Railways of Buxton & Matlock Explained

Railways of Buxton & Matlock Explained
A quick explainer to the series of railways around Buxton & Matlock, including the Monsal Trail & Peak Rail.

[@Phelps440]

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[@DavidFrankal]

Thank you for sharing this! That is some wonderful footage

[@tango6nf477]

Anyone who lives or has lived in the Peak District will be familiar with the massive traffic issues caused by heavily laden lorries carrying limestone, the demand for which is huge. Back in the 60's this issue was well known although lorries were smaller then, but the road transport lobby combined with infamous Beaching report and falling passenger numbers spelled the end of line (s). There are strong arguments for the reopening of these lines, one being getting the limestone traffic off the roads or at least greatly reducing it. The other is the tourist industry. Take Buxton for an example, a once beautiful well to do spa town, now a little tatty and past its best. You can get there by train but only via Manchester and to many its just a little too out of the way to be worth it by car. If the missing link between Matlock and Buxton were reinstated Buxton would benefit immensely from those who would travel the route for no other reason that is very beautiful. They would probably stop for a while in Buxton and spend some money. There are detractors of course, the walking /cycling lobby have got used to using the track bed and I sympathise as I am one of them, but there are always solution if you can be bothered to find one. Sadly the Ashbourne - Uttoxeter branch has in places been obliterated and many engineering features such as bridges removed so I cant see that one happening.

[@chrish6764]

For what it's worth, there is a scale model of the demolished Buxton station in the booking office of the existing station. This was built by my uncle, who's father (my grandfather) used to be a stoker/driver on the line which ran to Millers Dale. This was known locally as the 'pull and push', as it ran back and forth between the two stations. At one time, you could board a train in Buxton which took you to Millers Dale. The carriage was then uncoupled, and then coupled onto the Manchester train at Millers Dale meaning you could travel to London without the inconvenience of changing trains. Furthermore, trains used to travel directly from Buxton to Manchester via Millers Dale, negotiating an almost hairpin bend, the radius being the most acute allowable. I've been on it and the scraping of metal on metal was alarming. I also recall seeing the back end of the train almost opposite out of the window near the front of the train.

[@KillerBill1953]

It's not Rowsley as in row or argument, but Rowsley as in row your boat. (Rose-lee) I've noticed a lot of people doing videos featuring the line get it wrong.

[@rogdad]

just about to say the same thing.....

[@CaptainOatwright]

Rose-ley sounds better I agree, and I now live nearby so call it this. However, I think being more ‘northern’ it does come more naturally to call it Rowsley as in argument (but let’s not disagree!) This is a fabulous, concise and super informative video!

[@CaptainOatwright]

Great posting thanks- super informative and concise! Very interesting, having just moved to the area this answers a lot of questions.

[@albratgaming2348]

The Peak rail line from Buxton to Millers dale was thwarted by the Peak National park. When they deemed the Chi Tor Tunnels dangerous and sealed them up. They were "not safe for traffic or public services" But as mentioned they were the first tunnels opened to public traffic by the national park. Seems they were dangerous to rail traffic and not to walkers. (or someone did not want the railway running into Millers Dale and used the tunnels as a way to stop it.) Strange that they declared the one tunnel that would allow the Peak Line to expand more dangerous again... (Haddon)

[@locomotionlotion779]

It's Dowlow, not Durlow. The quarries want to reopen the Monsal route anyway. Now that they're shifting a massive amount of aggregate for HS2, there's a good chance that they'll get it back too.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

I knew a guy who drove trains on the C&HPR. After it closed he transferred to Rowsley.

[@StripyViper]

I myself live in Ashbourne and would love for the Ashbourne line to be reopened at some point as part of a ‘Reverse Beeching’ policy.

[@mastertrams]

Somehow, as a resident myself, I don't think Ashbourne needs a connection to Buxton. What I think it needs more is a better connection to Derby. Then again, the old Ashbourne Line is the same route as most of the HGVs that come through Ashbourne, so maybe as a freight line yes. But for passengers, a rail link to Derby should be the priority.

[@StripyViper]

Master Trams Totally agree with you there concerning a rail link to Derby which should be the priority.

