Peak Rail at Matlock.

I see from "webcam 2 " that the final tidying up is taking place at Matlock, and that the Peak Rail line is being fenced off from the new NR line....or vice-versa if you prefer.

Lets hope NR press on and repair the weak bridges south of Matlock so that rail excursion traffic can reach Matlock, even if there is no physical connection between the two lines at present.

46118

 

nope lost its roof a long time ago:
http://simon71.fotopic.net/p25868980.html

 

Has there been an official day set for it's opening? Just wondering.

 

new update \/
lots of picies

http://www.peakrail.co.uk/news.htm

 

Interesting to see that there looks to be room for another single line on the eastern (Peak Rail) side of the two new lines laid, so maybe NR have allowed for a connection into Matlock station for Peak Rail in the future. I appreciate that Peak Rail would actually want to be on the west side of the new NR loop, so as to access platform 2 at Matlock, but at least the possibility (and space) is there.

46118

 

Trouble is, if you look at the Sainsbury's webcam 2 http://www.sainsburysmatlock.co.uk/ you'll see there is not enough room for another track under the bridge towards Matlock.

Ralph

 

Just added some more shots to my page on the Midland Main line if anyone is interested.
Not exactly on topic, but still related.
http://crjennings.com/Railway%20Structu ... index.html

 

Some really nice shots there Chris. The High Tor one is very impressive - if only there weren't so many trees blocking the view from the train!

Dave

 

Its a bit ironic, a leaflet has been put together by various interested parties ( Including the operating railway company) to promote the historical sites that you can see from the train on the neighboring line through Belper, but sadly due to the undergrowth most of it is hidden from view.

 

good pictures there, bakewell is a nice survivor and it would be brilliant if peak rail were to get into bakewell. it would rival the nymr for scenery if they got to monsal dale etc.

 

Point taken, situpandbeg, I hadn't noticed that.

Maybe there is another answer. There is now a point leading off the platform road at the NR station, which could connect to a siding up as far as the overbridge. if laid in the future. Maybe the idea is that they could put the railcar that operates the normal Derby service there whilst, for instance, an excursion or engineers train was being run round on the main loop they have laid.

Anyway, greater minds....as they say!

46118

 

nice thought, a possible problem is that if something is stored in the loop (at any point therein) then peak rail could not use the loop and vice versa (the loop and ground frames have to be controlled so as one operator/train can only be operating at a time...on that section to prevent danger to the other operator....

the current plan/idea is off with the rail operator and the .O.R.R at present,we are awaiting the reply and any ammendments which are part of the course of any plans, i know how the spa valley line feels,as theyre in similar talks at their end for their operations into eridge.

best of luck to them and all the other operators of heritage lines planning connections in the next few years. i hope we all get there

dom:-k

 

Looking at the webcam today there appears to be quite a bit of work being undertaken between the bypass and the Peak Rail station. Some pathway or other access improvements?

46118

 

You seem to be in the know about Peak Rail, what would be your estimate of the costs of them getting into Matlock and how long would it take if all the permissions were granted and the finance was available? I know it's a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string question' !

Ralph

 

thats always a sticky question, until the final plan has been agreed to you cant give a figure; honestly;;;

it may be that a simpler plan gets go ahead,and you can get alot of assistance as has the spa valley railway,there will undoubtedly be sources of funding in waiting and ones not yet tried, thats not my buisness and im not in a position to say what funding ,costs will be needed, but in terms of costings, itl be justthe same as for bluebell,chinnor ,spa valley etc..

youre also likely to be dealing with contractors,whose mandate is to get the job at the lowest costing to get the best profit margin.

the best way to find out is to wait for a press release,then theres no speculation only something good to work on,in my buisness this is the way you have to work unfortunately......

 

Thanks Dom, I'm sure we would all like to see Peak Rail progress. If you look back to the 'new' railways of the 1970/80s Peak Rail, Mid Hants, Gloucester & Warwickshire, Llangollen you would have said Peak Rail had the most potential, but for some reason it's the others that seem to have raced ahead. I'm not sure why that should be but I sincerely hope you catch up!

Best wishes
Ralph

 

well with the shed and the turntable now basicaly ready,the two train running, the possibility of running into matlock soon plus the completion of the 8f and zebedee i think peak rail would of done some major catch up recently.
once darley dales buildings on the second platform are restorded into a museum and the extension into bakewell completed it would become a major heritage railway. The peak district is well visited and the views are fantastic, the line after rowsley is full of tunnels and steep gradients. Plus the engine shed should attract new engines. Im my opinion if peak rail do reach monsal dale and millers dale, then to buxton they will rival nmyr. Buxton will be the substitute for Whitby :-D

might take a while with the A6 bridge needing replacement but it will be well worth it

 

Dace83:

Remember that the rail over road A6 bridge at Rowsley needs to be reinstated before any real move north towards Bakewell can be contemplated. The gap, on a skew over a bend in the A6, is considerable, and that says to me "very expensive"!

Sorting out Matlock will surely be top of the list.

46118

 

i was going to mention that, something like £4 mill i heard

 

There are a number of harsh realities which Peak Rail are going to have to face, and so far the company is showing little sign of doing so. Last year the railway spent £10,000 on maintenance of all kinds, roughly 4 per cent of turnover, and something like this percentage has been the norm for several years. However no financial reserves have been built up. The overhaul of Zebedee was supposed to have been completed by Easter 2007, is now being talked of for Summer 2008, and frankly at the present rate I can't see it being done before 2009. Most railways seem to be spending between 25 and 40 per cent.

One distinct problem at Matlock is the 4 span wrought iron bridge 35, pictures of which can be seen atwww.bridgeinspections.co.uk. See the rust. This has never been generally painted since BR days and the cost was quoted at £80,000 in 1999.

Tim