Peak Rail at Matlock.

Downpatrick & County Down

O&K No3 in service since 2000 until last year

Keith

 

Just read that a Class 66 has made it to Matlock. Does anyone know what it is up to?
These pics are interesting: http://www.todaysrailways.fotopic.net/c1625380.html
joe.

 

Trackwork renewal south of Matlock.

The area just north of Matlock station was the nearest place for road access to load materials onto the p-way train.

The good news is that NR have also apparently completed repairs to the weak bridges south of Matlock, hence 66's being able to reach Matlock.

46118

 

Many thanks for the info. I was hoping the loop north of Matlock was being reinstated (steamtours), or even errr reconnection to Peak Rail!
joe.

 

I have just come back from Matlock and within the station area is a large amount of CW Rail and steel sleepers presumably for relaying the bull head track through the station

 

Maybe Matlock is big enough to support a better train service to Derby and Beyond, and by implication better rolling stock.

In any event if I lived in Matlock and worked in Derby, or vice-versa, I would seriously look at the train service. I drove up the A6 from Derby to Matlock for the first time last year, and the impression I got was that the A6 was one of the most "user-unfriendly" main roads I had come across in a long time, over-signed, variable speed limits badly signed, and speed camera warnings seemingly every mile or so. Felt quite relieved to get off the wretched road! ( and no, I dont speed, I do obey the limits...)

46118

 

Well folks it's in the working members bulletin and it's in Railway Mag so it must be true!

"On 24th December we were given an early Christmas present by Network Rail confirming that PR can lease the down platform. The terms are for a 50 year lease at a peppercorn rent with no rent reviews or maintenance of track charges. The cost of restoring the down platform and providing access is the responsibility of PR and a grant has been received from Derbyshire County Council for this purpose. Sainsbury's have confirmed that they will provide a ramped access as originally promised and Network Rail has agreed that PR volunteers can connect the track at Matlock Riverside giving us access to the loop."

Great stuff - think about it, apart from a step up for PR's own operation, it's a destination for railtours with huge runround loop at Rowsley, turntable and servicing facilities, who will be first?

Ralph

 

Good news!

Regards

 

Yes excellent news.
I feel it is appropriate to pay tribute to Jeremy Clegg of Peak Rail who sadly passed away last year after working on this very project for many years.
A Chatsworth Flyer Steam Charter to Matlock is currently in the offing I understand, subject to the completion of PW and bridgeworks. Is the work close to completion?
Joe.

 

Just read and re-read that press release but from what i can make out it doesnt actually mention a connection to Network Rail.

Can anyone clarify if this will be the case?

Its just i see people are already begining to mention rail tours which would be a bit premature if there was no actual connection to NR.

 

The reconnection of Peak Rail to Network Rail is allegedly planned for December 2009, and any proposed Steam railtour up the branch before then would terminate at Matlock . The loco would presumably use the new Network Rail loop, north of the station, to run round the train.
The last few yards of the new NR loop run parallel with Peak Rail metals so groundworks, slewing and realignment could well be called for.
Joe

 

To slip a single track past the new loop at Matlock and into the down platform is possible alongside Sainsbury's, as land was reserved there for a larger radius doube track curve. (should NR expansion through to Buxton ever become feasible) However, the new bridge (carrying the new access road to the car park from the new A6) already contains it's maximum of two tracks beneath.

It is therefore my understanding that PR will be granted connection straight into the end of the loco releif road at the end of the loop (where the new buffers are located) and then run up the 'down line' to the down platform. The points will no doubt be controlled by NR, therefore PR have no connection without request to NR.

The following picture from a link on the previous page shows a stub continuing from the 'down line' side of the loop towards the down platform: (Matlock Station behind the camera) >>>Click Here<<<

Wonder what that's for then?! =P~

I don't see why there shouldn't be any potential for a rail tour up there, so long as the route from Matlock to Ambergate is cleared for steam loco's.

The PR metals would require slewing from the river bridge, but this would not be a problem, as the new NR metals were designed for expansion towards/over the bridge. (Potential future expansion, nothing planned to date) Earthworks would be no problem here, infact, very simple to do.

what would be very nice is if PR were allowed to run their preserved trains down to Matlock Bath, as this is where most of the tourism can be found - more revenue to tap into, however, I'm sure NR would wish to have some sort of control in place to prevent the preserved line services colliding with any NR trains, sure as slewed points and dual tracks at Matlock Bath, etc. Maybe the potential for future double tracking down to Matlock Bath? Just a thought!

 

Assuming that the link is made then this is very positive, the governing factor for rail excursions from NR onto PR and onward to Rowsley is the River Derwent bridge (bridge 35) which restricts the type of loco that can run round at Matlock.

I used to think that extending to Matlock Bath would be the business, however would your slot machine / amusement ride punters want to ride on a "steam train".

Excellent news however - shame that they couldn't extend to Bakewell!

 

I am fascinated to see a number of references to signalling in this thread. I was one of the team who, in late 1989 , slept in the mess room at Darley Dale then rose at 04.00 to go up to Bamford and cut the signalbox in half then transport it to DD where it was erected the same day.
That was 19 years ago.I noticed on a Youtube video apparently shot last year that it doesn't appear to have any rods or wires coming out of the front so I surmise it still isn't connected? You appear to still be using the pseudo Midland Railway groundframe hut next to the crossing. Can anyone enlighten me on this?

 

Quite right, Bamford box has never been connected up, and I believe it's going to go to Rowsley some time this year. I wasn't there but I heard the Portaloo was removed on the back of a truck at the same time as the box and it turned over, unfortunately spilling its unemptied contents - forever after it was the legendary 'Turdis'

Dave

 

Lol I have been a member of 2 RPS's since then and tried to persuade them that signalling is never simple but they NEVER listen. Do you plan to have a Darley Dale box on the site of the original?

 

I don't think so, the new MR style ground frame cabin was only installed last year. Everything about PR's signalling is on Dom's (Kestreleyes) website:
http://dominic-beglin.magix.net/website/

Cheers
Dave

 

The portaloo was actually moved in a local garages hire truck which usually was usually used to transport furniture - it was on hire on the Monday. I used two tins of air freshener and a bottle of bleach to clean the back of the van. They never hired that truck to me again!!

 

A couple more funny stories - when we re-erected Bamford box I jury rigged an electrical supply to the lights and we switched them on . It was quite hilarious to hear cars screeching to a halt on the level crossing while they wondered where this building had appeared from"

We also fished a coal stove out of a van and put it in the box.Unfortunately, while the box had been disused flies had laid eggs in the roof.The heat from the stove woke them up and there were soon literally hundreds of bluebottles flying around!! It took about a week before we killed them all #-o

Nice signalling site BTW.