Buxton Line

[Russel]

I'm thinking of doing Derby to Manchester via the Matlock and Buxton branches using the Transpeak bridge the gap to recreate the former Midland route through the Peak District, I've done the Matlock line countless times but never the Buxton line...

Is it very scenic? Are there any stations worth visiting? Any other advice

Thanks

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

I'm thinking of doing Derby to Manchester via the Matlock and Buxton branches using the Transpeak bridge the gap to recreate the former Midland route through the Peak District, I've done the Matlock line countless times but never the Buxton line...

Is it very scenic? Are there any stations worth visiting? Any other advice

Thanks

It would be better to do in a clockwise direction -or ar you going out and back? - to experience the climb from Hazel Grove to Dove Holes as it is quite steeply graded in places. It is quite scenic after Disley and still has some semaphore signalling, including a working semaphore distant at Furness Vale. Whaley Bridge is quite pleasant for a stopover with the canal basin, cafes and a few pubs. Going out of Buxton on the bus, the A6 passes under the freight only Midland viaducts along Ashwood / Wye Dales. Buxton and Bakewell, of course, are other great stopovers.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Also possible to walk the canal parallel-ish to the line New Mills-Furness Vale-Whaley Bridge (if that floats your boat!)

 

[shredder1]

You may find Whaley Bridge worth a visit, as it holds a lot of railway history, you can pick up the route of the Cromford and High Peak Railway trackbed from there, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cromford_and_High_Peak_Railway



and also the route of the Peak Forest Tramway, which ran from the basin to Dove Holes, via an interesting incline plane. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_Forest_Tramway

 

[Russel]

It would be better to do in a clockwise direction -or ar you going out and back? - to experience the climb from Hazel Grove to Dove Holes as it is quite steeply graded in places. It is quite scenic after Disley and still has some semaphore signalling, including a working semaphore distant at Furness Vale. Whaley Bridge is quite pleasant for a stopover with the canal basin, cafes and a few pubs. Going out of Buxton on the bus, the A6 passes under the freight only Midland viaducts along Ashwood / Wye Dales. Buxton and Bakewell, of course, are other great stopovers.

Unfortunatly, I can only do it in the Buxton - Manchester direction, if I was to do it in the direction you suggest, it would be in the dark which sort of defeats the point, thanks for the suggestion all the same!

Also possible to walk the canal parallel-ish to the line New Mills-Furness Vale-Whaley Bridge (if that floats your boat!)

Ah, Whaley Bridge, that's where the dam is that nearly collapsed a few years ago, I've been meaning to visit there for a while, just out of curiosity!

and also the route of the Peak Forest Tramway, which ran from the basin to Dove Holes, via an interesting incline plane. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_Forest_Tramway

That sounds quite fascinating!

 

[Bevan Price]

Do not rely on bus punctuality to make "tightish" train connections. The A6 can become very busy and congested at times, especially around Matlock and the approaches to Buxton.

 

[Russel]

Do not rely on bus punctuality to make "tightish" train connections. The A6 can become very busy and congested at times, especially around Matlock and the approaches to Buxton.

Oh I've used the Transpeak and Trentbarton 6.1 enough to know that one!

I'm not rushing anyway so was going to give myself plenty of time.

 

[shredder1]

Unfortunatly, I can only do it in the Buxton - Manchester direction, if I was to do it in the direction you suggest, it would be in the dark which sort of defeats the point, thanks for the suggestion all the same!



Ah, Whaley Bridge, that's where the dam is that nearly collapsed a few years ago, I've been meaning to visit there for a while, just out of curiosity!



That sounds quite fascinating!

Yes I walked it a few years ago, I was surprised at how much was left, lots of books published on it, and many of the original setts which the rails sat on, are still to be found, https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=ARPSEC&PC=ARPL&PTAG=53032278&q=book on peak forest tramway

 

[vlad]

I'm quite a fan of the Buxton Line - it's certainly pretty in places but nowhere near as scenic as say the nearby Hope Valley Line.

The climb from Buxton to Dove Holes is quite nasty and visibly steep - you can tell some of the trains struggle. ISTR that one of the highest summits on the English passenger rail network is near Dove Holes but I can't remember the height or official name. You can tell why the Midland Railway went through the hill rather than over it!

Between Dove Holes and Chapel-ELF you've got a run alongside the A6 and Peak Forest Tramway (you know it's there if you know what you're looking for), then there's a descent around a lengthy right-hand bend above Combs Reservoir - this is the prettiest bit of the line in my opinion. Further on you can see the Hope Valley Line over to the right. Then west of Disley you've got the bit where the line just goes through the middle of nowhere - Middlewood station is literally in the middle of a wood and then Norbury Hollow level crossing appears unchanged from when the line was built. Getting into Hazel Grove seems like an anticlimax.

 

[sprinterguy]

I'm quite a fan of the Buxton Line - it's certainly pretty in places but nowhere near as scenic as say the nearby Hope Valley Line.

The climb from Buxton to Dove Holes is quite nasty and visibly steep - you can tell some of the trains struggle. ISTR that one of the highest summits on the English passenger rail network is near Dove Holes but I can't remember the height or official name. You can tell why the Midland Railway went through the hill rather than over it!

Bibbington summit at 1140 feet - 29 feet shy of the height of the summit at Ais Gill.

 

[Russel]

Many thanks for the tips all, annoyingly, the day I'm in Manchester, Sat 21st Feb, there are no trains between Stockport and Manchester so may not have time to fit in the Buxton line as I'll probably have to take the direct route, XC up from the Midlands.

One to keep in mind for the summer though!