Peak Rail General Discussion

I'm not sure what the present position, you will need to contact Peak Rail plc directly to get an update on that.

 

As was last reported in the railways magazine,the railway are awaiting the boiler inspection report from Grinsty Rails inspector,but it did have a boiler ticket of 14 months,no more news as yet other than that at present.

On other news Ben and the gang have finished Darley dale platform,next comes the station lamp tops over the next few weeks and the cycleway around Warney Lane is on with finishing works, at Darley recently Mr Briddon has taken delivery of locos that were previously based up North East and also a PCV which is remarkably complete and is hoped to be fitted eventually for dual braking and push pull ops.

 

Called in early today to get the signalling maintenance done,then had a couple of colleagues to show around,the site was busy as the Ashover gang were busy painting the concrete floor in their new shed,in the main shed at rowsley the straps that hold the tank waggon were being repainted up,the HST chaps were continuing up in their shed on the work on the 03 ex West Somerset Railway,which is being repaonted up now bodywork is almost complete.

In the LMSCA the gang were restoring a pcv up for use as.a.mobile workshop for carriage restoration to free up.some space in their shed and the Midland Brakevan has started to be stripped down and is already at chassis level, the Renown and Repulse chaps were busy trying to free electrical components off in Repulse and up at Darley Mr Briddon was continuing to work on one of his 04s axle box guides as its back onto its wheels soon.

The pway chaps are due to be replacing a crossing nose tommorow at Darley with Rob andthe gang and were busy getting the crane ready today, meanwhile at Rowsley Ben has been busy with more bench seats and the Lamps for the station which should start going up tommorow

 

Called in early today to get the signalling maintenance done,then had a couple of colleagues to show around,the site was busy as the Ashover gang were busy painting the concrete floor in their new shed,in the main shed at rowsley the straps that hold the tank waggon were being repainted up,the HST chaps were continuing up in their shed on the work on the 03 ex West Somerset Railway,which is being repaonted up now bodywork is almost complete.

In the LMSCA the gang were restoring a pcv up for use as.a.mobile workshop for carriage restoration to free up.some space in their shed and the Midland Brakevan has started to be stripped down and is already at chassis level, the Renown and Repulse chaps were busy trying to free electrical components off in Repulse and up at Darley Mr Briddon was continuing to work on one of his 04s axle box guides as its back onto its wheels soon.

The pway chaps are due to be replacing a crossing nose tommorow at Darley with Rob andthe gang and were busy getting the crane ready today, meanwhile at Rowsley Ben has been busy with more bench seats and the Lamps for the station which should start going up tommorow

 

Called in early today to get the signalling maintenance done,then had a couple of colleagues to show around,the site was busy as the Ashover gang were busy painting the concrete floor in their new shed,in the main shed at rowsley the straps that hold the tank waggon were being repainted up,the HST chaps were continuing up in their shed on the work on the 03 ex West Somerset Railway,which is being repaonted up now bodywork is almost complete.

In the LMSCA the gang were restoring a pcv up for use as.a.mobile workshop for carriage restoration to free up.some space in their shed and the Midland Brakevan has started to be stripped down and is already at chassis level, the Renown and Repulse chaps were busy trying to free electrical components off in Repulse and up at Darley Mr Briddon was continuing to work on one of his 04s axle box guides as its back onto its wheels soon.

The pway chaps are due to be replacing a crossing nose tommorow at Darley with Rob andthe gang and were busy getting the crane ready today, meanwhile at Rowsley Ben has been busy with more bench seats and the Lamps for the station which should start going up tommorow

 

Anyone know when the Matlock to old road bit of the cycle trail is finished? Anyone had a nose this weekend?, the latest I heard is mid December but that's not very specific, planning a visit . Here's a council update where I got the info for those wondering, has a little bit of info on the bakewell extension, not much though as is often the case. https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/images/Pedal Peak ll WPL Newsletter Dec 2016_tcm44-286525.pdf

 

I was under the impression that DCC were hoping that the Old Road to Matlock section would be completed for around Xmas / January

The section from Rowsley to Bakewell is a different issue though. DCC have secured funding for the design work / plans...they haven't got any funding to build this section. I understand various designs of bridges have been prepared. An additional problem is Lord Edward Manners who is blowing hot and cold on this section. DCC to have a fallback position in that they route the trail out of Rowsley up Church Lane (this is an existing byway) and down Coombs Road rejoining the trail at the viaduct...but this route isn't family friendly due to the gradients. So much for the recent headline in the Steam Beano and excitement seen on various Facebook pages

Funnily enough I was on the trail yesterday and noticed that Peak Rail hadn't got any cycle racks in case any cyclists wanted to call in for refreshments

 

I understand that PR are extending the buffet at Rowsley with cyclists in mind so I would assume this will ,include cycle racks.

 

I once spoke to someone from the Avon Valley Railway who said they make a good income from selling refreshments to the folk using the adjacent cycleway. It remains to be seen how many will use the new Rowsley - Matlock cycleway while it is isolated from the existing Monsal Trail.

Dave

 

There are plans for utilising the cycle way ,cycle racks etcetera but as with anything relating to the cycle way it's a case of wait and see, we were supposed to have had a tarmacced car park by August done by the contractors involved and we're still,waiting, the bit at Warney lane was supposed to be mid December opening but they are still doing walling on that lot and other jobs and as you note the bit between bakewell is held up in agreements between parties so won't start till next year at the earliest.

The plans for rowsley involve the buffet,a new toilet block which the concrete base has been made ready for and other items.

It's a bit wet this week but we managed yesterday to do some creosoting of signal walkboards at church lane and Darley Dale,more works tommorow and I also note from Railway Magazine Mr Briddon has two locos "Charlie" and 03901 involved in filming work moving stock for a new production of Murder on the Orient Express.

 

Pete Briddon's blog would strongly suggest 03 901 is at Rowsley. Cab interior paint in the latest edition.


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Is there any news on the Waterman Railway Heritage Trust locos and progress on restoration?

 

The prairie was in the shed a couple weeks back being stripped down for assessment, it's roof had been lifted off and all the cladding removed for it,but I've not been inside rowsley shed since then, il ask this week when down

 

Thanks for the update Dom.

 

Ay yes but which Prairie?

Pete Waterman's is 5553 but isn't there also a 45XX which belongs to Mike Thompson owner of Lord Phil?

 

5553 is the one being worked on

 

03901 is due out tommorow morning ,bumped into Mr Briddon and he asked to let you know as you'd asked about it, while up at Rowsley I noted the HST gang were busy shunting stock about in their display shed (pic attached), Ben has also been busy,the next batch of station lamps for Darley are due to go up,the up building has been done,and the replica brackets for the down building have been fitted ready for the lights to go on, I was busy with electrical work,Riverside maintenance and the occasional fault tracing.

 

Nice to seen an 09 retaining its full complement of SR marker lights and the high level air pipes.

 

May I make a cyclist's plea not to have cycle racks? They are useless except for the purpose of bending wheels. All we need is a fence to lean the bikes on.

 

Cycle stands ( as opposed to racks) are even better.