Peak Rail

[Roverman]

Anyone been on this Heritage Railway before as I am thinking of paying a visit to it one weekend soon. The website looks pretty good, and I am impressed that it links to the national network so easily.

Apologies if this has been covered before, nothing came up in the search!

 

[gazthomas]

Anyone been on this Heritage Railway before as I am thinking of paying a visit to it one weekend soon. The website looks pretty good, and I am impressed that it links to the national network so easily.

Apologies if this has been covered before, nothing came up in the search!

I did it in the summer last year and wasn't very impressed. The link at Matlock is handy and there is quite a bit in the yard at Rowsley South (plus the heritage shunters trust) but as a line I found it dull.

Locally the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is a much more interestingly line in my view. Much prettier.

 

[185]

Was speaking to it's boss some time ago. Apparently, some lord-of-the-(has been)-manor is the main obstacle to preventing it's extension to Bakewell. Think it's Haddon Hall, which has a tunnel under it.

 

[Bevan Price]

Definitely worth at least one visit - more action if you wait for a gala event. And if travelling by train to Matlock, allow plenty of time to cross between the "main line" & Peak Rail platforms.

 

[oddiesjack]

Was speaking to it's boss some time ago. Apparently, some lord-of-the-(has been)-manor is the main obstacle to preventing it's extension to Bakewell. Think it's Haddon Hall, which has a tunnel under it.

I'd say definitely Haddon Hall - home of the Duke of Rutland, one of whose ancestors was equally difficult with the original builders of the line ( the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, later Midland Railway).

 

[Roverman]

Thanks for the info guys. Ecclesbourne looks good too and another one with a link to NR, marginally closer for me too.

The Gala days do seem like better value. The idea of a meal on board also sounds lovely though I do draw the line at Eggs and Caviar in Mayonnaise!

 

[43167]

Ive been twice for diesel gala's. First time I went they didnt stick to the timetable and just ran trains as and when. Though that was 7 years ago.

 

[Jordeh]

Definitely worth at least one visit - more action if you wait for a gala event. And if travelling by train to Matlock, allow plenty of time to cross between the "main line" & Peak Rail platforms.

It's no more than a three minute walk across the foot bridge and down the foot path towards Sainsbury.

 

[eMeS]

Yes - twice, four years ago.

I was looking for a venue for a family birthday party, and more or less by accident discovered Peak Rail, and that they did lunches on Sundays. Before booking for a group of us, two of us tried it out, and we enjoyed our meal and the relaxed atmosphere. Several months later, our birthday party took up most of one dining coach, and we were looked after very well.

(We had considered other venues, and Peak Rail was an easy choice, as the other venues directed me to what I hate - a menu driven phone answering system.)

 

[yorkie]

I've done Peak Rail and Ecclesbourne, taken bikes on both.

I found Ecclesbourne to be more interesting (and more useful - covering a longer distance), partly because you can see out of the cab from the DMU.

The Ecclesbourne Railway tries its best to connect with EMT and it worked well for us.

Peak Rail did not connect, in fact the train was timetabled to arrive at the same time as the EMT service departed from Matlock. With it being a difficult connection, it was not surprising that we missed it (we were late anyway), it's not an easy change, you have to effectively go out of the station and back in. Faced with a 2-hour wait, we cycled to Alfreton instead. So it may as well have not connected at all!

The staff/volunteers at both were friendly enough and were helpful with regards our bikes.

We also got a cheaper fare on Peak Rail than we expected which was a bonus. I can't remember the cost of either, both were singles, but I remember thinking they were very reasonable at the time.

It's no more than a three minute walk across the foot bridge and down the foot path towards Sainsbury.

True, but in our case it was 0 minutes or 120 minutes. So there was no option but to allow "plenty" of time Except we went to Alfreton instead as a wait of that length is bonkers. The train was empty, and I did wonder if the 2 hour wait just might have put people off. Possibly...

 

[nferguso]

The Ecclesbourne Railway tries its best to connect with EMT and it worked well for us.

Peak Rail did not connect, in fact the train was timetabled to arrive at the same time as the EMT service departed from Matlock. With it being a difficult connection, it was not surprising that we missed it (we were late anyway), it's not an easy change, you have to effectively go out of the station and back in. Faced with a 2-hour wait, we cycled to Alfreton instead. So it may as well have not connected at all!

Just to let you know that at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, our services are timed to connect with East Midlands Trains' Nottingham and Derby to Matlock service.

It is also possible to buy a through ticket to Wirksworth, Idridgehay and Shottle from EMT stations. They have programmed-in 50 stations in the East Midlands and beyond, including Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Sheffield and London St. Pancras.

You can buy a through ticket from other National Rail stations by suggesting to the booking clerk that Wirksworth can be found as a fare from Derby.

It's worth looking here: http://www.brfares.com/#fares?orig=DBY&dest=WIR&rlc=&expert=on

Kind regards,

Neil Ferguson-Lee
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

 

[gazthomas]

Just to let you know that at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, our services are timed to connect with East Midlands Trains' Nottingham and Derby to Matlock service.

It is also possible to buy a through ticket to Wirksworth, Idridgehay and Shottle from EMT stations. They have programmed-in 50 stations in the East Midlands and beyond, including Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Sheffield and London St. Pancras.

You can buy a through ticket from other National Rail stations by suggesting to the booking clerk that Wirksworth can be found as a fare from Derby.

It's worth looking here: http://www.brfares.com/#fares?orig=DBY&dest=WIR&rlc=&expert=on

Kind regards,

Neil Ferguson-Lee
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

Photos of the line to give you a taster are here:

http://railwayherald.com/imagingcentre/gallery/242

 

[nferguso]

Photos of the line to give you a taster are here:

http://railwayherald.com/imagingcentre/gallery/242

Crikey, I hadn't seen those! Thanks Gaz for posting.

Neil

 

[Wyvern]

Just to add the EMT Derby Matlock trains cross at Duffield which means they connect with the EVR train in either direction. (Around five minutes connection time)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Photos of the line to give you a taster are here:

http://railwayherald.com/imagingcentre/gallery/242

How did "43106 at Bridgnorth" get in there :?

 

[gazthomas]

Just to add the EMT Derby Matlock trains cross at Duffield which means they connect with the EVR train in either direction. (Around five minutes connection time)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


How did "43106 at Bridgnorth" get in there :?

I agree, 43106 is a definite imposter!

 

[Roverman]

THanks for the update, Neil.

It seems a shame that for enthusiasts at Peak Rail they've missed the point about connection times. They would only need to start 4 or 5 mins earlier in order to provide a healthy connection time at Matlock. Having said that I've just read that at the moment they aren't actually getting to Matlock but rather some halt called Riverside so you then have to walk even further to reach the mainline!

 

[Wyvern]

They certainly were getting into Matlock (Bridge) until a few weels ago. Would you recheck your information?

****************

Ah right. I've just found this:

MATLOCK RIVERSIDE STATION

During January and February 2013 Matlock Riverside Station will be the termination point of all trains departing from Rowsley South and Darley Dale Stations.

This temporary platform is a short walk from the Matlock Town Centre, access to which is via the footpath alongside the river bank or by using the A6 by-pass road a short distance from Sainsbury’s store and near to the A6 roundabout.



MATLOCK STATION PLATFORM 2

Our southern terminus at Platform 2 Matlock Station was opened to passenger services on the 2nd July 2011 and operates alongside East Midland Trains Services who’s termination point is on Platform 1.

Access to this station is via the footbridge at the side of Sainsbury’s and parking is located in the local pay and display Council car park next to the main Matlock Railway Station.