High peak junction visitor centre the centre is signposted from the a6 at cromford. This was one of the worlds first longdistance railway lines, built between 182531. The path of the railway survives to this day and can be followed via the high peak trail. Recorded by my grandfather leonard brian cooper circa 1958. A few miles after hopton was an 80 degree turn in the line with the tightest curve on british railways, of only 55 yards radius. From the canal it climbed over one thousand feet 305 m in five miles 8 km, through four inclines ranging from 1 in 14 7. Cromford, sheep pasture, middleton and hopton, above wirksworth. Derwent valley mills is a world heritage site along the river derwent in derbyshire, england, designated in december 2001.
Cromford is an historic village set in the derwent valley, with a picturesque 15th century bridge. Railway stations at cromford, whatstandwell and ambergate are only a few minutes walk away from the canal. It crossed the high ground between cromford and whaley bridge by means of a. High peak junction visitor centre derbyshire county council.
This railway is worth a brief description because of its unique nature. Media in category cromford and high peak railway the following 37 files are in this category, out of 37 total. The catchpit near the bottom of the 1 in 8 sheep pasture incline on the cromford and high peak railway was designed to protect cromford goods yard. Pdf the cromford high peak railway in colour download full.
Cromford, derbyshire, england photographs and history. Previously unpublished film footage of derbyshires famous railway. Cromford canal walk cromford to langley mill history walks duration. Cromford and high peak railway post by dugie diesel. The first part of the line from the wharf at high peak junction, on the cromford canal, to hurdlow opened in 1830. It is administered by the derwent valley mills partnership. Black rocks is a great place to come if you want a walk up a wooded hill to see the wonderful views of wirksworth etc. Middleton top cycling map derbyshire county council. The advantage of this book is that is does at least contain some details about the history of the line, its operation, rolling stock, the traffic on the line and its end. The cromford and high peak railway, of standard gauge, was opened by 1831 at the dawn of the railway age, from cromford to whaley bridge in derbyshire. The old high peak railway which formerly joined the cromford canal to whaley bridge is now the high peak trail.
Managed by derbyshire county council, middleton top countryside. Later in the walk you get on to the high peak trail, a former railway track which is followed down to high peak junction where its met by cromford canal. This gauge was considered light enough for manual manoeuvring but. Jul 18, 2018 the cromford and high peak railway, of standard gauge, was opened by 1831 at the dawn of the railway age, from cromford to whaley bridge in derbyshire a distance of 33 miles. Cromford, high peak junction and black rocks derbyshire. Cromford walk discover derbyshire and the peak district. John evans visited the line many times in its later years, his camera nearly always loaded with priceless colour film. High peak railway at steeplehouse spring 1967 geograph 2794872.
Near cromford, the railway passed below black rocks and this is a popular locality for climbing. The wheel resting in a pit at high peak junction was part of an ambitious solution to create a transport route across the pennines. He, his father and their former partner benjamin outram had gained wide experience in building tramways where conditions were unsuitable for. Hopton incline, cromford and high peak railway 1964. An additional attraction for visitors to the area is the steeple grange light railway, which is a narrow gauge railway that runs along the track bed of a former branch line of the cromford and high peak railway near wirksworth.
Originally part of the canal system, the cromford and high peak railway used. From cromford wharf, where there are a number of interesting canal buildings, follow the towpath for one and a quarter miles. Josias jessop, the son of william jessop was asked to survey the route. Cromford and high peak railway visit part 2 the railway. Download the cromford high peak railway in colour in pdf and epub formats for free. The cromford and high peak railway was located in the derbyshire peak district. There are several books about the cromford and high peak railway, but most of them are picture books, they tend to tell you very little about the railway. It lies within derwent valley mills world heritage site, designated in 2001, and today marks the southern end of the high peak. Part 2 history of the cromford and high peak railway.
The high peak trail today in 1971 the peak park planning board and derbyshire county council bought part of the track bed i. Village, rural settlement x minninglow quarry siding by ian calderwood geograph for square sk2057. Pdf download the cromford high peak railway in colour free. Middleton by wirksworth wirksworth matlock derbyshire de4 4ls. The cromford and high peak railway was constructed in the 1830s between. The cromford canal is currently being restored to its former glory. Buy cromford and high peak railway 1st by marshall, john isbn. Pdf download the cromford high peak railway in colour. History of our national park the peak district millstone the peak districts. This derbyshire walk explores part of the cromford and high peak railway together with two attractive villages. The canal flourished and traffic soon built up to around 300,000 tons per year, a figure maintained until the 1850s. Download pdf the cromford high peak railway in colour book full free.
