAuriga67]

Excellent Video as ever Don. Seeing Bibbington summit makes me think, did a Unit get stuck there in a snow drift a few years ago ? I seem to think it was a Northern class 156. One route I have always wanted to travel is the one via Hindlow and the Old Midland route in the area. Supposed I will have to keep looking out for a rail tour.

[@doncoffey5820]

It did indeed and yours truly went out to rescue the passengers. I then did a wrong direction move back to Buxton.

[@neildeakin4454]

Gutted I didnn't know about this. I live in Hazel Grove and would of loved to of filmed D1656 as you drove her through. Is there any way I can find out about moves like this in advance?

[@doncoffey5820]

They tend not to publish them Neil. I occasionally get to know through my mate that works there but you could follow Manchester’s Railways on Facebook which often quickly shows up these unusual workings. They also ran a 90 round the Hadfield Line which was unique.

[@Broadercasting]

Nicely presented again. It's great to hear a bell to proceed; better and clearer in my book than another bleep. I've noticed on many journeys that the amount of encroaching foliage has been getting denser and reaching running rolling stock. It can't help leaf fall. Looking back at archive images, cuttings and embankments look stark in comparison. Keep up the good work!

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, the foliage has steadily encroached the railway to a point that it’s a full time job trying to fight it back. They can’t win though because the half wit journalists report it as decimation of habitat.

[@colinshearring3934]

I presume that arriving Manchester trains can only access one platform as to access the other they have to shunt thevtrailing crossover also presume traffic levels don't justify alternative layout is facing crossover

[@doncoffey5820]

Correct but there are plans for a facing crossover very soon.

[@terryparkinson5473]

Where have you been?

[@doncoffey5820]

Bin e’re all the time Terry!

[@eliottjeary1492]

Is the video meant to be quiet as can't hear the audio even with the volume up

[@doncoffey5820]

Something you’re doing Eliott. There is sound.