[@MattyMonk]

As always - very interesting and informative

[@mastertrams]

There is actually a proposal called the Peaks and Dales Railway which, if given government approval, would see the Matlock // Buxton line and the Buxton Loop Line re-opened and serviced by 2029-30. Though I do wonder what the repercussions of this would be for the Derby // Crewe line...

[@davidcowie2462]

Thank you so much. That really explained the present situation, and added to the original vldeo. Submit it is part of your Geography course work! David

[@chrisb3830]

Good video

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Isnt Monsal Dale Stn actually Upperdale Stn, where the Down base platform still exists. At Rowsley, just next to the Grouse and Claret, hidden in trees, remains intact the arches over the Derwent, amputated from the old station by the removal of the remainder over the road. Also, just N of here and roughly halfway to Haddon there was a half the width of the pictured thumbnail rail over farm track engineer brick bridge which existed up until the early/mid 1990's but then was oddly 'vanished'.

[@simonmold269]

Mostly to the point. However, you might note that it's Chapel EN (rhyming with hen) le Frith - not pronounced in the French way. Durlow should be Dowlow. And the Row in Rowsley rhymes with "blow". You can always check such things beforehand with locals.

[@Olleetheowl]

Absolutely excellent. And really enjoyable, and informative. … but if you could slow down a little bit, it would be helpful. 😊

[@jimmyviaductophilelawley5587]

excellent work mate...

[@tonyskinner1643]

Very good. I think we all now know a bit more about this line

[@andywoody8528]

The quarries should be Tunstead and not Topley Pike, Dowlow instead of Durlow

[@nigelkthomas9501]

Funny, I thought this as well! 😜

[@peterkazmierczak7273]

Yep, Tunstead is definitely the most important quarry there by a mile.

[@firsttankcrews]

Brilliant video David but could you please slow down Allow for a few pauses so the viewer can keep up

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

You can adjust the playback speed in the settings to suit your comprehension speed. That will also serve to make the little ghit sound more manly. 😉

[@peterkazmierczak7273]

Interesting David, though I've never heard the mainline through Peak Forest ever referred to as the "Buxton Loop". Unfortunately, you've pronounced Rowsley incorrectly. The first syllable is pronounced "row" (as in row a boat), not "row" as in arguing with someone.

[@DavidFrankal]

The nickname is my own invention (apologies if that wasn't made clear)

[@Jimyjames73]

@ 1:37 - "No Trace exist today" wrong - apart from about 5 meters of wall (Top left - just at the corner!!!)

[@DavidFrankal]

Is that now the edge of the car park? Didn't realise that was from the old station!

[@Jimyjames73]

Well the Spring Shopping Centre Car Park & not the Station Car Park just opposite the station!!!

[@nigelkthomas9501]

There’s a major “thorn-in-the-flesh” to reopening the whole line between Buxton and Matlock; and that is at Haddon Hall! From what I’ve been told, many times, the Dukes of Rutland are/have been far from accommodating and they do not want the railway reopened. When the railway was originally built it had to be covered by a tunnel for these reasons! NIMBYs! It’s the higher end of selfishness and arrogance in my book! Whether things will ever change we’ll see, but I won’t hold my breath! 😡

[@suzyqualcast6269]

But they eventually got it, imagine if it had got permit as originally hoped - to go through Chatsworth.

[@greatbritishentertainmentl5636]

All very interesting, but a little hurried in presentation which is a shame as there's a lot to absorb in a short time.

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Er, wasn't Monsal Dale actually known and named as Upperdale Station, Down platform of which remains, as does the wooden base remnants of the Up.... 💦

[@JasBo89]

Hi David, a great video explaining the old line. I am currently updating the website for the Derwent and Wye Valley Railway Trust (DWVRT) who aim to preserve and promote the history of the line. I wondered if I could have your permission to embed this video within the new site please, we will of course credit you as the author of the video.

[@DavidFrankal]

Please, go ahead!

[@davidsnapebrcrosslane8782]

Durlow Quarry is pronounced incorrectly: should be Dowlow.

[@craighobbs3708]

It is pronounced Rose-Lee.

[@Olleetheowl]

Cheers Craig. I wondered about this. …. I am currently working on a new project about this very stretch 😊

[@ewangregorystvradiocapture9963]

That's not how you say Rowsley.

[@johnenfield1930]

So how do you say it?

[@KillerBill1953]

@@johnenfield1930 Refer to my comment above.