Take a look around the fantastic old railway workshops for a small fee, including an audio tour which can be listened to in full or just dipped into. This canal is another important piece of the local industrial history of the area, as it was first built to carry limestone from the local quarries to the iron foundry and later was. This line is closed except for a short section at hindlow. Pdf the cromford high peak railway in colour download. High peak trail the cromford and high peak railway was one of the first railways in. It has proved and is proving difficult at times to get all involved to acknowledge that the cromford canal runs from langley mill to cromford and pinxton. The cromford and high peak railway which opened in 1830, completed the link to the manchester area the canal promoters had intended to provide. Route 547 joins the high peak trail with the tissington trail along approximately 10 miles of country roads. Cromford and high peak railway, high peak junction terminus. This file is licensed under the creative commons attributionshare alike 4. These were linked by level sections on which the wagons were. On reaching high peak junction, there is a collection of interesting old railway buildings to inspect. He, his father and their former partner benjamin outram had gained wide experience in building tramways.
Following the closure of the line, the peak district national park bought the route in 1971 and turned it into a traffic free trail for walkers and cyclists. Cromford and high peak railway i have already mentioned that we walked along part of the line of the cromford and high peak railway recently. His pictures are published here for the first time, giving a unique view of a railway which was full of intrigue and history. This was built to link the cromford canal at cromford, derbyshire, with the peak forest canal at whaley bridge, which at the time was in cheshire. The high peak trail, former cromford and high peak railway. Large numbers of butterflies and dragonflies can be seen in summer with numerous species of birdlife overhead.
It was found in march 2007, tucked inside a copy of the. The high peak trail follows the former cromford and high peak railway, which was used to carry minerals and goods between the cromford canal wharf and the peak forest canal at whaley bridge. Originally conceived as a canal, it had long level sections interspersed with fearsome gradients, inclines and sharp curves. The line originally connected the canals at whaley bridge and cromford, running up the goyt valley to buxton and across the limestone plateau to middleton by. Cromford and high peak railway post by dugie diesel mon jun 23, 2014 4. It lies within derwent valley mills world heritage site, designated in 2001, and today marks the southern end of the high peak trail, a 17 miles 27 km trail for walkers, cyclists. The high peak trail takes the line of the former cromford and high peak railway between parsley hey and cromford. Cromford and high peak railway part 2 this event is now fully booked. The cromford and high peak railway, of standard gauge, was opened by 1831 at the dawn of the railway age, from cromford to whaley. The modern factory, or mill, system was born here in the 18th century to accommodate the new technology for spinning cotton developed by richard arkwright.
Opened in 1831, this 33 mile railway connected the cromford canal with the peak forest canal in whaley bridge. High peak junction the cromford and high peak railway which opened in 1830, completed the link to the manchester area the canal promoters had intended to provide. The cromford canal partnership inches closer towards agreeing the terms of reference for a scoping study to determine the ground rules for the full feasibility study for the whole canal. In the early 19th century, a canal had been proposed to connect the peak forest canal, which terminated at whaley bridge, with the cromford canal, providing a direct route between markets in lancashire and derbyshire. Cromford and high peak railway new railway modellers forums. Trains were hauled up and down these steep stretches of railway using steamdriven pulleys and cables. Nov 07, 20 previously unpublished film footage of derbyshires famous railway. The private leawood arm was opened in 1802 linking mills, lead smelters and stone quarries at lea with the main canal just south of leawood aqueduct. The cromford high peak railway in colour available for download and read online in other formats. The cromford high peak railway in colour book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading.
For some history of the line, try the goingloco or wirksworth sites. It was here in 1771 that richard arkwright in partnership with jedediah strutt, established the first mechanised textile factory in the world. This is one of the most important industrial sites in england. Jul 15, 2017 buy the cromford and high peak railway in colour by john evans isbn. High peak junction and cromford wharf car parks are signed from the a6 at cromford. Cromford and high peak railway guided walk visit peak. Connecting canals at cromford and whaley bridge, the 33 mile line incorporated a number of steep inclines along which trains were hauled using steamdriven cables.
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